Disney recently shared on the DisneyParks App a Frozen Pineapple Treat. Which is in all appearances, a nod to the Pineapple Dole Whip sold at the parks. Now, there are a few Disney Foodie enthusiasts who will scoff at the idea that the Disney Parks recipe is in fact a Dole Whip DIY recipe. According to some Disney foodies, it’s not a Dole Whip for one distinct reason; vanilla ice cream is included in Disney’s recipe as an ingredient. That’s right, the current Dole Whip sold in the Disney Parks has been dairy free and vegan certified since 1997. Yet, the original Dole Whip prior to 1997 did in fact contain dairy.

In any case, there are the sceptics, even the Dole company came out with their own vegan friendly version of a DIY Dole Whip, as a friendly counter to Disney’s frozen concoction.

For me, however, I am all in for trying anything that could replicate the tangy and sweet frozen pineapple goodness that is a favorite amongst guests visiting the Disney Parks. So why not try what could be perfection? We’ll get back to the recipes later,  first, let me tell you a little bit about the history of the famous Disney snack and why I now crave this delectable treat.

It was the summer of 1992

Can you remember the very first time you tried a Dole Whip? I can. It was the summer of 1992, back when there was dairy in the mix. That was the first summer I was cast in the Main Street Electrical Parade. I remember parking my float and hightailing it one night to meet up with a few other Cast Members who had invited me to come along to try an amazing pineapple soft serve that was sold just outside the Tiki Room.  I remember we were walking as fast as we could, across Main Street USA,  past Carnation Plaza and on into Adventureland.  We were bobbing, weaving, and side stepping around guests in the dimly lit landscape of Disneyland, just to get in line and grab a Dole Whip. 

Parade Cast Members could get away with getting into the parks back then during our shift, just as long as we didn’t go on an attraction. I truly enjoyed those summer nights, going into the park in between parades to enjoy a tasty treat. Ahhh, those were the days. It was on this one fateful summer night that I will never forget the taste of that first Dole Whip. It was cold, sweet, refreshing and yet tarte enough to cause the back of your mouth to tense up as it swallowed that first drop of pineapple. It was so good. So good in fact, that twenty-eight years later, it’s still my favorite Disney Parks treat.

   

The History

How did the Dole Whip come about anyway?  Well, Dole became the official sponsor of Disneyland’s Enchanted Tiki Room in 1976. The partnership between the two companies consisted specifically of selling Dole’s pineapple which is why all pineapples used throughout the Disney Resorts are Dole grown. For the first ten years, between 1976 and 1986, the fruit stand outside of the Tiki room sold Dole pineapple juice and juicy pineapple spears. It wasn’t until 1986, through a collaboration between both Disney and Dole that produced the now legendary Dole Whip and the Dole Whip float, which is the same Whip served with pineapple juice.

Kent Precision Food Groups took over the license rights to Dole Whip in 1997

Kent Precision Food group’s mission statement reads, “Kent Precision Foods Group specializes in developing, blending and packaging dry mix food products to our customers’ exacting specifications. In addition to our dry blending capabilities, KPFG offers a diverse line of branded products for the foodservice and consumer channels. Kent Precision Foods Group and their parent company Kent Corporation are committed to conducting business with the highest standards of morality, fairness, and integrity and to adhere to the laws of the jurisdictions in which their business takes place.”

The Airy Texture makes the Dole Whip

Since 1997, Dole Whip is now licensed by Kent Precision Foods Group, and describes the Dole Whip as being made with a non-dairy creamer, sugar, natural flavoring and coloring.  The company also states that anyone who licenses Dole Whip must use the company’s soft serve machine, because it’s their machine that creates the air like texture. Without this machine,  you can’t claim the product is a Dole Whip. 

If no one has a patented Kent Precision Soft Serve Machine, can anyone really make a DIY Dole Whip?

And so, when the Disney Parks App shared their Frozen Pineapple Treat recipe with the world,  they did so,  knowing families were staying safe at home.  Also knowing folks weren’t likely to have the patented soft serve machine at home, a Dole Whip like recipe was bestowed upon the Earth to many great cheers, and few grumbles and nay-sayers. But to them I say, “Let them eat Dole Whip!”

The Disney Parks Frozen Pineapple Recipe

The pictures above by Disney, show the simple ingredients needed to make what the Disney Parks call a Frozen Pineapple Treat. It also lists a suggested piping bag to make that famous swirl we have come accustomed to when enjoying a Dole Whip at the Parks.

Let’s Make the Dole Whip, I mean, the Frozen Pineapple Treat

• One fresh Dole Pineapple. Cut, remove the core, and freeze 2 cups fresh pineapple, preferably overnight, the harder and more frozen the pineapple, the better.
• 1/2 cup Dole Pineapple juice; you may need more, depending on how well your blender can cut through the frozen pineapple
• 1 large scoop of vanilla ice cream.
• 1 Blender (I used my Ninja blender)
• If you are Vegan, my suggestion, deviating now from the Disney Parks recipie, is to omit the vanilla ice cream and instead, add 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut milk, it tastes wonderful, yet not as creamy or sweet as the Dole Whips sold at the Disney Parks.

Add all the ingredients and blend until smooth.

Dole’s DIY Dole Whip Recipe

Dole recently came out with their own version of an at home DIY Dole Whip which I also made.

As written by Dole, you will need

• 1 cup ripe DOLE® pineapple, chopped and frozen
• 1 ripe DOLE® Banana, peeled and frozen
• 2-1/2 teaspoons powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut milk
• 1 teaspoon lime juice.
• Directions: Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor. Cover; blend until smooth, about 2-3 minutes.

To Be a Dole Whip or Not To Be… Is that really the question?

Dole’s recipe was tasty, especially if you want to blend it a bit more and turn it into a smoothie. With the addition of the banana in Dole’s recipe, it helps to create a creamy texture, yet, the flavor of banana is therefore also apparent, and I tend to be a purist of pineapple whenever possible, at least when it comes to a Dole Whip.

After making both the Disney Parks recipe and Dole’s, I am in favor of the Disney Parks Frozen Pineapple Treat that tastes near identical to the Dole Whip. It was so good in fact that my husband now comes home regularly with a pineapple.

The simple and all natural ingredients, depending on the ice cream you choose, for the recipe was so good in fact that I started experimenting more and ended up creating a Dole Whip blended margarita by adding 3 tablespoons Tequila, 2 tablespoons Triple Sec, and 1 tablespoon fresh squeezed lime juice to the Disney Parks recipe. Cheers!

Ahhh, the Dole Whip that can also be enjoyed as a float or a fruity libation, is a tangy and sweet frozen pineapple treat and I am so grateful that Disney Parks shared their version so that we too can make a near perfect version. So sit back, click on the SoundsofDisneyland.com and close your eyes while you enjoy the Dole Whip you just made. It tastes honestly,  AMAZING!! But don’t take my word for it. Try it for yourself and let me know what you think.