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Dole Whip Cupcakes

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These Pineapple Dole Whip Cupcakes are a fun twist on a Disney classic! Fluffy pineapple-flavored cupcakes topped with smooth, creamy pineapple frosting give you all the tropical vibes and refreshing sweetness of a Dole Whip, right in cupcake form. Perfect for a little taste of magic at home!

Pineapple Cupcakes with pineapple frosting on a wood backdrop.

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Below you will find tips, tricks and helpful hints for making this recipe including step by step instructions with pictures. If you would like to go directly to the recipe, scroll down to the recipe card or tap “Jump to Recipe” at the top of the page.

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

If you’ve been to Disneyland or Walt Disney World, you have probably heard of Dole Whip. If you haven’t, I’m so sorry. Dole Whip is my all-time FAVORITE Disney treat!

Pineapple Dole Whip is a creamy, dairy-free, soft serve pineapple dessert that is available at both the Disneyland Resort as well as Walt Disney World. It is a classic Disney treat!

A few years ago, ran a neighborhood cupcake business and I wanted to turn Pineapple Dole Whip into a cupcake. And it was a success!

Three rows of Dole Whip cupcakes.

Not only are these cupcakes delicious, they were my top selling flavor! My neighbors and friends loved them.

Find out how to make your own Dole Whip Soft Serve here!

The cake portion of this treat is pineapple flavored and stuffed with an over the top pineapple filling. On top, you will find a creamy pineapple buttercream frosting.

A pineapple cupcake with pineapple filling.

Make sure you use a piping bag and star tip so that the frosting will look just like the Dole Whip sold at the parks!

By the way, if you are a big fan of Disney snacks and treats like me, be sure to check out my entire collection of make-at-home Disney Recipes here! And pineapple fans will love this Pineapple Pound Cake.

A pineapple Dole Whip Cupcake on a pedestal.
Adults at Kids Prices at Walt Disney World.

Black Friday starts NOW! With this Disney World Ticket Sale you can get Adults at Kids Prices on all 3-Day or longer Disney World Resort Tickets! Combine this ticket sale in a vacation package and get up to 25% on select Disney World Hotels or a FREE night at some Orlando hotels. Don’t forget to use the coupon code: Clubhouse10 to save even more. Tap the yellow button below to check prices and see more Disney World Deals from Get Away Today!

Ingredients for Dole Whip Cupcakes

Pineapple Cupcakes

  • Vanilla Cake Mix– You can use a vanilla cake mix or a white cake mix to make these cupcakes, but I prefer the taste of vanilla.
  • Pineapple Flavored Jello– This jello is used to flavor the cupcakes. I have been able to easily find it at my local grocery store, Walmart, and here on Amazon.
  • Butter – for this recipe, I like to use unsalted butter. Melted butter is added to the cake mix in place of oil.
  • Eggs – You will use one more egg in this recipe than what is called for on the back of the cake mix box. Use large eggs.
  • Pineapple Juice – Use any brand of pineapple juice that you want. My favorite brand is DOLE.
  • Milk – Instead of water that is called for on the cake mix box, you will be using milk.
A box of Island Pineapple Jello.

Pineapple Filling

  • Crushed Pineapple: Adds natural pineapple flavor and texture, bringing that juicy, tropical taste to every bite.
  • Sugar: Sweetens the filling, balancing the tartness of the pineapple for a perfectly sweet center.
  • Corn Starch: Thickens the filling so it stays in place inside the cupcake, creating a nice, gooey consistency.
  • Butter: Adds richness and a silky texture, making the filling creamy and smooth.
  • Feel free to adjust sugar levels for sweetness, or swap butter for a vegan option if desired!
Crushed pineapple being added to a pan.

Pineapple Buttercream

  • Butter: The creamy base of the buttercream, whipped until light and fluffy to create a smooth, rich texture.
  • Powdered Sugar: Sweetens and thickens the frosting, giving it that classic buttercream sweetness.
  • Vanilla: Adds a hint of warmth and depth to balance the pineapple flavor.
  • Pineapple Gelatin Mix: Brings in the tropical pineapple taste and a fun yellow color, making the frosting fruity and vibrant.
  • Milk: Thins out the frosting to a spreadable consistency; you can adjust it for the texture you want.
A spatula with pineapple buttercream frosting on it.

Helpful Kitchen Tools

How to Make Dole Whip Cupcakes

[Step 1] Pineapple Cupcakes: Add the cake mix, pineapple Jello, butter, eggs, pineapple juice and milk to the bowl of a stand mixer or use a mixing bowl and hand mixer. Beat until mixed together.

[Step 2] Line a cupcake pan with paper cupcake liners. Using a 1 tablespoon cookie scoop, add three scoops of batter to each cup. Bake the cupcakes at 325 degrees for 13-18 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Cupcake batter in a cupcake pan.

[Step 3] Add the crushed pineapple, sugar, and corn starch to a saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until boiling. Reduce the heat and simmer, while continuing to stir, for 5 minutes. Remove the pineapple filling from the heat, stir in the butter and allow to cool. Reserve 1/4 cup of filling, to add to the frosting.

Pineapple filling stirred with a spatula.

[Step 4] Place the softened butter in the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment. Whip the butter until light and fluffy. Mix in the vanilla extract, Jello mix, and reserved pineapple filling.  Add the powdered sugar 1 cup at a time, mixing in between. Pour in the milk, one tablespoon at a time, until the desired consistency is reached.

A spoonful of pineapple Jello mix.

[Step 5] To assemble the cupcakes, use a cupcake corer or a knife to remove the center of the each cupcake. Add the pineapple filling to a piping bag and snip off the end. Pipe the filing into the middle of each cupcake.

Pineapple filling being piped into pineapple Dole Whip Cupcakes.

[Step 6] Add the frosting to a piping bag with a large star tip. Pipe the buttercream on top of the cupcakes in a circular motion to mimic a Dole Whip Soft Serve.

Pineapple buttercream being piped onto a pineapple cupcake.

I hope you enjoy these Dole Whip Cupcakes whenever you are craving a yummy Disney treat!

Disney Tickets & Vacation Savings

My travel partner, Get Away Today, offers park tickets that are always a few dollars less than what you can purchase directly from Disney. I have been buying my tickets for them for many years and their customer service can’t be beat! You can check ticket prices here.

A Disneyland ticket in front of the Disneyland train station.

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More Disney Recipes:

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Close up of a Dole Whip Cupcake

Dole Whip Cupcakes

Yield: 24 Cupcakes
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes

Delicious Dole Whip Cupcakes are moist pineapple cupcakes, stuffed with creamy pineapple filling, and topped with fluffy pineapple buttercream frosting.

Ingredients

Pineapple Cupcakes

  • 1 Box Vanilla Cake Mix
  • 1 Box Tropical Pineapple Jello
  • 1/2 Cup Butter, melted
  • 4 Eggs
  • 3/4 Cup Pineapple Juice
  • 3/4 Cup Milk

Pineapple Filling

  • 1 Can Crushed Pineapple (20 oz.)
  • 1/2 Cup Sugar
  • 3 Tablespoons Corn Starch
  • 2 Tablespoons Butter

Pineapple Buttercream

  • 1 Cup Butter
  • 4 Cups Powdered Sugar
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
  • 2 Tablespoons Pineapple Jello Mix
  • 1/4 Cup of Pineapple Filling
  • 2-4 Tablespoons Milk

Instructions

  1. Pineapple Cupcakes: Add all cake ingredients into the bowl of a stand mixer or use a mixing bowl and hand mixer.
  2. Line a cupcake/muffin pan with paper liners. Using a 1 tablespoon cookie scoop, add three scoops of batter to each cup.
  3. Bake the cupcakes at 325 degrees for 13-18 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
  4. Pineapple Filling: Add crushed pineapple, sugar, and corn starch to a saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until boiling. Reduce the heat and simmer, while continuing to stir, for 5 minutes. Remove the pineapple filling from the heat, stir in the butter and allow to cool. Reserve 1/4 cup of filling to make the frosting.
  5. Pineapple Buttercream: Place the softened butter in the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment. Whip the butter until light and fluffy.
  6. Mix in vanilla, Jello mix, and reserved pineapple filling. Then add the powdered sugar 1 cup at a time, mixing in between.
  7. Add the milk, one tablespoon at a time, until the desired consistency is reached.
  8. Cupcake Assembly: Use a cupcake corer or a knife to remove the center of each cupcake.
  9. Add the filling to a piping bag with the end snipped off. Pipe the filling into the middle of each cupcake.
  10. Add the frosting to piping bag with a large star tip. Pipe the buttercream on top of the cupcakes in a circular motion to mimic a Dole Whip.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 24 Serving Size: 1 Cupcake
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 346Total Fat: 15gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 66mgSodium: 295mgCarbohydrates: 51gFiber: 1gSugar: 39gProtein: 3g

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Sam

Thursday 30th of May 2024

Do these need to be refrigerated for safety or are they good to leave out? It gets pretty warm where I live, so I want to make sure.

Mindy

Tuesday 4th of June 2024

I would keep them refrigerated and set them out an hour or two before serving :)

Cyndi Jenkins

Saturday 30th of July 2022

Girl!!!! This recipe is amazing! I have used it to make cupcakes and a cake! So yummy!

Jasmin

Monday 13th of June 2022

Hi I was just wondering if the butter is supposed to be unsalted or not

Mindy

Saturday 18th of June 2022

I use unsalted :)

Mitsué

Sunday 13th of February 2022

Hi there! I keep re-reading to understand the buttercream recipe. So I need two batches of the filling for this recipe right? Some that will just be filling, and some that will be added to the frosting? I’m sorry if I’m completely missing the mark here, just want to make sure I’m understanding correctly. Thanks!

Mindy

Sunday 13th of February 2022

I’m so sorry for the confusion! You just need to reserve 1/4 cup of the filling and set it aside for the frosting. I will definitely make that more clear in the instructions 😊

Cheryl

Saturday 10th of July 2021

What is the jello mix? You say put the pineapple jello into the cake batter which is the box of island pineapple but you say add the pineapple mix into the frosting! I have no clue what I’m missing here!

Mindy

Saturday 10th of July 2021

The “jello mix” I said to add to the frosting is the same as the pineapple jello powder that you add to the cupcakes, I just phrased it in a different way. Sorry for the confusion 😊

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