The classic Disney Dole Whip is yours for the making!!! This is the perfect summer dessert, sweet, refreshing, and bursting with flavor. The best part is you don’t have to wait for your next trip to Disneyland to enjoy this amazing treat!!

Disney has released its Dole Whip recipe to the masses! That’s right; you can make this fantastic frozen treat yourself at home! Dole Whip was first sold at Disneyland in 1986 and has since developed a cult following. People are obsessed with it! But I can’t blame them; it is pretty amazing. But did you know that Disneyland isn’t the only place where you can get this tasty treat? Here in Hawaii, on the island of Oahu, you can drive to the North Shore and get it at the Dole Plantation. That’s where I first experienced it. Some say it tastes better here in Hawaii because it’s made with fresh, locally grown pineapples, literally grown just down the road. No matter where you get it, though, you will love it! But now you can make it yourself.

The key to good Dole Whip is a good pineapple. It’s been said that pineapples taste better in Hawaii, and they actually do! But it’s not just because you’re in paradise that they taste better; it has to do with the variety grown here. Most pineapples grown here in Hawaii are called “sugarloaf pineapples,” and for a good reason, they are high in sugar and low in acidity, making them super desirable for eating. But they are softer and more fragile than other varieties of pineapples. Because of this, they don’t ship well and are not exported to any other states.

How to Pick a Fresh Pineapple:

Unlike other fruits, a pineapple will not ripen any further after being harvested. So it is important that it is harvested at peak ripeness. Unless you are growing your own, you have no control over when the pineapple is harvested, so you should know how to spot the ripest one. The first step is to look for a plump and fresh-looking pineapple with fresh, green leaves on the crown. The body of the pineapple should be firm, not soft. The larger the pineapple, the greater proportion of edible fruit, but size does not indicate ripeness or sweetness. Skin color is also not an indicator of ripeness. A pineapple’s skin can range from green to yellow. Pineapple can be sweet and ripe even when it is almost all green. I like to smell my pineapple when I’m selecting it. A ripe, sweet pineapple will have a nice, sweet aroma. Once you pick your pineapple, the sooner you eat it, the better. Store it in the refrigerator if you don’t plan to use your pineapple right away. It will keep better and longer.

For this recipe, you’ll want to freeze your pineapple chucks. To freeze a fresh pineapple, remove the skin and the core, then cut it into uniform chunks. Place them on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet in a single layer. Make sure the pieces are not touching each other. Allow the pineapple to freeze for 6 hours or overnight. Once they are frozen, you can toss them into a freezer bag until you are ready to use them. I have made the mistake of placing all of my pineapple pieces in a container to freeze them. I ended up with one large chunk of pineapple with all the pieces frozen together, and I had to chip them apart to use them for my smoothie…Don’t make my mistake.

Making the Dole Whip:

Add your frozen pineapple chunks to a blender or food processor, along with the pineapple juice and ice cream, and process until smooth. This is best served immediately as it will be creamy and smooth. It will harden up a lot in the freezer because of the pineapple juice, so I do not recommend freezing it for later.

Serve in a bowl or glass. Optionally you can top with chopped pineapple and a dollop of whip cream. For an authentic Dole Whip experience, use a piping bag and an extra-large star tip to pipe the Dole Whip into the serving dish. I recommend freezing the Dole Whip for 30 minutes before pipping it into the bowls. This will help it firm up a little and hold its shape better. But don’t leave it in the freezer too long because it freezes pretty hard.

Can I use frozen pineapple from the store?

Yes, of course. Frozen, prepackaged pineapple will work if you can’t find fresh pineapple or don’t want to bother cutting up an entire pineapple. I will say this though…nothing beats a fresh pineapple.