Homemade Dole Pineapple Whip (Dairy-Free Soft Serve)

If you've never had dairy-free Dole whip then you're in for a treat. And, if you have had it (perhaps at Disney World?), well, you know how amazing it is. Imagine the sweetest, creamiest soft serve bursting with pineapple flavor that's perfect for cooling off on hot summer days.

And the best news is the recipe for this frozen treat has only the good stuff in it: real pineapple, coconut milk, pineapple juice, and a tiny bit of vanilla extract. Besides these simple ingredients, all you need is a blender and a total time of under 10 minutes to make it yourself.

this recipe

I had pineapple whip for the first time on a trip to Kauai, and after one bite I was hooked. There, the local delicacy, white pineapple, was transformed into the most delicious, sweetest soft serve. And, since I'm lactose-intolerant and no dairy is required to make this delicious frozen concoction, I was the happiest girl in all the land. A sweet, all-natural ice cream-like treat that doesn't require me to chomp down loads of Lactaid? I'm sold!

We had Dole Whip again on our trip to Disney World last summer, and I was not surprised to see the line to order one wrapped around the corner of the building. There's a reason why everyone loves this tropical treat, and what's really great: it's really easy to make at home. And guess what? My recipe doesn't have the yucky junk in it--no xanthan gum, guar gum, artificial flavors, or corn syrup. Just really delicious, natural ingredients.

After you make this pineapple Dole whip recipe, you may be inspired to try some other of my Hawaiian recipes. (We travel to my mother-in-law's house on Kauai often, and I love to share our favorite Hawaiian dishes.) Be sure to check out my recipes for Teriyaki-Glazed Spam and Egg Musubi and Poke Nachos with Ahi Tuna. Or, if you're interested in other refreshing summertime recipes, I bet you'll love my Homemade Vanilla Iced Coffee with Stok Cold Brew. For a cocktail option, my Spicy Grapefruit Ranch Water is one of my favorites.

Ingredients

Before we get started, let's gather the ingredients we need for this recipe:

• frozen pineapple chunks
• coconut milk
• pineapple juice
• honey
• vanilla extract
• pineapple wedges, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

Now that we've got our ingredients, it's time to make homemade Dole whip!

1. First, add the coconut milk, honey, and vanilla to a high-speed blender.

2. Next, add the pineapple and pineapple juice.

3. Then, puree the mixture until smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides as needed.

4. Finally, spoon the mixture evenly into serving glasses or transfer to a piping bag fitted with a star tip and pipe into glasses. Serve immediately.

Hint: Want to make this ahead of time? After pureeing the pineapple mixture, transfer it to a freezer-safe container and freeze. When you're ready to serve, scoop the desired amount into the blender and process until creamy. Add a little extra pineapple juice if needed.

Hint #2: To mimic the look of soft serve from a soft serve machine, go for the piping bag or zip-top bag fitted with a star tip. Heads up: You may be just as anxious to dive into this sweet treat as I am, so I usually skip that step.

Substitutions

Here are some ways to change up this recipe if you need to:

• Frozen Pineapple - Sometimes it's cheaper to buy fresh pineapple and freeze it yourself. Peel and cut the pineapple into chunks and freeze it in a single layer for at least 8 hours. You can also freeze canned pineapple chunks. Just be sure to save the juice from the can--you can use that too!
• Pineapple juice - I like to use pineapple juice to thin out the mixture since there's already pineapple in the recipe. Substitute another fruit juice if you'd like. Orange juice is a great alternative.
• Coconut milk - For this recipe, I recommend full-fat coconut milk. It lends an ultra-creamy texture to the soft serve. You can also use coconut cream. I don't recommend light coconut milk--it'll make the finished product icy instead of creamy.
• Other milk - Use other dairy-free milk options instead of coconut if you'd like. Oat milk is a great choice. Or use whole milk. I find that almond milk isn't thick enough and can also make the texture icy.
• Honey - To make this recipe vegan, use maple syrup or agave syrup instead of honey.

Variations

Looking for other ways to make this Dole whip recipe? Here are some ideas:

• Other fruit - Not in the mood for pineapple? Other frozen fruit works great too. Try banana, mango, papaya, cherries, or strawberries instead.
• Coco-nuts - Garnish with toasted coconut chips for a special tropical treat.
• Pineapple Dole Whip Float - This pineapple soft serve is really delicious served in a tall glass with cream soda, lemon-lime soda, or sparkling water added to it. It's also yummy with sparkling wine for a refreshing fizzy cocktail.

Equipment

This is the equipment you'll need to make this recipe. Good news: no ice cream maker is required!

• liquid measuring cup
• measuring spoons
• dry measuring cups
• chef's knife
• high-speed blender
• rubber spatula

Storage

Store leftovers in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Before serving, let the mixture thaw slightly at room temperature or scoop desired amount of the soft serve into a blender and pulse until creamy again.

Frequently asked questions

Recipe guidelines and test kitchen tips

When developing and testing recipes, here are some key things that I do for more success in the kitchen:

• Be sure to use dry measuring cups for things like flour, sugar, and mayonnaise and a liquid measuring cup for things like water, milk, and broth.
• When measuring dry ingredients like flour and powdered sugar that can pack down, spoon the ingredient into a dry measuring cup and level with a knife as opposed to scooping the measuring cup into the ingredient.
• I test and develop recipes using a standard electric oven and standard gas stovetop. Be aware that if you use an electric stovetop or convection oven, your bake times will be different.
• When recipes call for kosher salt, I use Diamond Crystal kosher salt.

Food safety

Finally, don't forget to keep these food safety tips in mind when making this recipe.

• Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods.
• Follow the manufacturer's instructions when operating the blender.

See more guidelines at USDA.gov.