Dorothy Kern
This Pineapple Dream Dessert is a no bake pineapple lush recipe. It has a shortbread crust and is the perfect no-bake dessert recipe!
What is a dream dessert anyway? There are so many names for this no-bake casserole I never know what to call it!
Lush. No bake dessert. Dessert lasagna, icebox cake. This dessert has SO many names it’s hard to pick just one.
I finally settled on a Pineapple Dream Dessert because when I think of pineapple I think of Hawaii and Hawaii is my dream.
Table of Contents
What is a dream dessert?
A dream dessert (just like it’s counterparts Lush, lasagna, and icebox cake) is a layered dessert casserole. Usually it has a crust of cookies or graham crackers or, sometimes, a baked shortbread crust.
The filling is usually some sort of pudding mixed with whipped topping and maybe some fruit or pie filling or more cookies thrown in. Then it’s topped with more whipped topping and garnished.
The beauty of these no bake desserts is that they come together in minutes with just a few ingredients. They serve a crowd and are pure heaven…which is probably another reason why they’re called DREAM desserts.
This easy pineapple dessert is full of crushed pineapple and cool whip. It’s kind of like a fluff dessert…but in a casserole pan.
What are the layers?
Do you ever go to your pantry and randomly find cans of crushed pineapple? Yeah, me too. I don’t know why I even buy the stuff because we don’t eat canned pineapple, but I randomly found a few cans the other day when I was cleaning. The outcome of finding those cans is staring you in the face (and also was made into pineapple fluff).
Did you know you can make pudding without milk? I’m serious! You can make pudding mix with crushed pineapple! The juice makes the pudding.
It’s kind of a magical moment when it all comes together.
This Pineapple Dream Dessert has three layers:
- A shortbread crust.
- A pineapple vanilla pudding filling.
- Cool Whip topping.
The three layers are messy and creamy and crunchy and perfectly no-bake. A casserole like this is perfect for summer!
The shortbread layer is made using shortbread cookies. Use your favorite brand (Walkers is my favorite). You could also substitute Golden Oreos or Nilla Wafers, if you prefer.
On top of the crust is the pineapple pudding filling, made with instant vanilla pudding and crushed pineapple (or pineapple tidbits). Use the juice to make the pudding!
(Kind of like this Dole Whip. Gosh, pineapple abounds this time of year.)
Then it’s all topped with a layer of Cool Whip and garnished with more shortbread. Let it sit for a few hours and you have the perfect pie-like no-bake dessert lush lasagna!!
A no-bake Pineapple Dream Dessert is the perfect dessert casserole for summer. It’s pineapple pudding with a shortbread crust!
If you love pineapple desserts, be sure to check out this Pineapple Cake Fluff recipe!
Other Lush Recipes
- No Bake Lemon Lush Dessert is made even better by using Golden Oreos!
- Banana Dream Dessert is no-bake heaven!
- Shortbread Crust abounds in this Banana Chocolate Chip Dream Dessert!
Pineapple Dream Dessert
Ingredients
- 10 ounces shortbread cookies crushed
- 7 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 1 3.4 ounce box instant vanilla pudding mix
- 20 ounce can crushed pineapple
- 8 ounces Cool Whip divided
Instructions
- Mix crushed cookies and melted butter. Press into the bottom of an 8×8-inch or 9×9-inch pan.
- Stir together pudding mix, pineapple, and half the cool whip container. Spread evenly over crust.
- Top with remaining cool whip and more crushed cookies, if desired. Chill at least 2 hours before serving.
- Store in refrigerator covered for up to 3 days.
Recipe Video
Nutrition Information
Nutritional information not guaranteed to be accurate
No Bake Pineapple Dream Dessert is an easy recipe with whipped topping and pineapple. It’s delightfully dreamy!
Last Updated on July 8, 2020
All text and images © DOROTHY KERN for Crazy for Crust. Please do not use my images without prior permission. If you want to republish this recipe, please re-write the recipe in your own words, or link back to this post for the recipe. Disclaimer: Nutrition information shown is not guaranteed to be accurate.
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Published on: July 8, 2018
I was wondering the same thing – do you prepare the pudding with milk as directed? Or mix the granulated pudding mix directly with the pineapple and cool whip?
No just use the juice from the pineapple – it makes the pudding.
My grandmother made this, as did my mother except with a graham cracker crust and something called dream whip then topped with home canned cherries. We know it gooey dessert.
Where the heck is the recipe for the no bake pineapple dream dessert
do you mix the pudding with the milk first or just the pineapple and no milk, I am not the smartest person sometimes, could you send a reply to my email please not exactly very good with computers either thank you your recipes sound yummy
Wow this cake recipe is so good thank you for sharing your recipe
I made this morning using Pecan Shortbread Cookies as I couldn’t find just shortbread cookies. I also refrigerated it for an hour after filing it with pinapple mixture as it was a bit warm in the kitchen. My family loved it!
I made this yesterday using ingredients I had on hand: gluten-free shortbread cookies, cheesecake pudding mix, and fat-free cool whip. It probably sat in the fridge for 6 hours before we had it for dessert. IT WAS SO GOOD! I was honestly surprised that it held its shape. I could slice it and use a spatula to serve. I had envisioned a scoop type dessert – but was thrilled to see it was basically dessert lasagna!
My grandmother used to make a chocolate dessert similar to this. It brought back some fun memories! Thank you for sharing 🙂
Excited to make the Pineapple Dream Dessert! Just need to get to the store. Want to meke the one w/bananas too. Going to also add some finely crushed walnuts to the crumble on top.
Hi Dorothy,
This looks great! It’s so funny, in my vintage church cookbooks like every other recipe called for pineapple and then people just forgot about it! So this generation has been under-served in the pineapple department! Thanks for starting to fix that 🙂