Obsessed :: Dole Whip Edition

I love Dole Whip.

I know, I know… almost everybody who’s ever tasted that cool, sweet pineapple treat says that.

But I’m a Dole Whip fanatic.

Dole Whip obsessed.

If you are unfamiliar with Dole Whip, let me enlighten you. It’s pineapple soft serve that’s only available at a handful of places around the world, most of them in and around Disney parks, and it has amassed quite the cult following. You can read all about the history of Dole Whip here.

I worked in Disney World in 2001 as part of the College Program and I had Dole Whip literally whenever I wanted. My go-to back then was a Dole Whip float, which is soft serve with pineapple juice. Extra refreshing in the Florida heat!

Unfortunately, I haven’t been to Disney since 2002, so my last real Dole Whip experience was on my honeymoon in 2018 when we visited the Dole Plantation in Hawaii.

Me with my Dole Whip at the Dole Plantation in Hawaii

I recently did a tasting of some popular TikTok cocktails and the hands-down favorite was the Dole Whiptini. That got me thinking about other Dole Whip recipes I might be able to try at home. As I suspected, “Dole Whip” usually translates into simply adding pineapple and vanilla to most things, which doesn’t always mean that true Dole Whip flavor is there. But there were definitely some heavy hitters in our lineup.

Here’s what we tried out:

Dole Whip (The Alleged “Official Secret Recipe”) from Glamour

I am so serious about Dole Whip, I once rented a soft serve machine to churn Dole Pineapple Soft Serve Mix for a party I was throwing. (Side Note: That party was a gender reveal for my son, who has since proven to us that he is pineapple-obsessed like his mama!) Since this Dole mix is dairy-free, I find it hard to believe the “official” recipe is made with vanilla ice cream. This recipe was just ok in my opinion — definitely refreshing, but not nearly as close to real Dole Whip flavor.
Pro Tip: Blend the pineapple juice and frozen pineapple chunks first and then add in your ice cream for the best texture.

Vegan Dole Whip from Chocolate Covered Katie

I used coconut milk in this recipe and, while definitely delicious, it was far from Dole Whip flavor. It felt more like Dole Whip’s older, more sensible smoothie cousin.


Dole Whip Cookies
from Delish

These cookies were delicious, even without the frosting! But definitely don’t skip the frosting since I found it had a more authentic Dole Whip flavor.

Dole Whip Cupcakes from Parade

These cupcakes tasted pretty good, but the frosting didn’t hold up as well as I would’ve liked. Between the cookies and the cupcakes, we preferred the cookies.

Now for what my husband referred to as the “Drunken Dole Whip” section:

Dole Whip Mimosas from Delish

These were so good! We forgot to sugar the rim and the whipped cream on top (cooking with kids, amiright?), but they were still delicious. Definitely a nice twist on a regular mimosa.


Dole Whip Margaritas
from Delish

These were very good (and my husband’s favorite out of all the Dole Whip variations we tried)! The Tajin added a little twist on the sweetness of the pineapple. Definitely the most unique of the bunch.

Boozy Dole Whip Popsicles from Chip & Company

These were BY FAR my favorite! Even without the alcohol, these were excellent — and, to me, the closest to true Dole Whip flavor! I poured some into my popsicle molds and the rest into FroZip bags (think: adult freeze pops). If you’re looking for authentic Dole Whip flavor at home, try these!

Are you Dole Whip obsessed too?

Joey Yearous
Joey is a New Orleans native, Dominican alum, and LSU grad who joined the ranks of motherhood in the summer of 2019. She and her Colorado born-and-raised husband, Phil, left their Mid-City apartment for a house on the Northshore about ten days before they welcomed their son, Sam, into the world. A short 19 months later, their daughter Sloane arrived and their caboose Nicholas completed their family 17 months after that. Though she’s always had a passion for writing, it’s her work in whole-home generator sales that pays the bills. Her 3 kiddos keep her busy, but when she’s got a free moment, you can find her cooking, trying new restaurants, and listening to true crime podcasts. A consummate Pinterest fanatic, she’s always looking for her next DIY project or recipe to try. She believes good senses of humor and random acts of kindness make the world go ‘round.

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