Each layer of these No-Bake Hawaiian Dream Dessert Cups is delicious, but together, the sum of each layered parts is one amazing bite. It will be the hit of your next gathering or barbecue.
I am so excited about this dessert. It’s inspired by my most recent visit to Hawaii. I love how travel gets me into the kitchen and thinking about flavors I experienced while away from home.
It’s no secret, pineapple, coconut and all things macadamia nut remind us of tropical climates, breezy beaches and all things Hawaiian. I am a huge fan of coconut, especially coconut ice cream and this coco-nutty recipe does not disappoint in that department.
The best part, it’s not cloyingly sweet as you might suspect. In fact, it’s perfectly balanced when it comes to taste. The first few bites are fluffy, sweet and creamy. Then you make your way down to the sweet-salty macadamia nut crust and it’s so delicious. You’ll see.
I thought about using crushed pineapple instead of the ring (and you can do that), but this ring incorporates a nice textural change into the middle of this dessert. It looks cool too!
Each layer is delicious, but together, the sum of the layered parts is one amazing bite. It will be the hit of your next gathering or barbecue. Or maybe you’ll serve it at the luau you’re throwing this summer. What a great idea.
Enjoy every bite.
Other Hawaiian inspired desserts you might like:
- Hawaiian Pineapple Pudding Cake
- Gratineed Pineapple
- Hawaiian Fruit Dip
- Coconut-Pineapple Cupcakes with Pineapple-Cream Cheese Frosting
- One Year Ago: Chocolate-Banana-Avocado Bread with Chocolate-Avocado “Buttercream”
- Two Years Ago: Coconut-Mango-Carrot Smoothie
How to Make No Bake Hawaiian Dream Dessert Cups
Ingredients
- 12 (9 oz) plastic tumbler cups
For the crust:
- 9 oz (about 2 cups) unsalted, roasted macadamia nuts
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon table salt
- 1/3 cup butter, melted
For the filling:
- 1 box (3.4 oz) instant coconut cream pudding mix
- 1-3/4 cups whole milk
- 12 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 3/4 cup + 12 teaspoons sweetened, flaked coconut ~ divided
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 Tablespoons pineapple juice (reserved from canned pineapple used in recipe)
- 2 Tablespoons heavy cream
- 1/2 cup 1/2 cup macadamia nuts, chopped
- 12 sliced pineapple rings in 100% pineapple juice (the syrup kind is too sweet)
- 1 (12oz) container Cool Whip, thawed or stabilized whipped cream
- 1 (6.5 oz) can Reddi Wip, whipped cream
- chopped macadamia nuts for garnish
- toasted coconut for garnish
Directions
- In a bowl of a food processor, add macadamia nuts, granulated sugar and salt. Process into crumbs. Add melted butter and process until smooth (it will be very wet). Divide mixture (which should be almost pourable) evenly among plastic cups. Use the back of a spoon to make it flat if necessary. Place in the fridge to set and harden into a crust while making the rest of the ingredients (about 30 minutes).
- Combine instant pudding and cold milk. Whisk for two minutes and place in refrigerator for at least 15 minutes to set.
- Beat together cream cheese, 3/4 cup coconut, sugar, pineapple juice and heavy cream until smooth. Stir in 1/2 cup chopped macadamia nuts.
- Remove cups with crust from the refrigerator. Spoon in cream cheese layer first, dividing evenly among the 12 cups. Sprinkle the cream cheese mixture with one teaspoon of coconut per cup. Top this layer with coconut cream pudding, dividing evenly among all cups. Top pudding layer with a pineapple ring, pushing it down slightly into the cup so it rests on top of the pudding. Fill the rest of each cup (to the top) with Cool Whip. Place back in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours and up to 36 hours. Right before serving, top off each cup with Reddi Wip and sprinkle with chopped macadamia nuts and toasted coconut.
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Sues says
These look so perfect for summer! I’ve been eating a ton of pineapple lately, so I think I need to make these 🙂
Kristen @ A Mind Full Mom says
These are one of the most flavorful, creative pudding cups I have ever seen!
Marnie says
Can you make these the night before and add whip cream and coconut in the morning before serving?
Jocelyn @BruCrew Life says
What an absolutely delicious looking parfait!!! These are the perfect picnic food!!!
Tanya Schroeder says
I may not be able to go to Hawaii, but I can certainly enjoy this dessert!! Ooh boy these look good! I do like the pineapple ring, you are right it does look pretty!
Minnie@thelady8home says
That looks divinely delicious!!! Perfect desert. Drooling over those pictures.
suzan-in-nc says
I made this dessert, and it is wonderful. What’s not to love – its festive and pretty and the winning combination of macadamia nuts, coconut, pineapple, and whipped cream is scrumptious. Everyone LOVED it. I definitely will be making this again. Many thanks, Cathy.
Cathy says
Glad to hear it!!
Karen says
HI Cathy – quick questions:
1. Cover the cups when you put them back into the fridge for the last time before topping and serving?
2. Can I half the recipe for only 6 servings – assuming still make the whole box of pudding but I can eat half of it (LOL) instead of using it for these beautiful desserts?
Margaret White says
Where can I buy coconut instant pudding
Cathy says
They sell it at my regular market.
Colleen says
Hmm coconut instant pudding? We don’t have that here in Australia… or cool whip… i can use whipped cream, but what is a nice substitute for coconut instant pudding? I’ve seen we finally can get coconut yoghurt..
Joy says
I made these pudding cups for a “Celebration of Life” using a Hawaiian theme as he had lived in Hawaii. I could not find coconut pudding so I used vanilla pudding and added coconut flavoring. I made them in smaller cups that I found at Dollar Tree. And added a small plastic silver spoon. I had to transport over 100 miles so I made them the day before, stored them in an ice chest and added the RediWhip and toppings after I arrived at the celebration. They were a hit! Everyone commented on them. And they looked beautiful!
Leona says
These look incredible! My family would love them, but there are a couple of us that don’t like cream cheese – what do you recommend as a substitute?
Cathy says
I would sub Mascarpone for the cream cheese or make a vanilla buttercream.