Grandma’s Pineapple Dessert

This old-fashioned dessert starts with a base of Nilla wafer crumbs.

I originally shared this recipe for my Grandmas’s Pineapple Dessert during the pandemic when I was feeling especially nostalgic for my family. It’s an old-fashioned, tried-and-true recipe that includes a luscious layer of creamy, pineapple sandwiched between Nilla wafer cookie crumbs. A perfect way to cap off an Easter celebration or other spring meal, this dish is a hit with kids and adults alike. I updated the post with a note to make this dessert gluten-free.*

Original post from April 4, 2020:

There may not be any big family gatherings this Easter, but we can still bring our loved ones—past and present—to the table by serving cherished family recipes.

One of the dishes I will be making this year is my grandma Hilma’s Easter Pineapple Dessert. It’s a no-bake recipe that includes layers of crushed pineapple and whipped cream, sandwiched between Nilla Wafer crumbs.

Making this dessert transports me back in time to holidays at my grandma’s cozy house in Bemidji, Minn. I honestly don’t know how she managed to fit so many of us in that house or around her table, which was conveniently located in her kitchen. 

There was no formal dining room, but it didn’t matter. We’d cram our group of a dozen or more aunts, uncles and cousins around her round kitchen table. So many people. So much food. So little space. But, we were just happy to be there and enjoy a great meal together.

It will be a quieter holiday this year with plenty of elbow room at our tables, but hoping your heart (and tummy) are full with your own family’s traditions and favorite foods. 

Happy Easter!

*To make this recipe gluten-free:

• Use a gluten-free vanilla wafers instead of Nilla wafers. Thankfully, there are a variety of gluten-free vanilla wafers such as Kinnikinnick Vanilla Wafers that are just as good as the original.
• Gluten-free graham crackers would also work as a substitute for vanilla wafers.