The Best Ice Cream Swap To Use For A Vegan Dole Whip

If you know all there is to know about the Dole Whip, you associate the treat with Disney — it was developed by the Dole Food Company to premier at the Magic Kingdom in 1984. The pineapple dessert was so tasty and refreshing that it became one of Disney World's and then Disneyland's best-loved foods. Delighting fans of both Disney and tropical sweets, the brand released a basic Dole Whip recipe during the pandemic so that people could enjoy a taste of Disney at home. This simplified version of the the frozen classic uses just three ingredients to make the Dole Whip: ice cream, pineapple juice, and frozen pineapple. Unlike the standard pineapple Dole Whip which is dairy-free, ice cream makes this dessert decidedly non-vegan. We decided to consult an expert on how to ditch the ice cream and still end up with a creamy, dairy-free Dole Whip that rivals Disney's.

Tyler Malek is the co-founder and head ice cream maker at the popular chain Salt & Straw, renowned not just for its creative flavors but for its diet-accommodating options. Salt and Straw's monthly menu series for January is all vegan, so we knew Malek would be able to help us figure out an ice cream substitute. "Coconut cream for sure," Malek says. "It's a built-in piña colada!" Fittingly, Salt & Straw's January vegan menu features a coconut cake and pineapple jam flavor, so we especially trust Malek on this island-inspired combination.

Using coconut cream as Malek suggests, you can expect to benefit from that classic piña colada balance of bright, tangy pineapple with sweet coconut. While you could opt for coconut milk, the cream results in a texture boost that gives you a Dole Whip more akin to Disney's luscious take. For the same reason coconut cream is the ideal ingredient for a vegan whipped topping, it's the best choice for mixing into desserts too. It's a thicker, richer liquid that separates from coconut milk, so it has a fuller consistency more similar to soft-serve ice cream or yogurt. And you can make the mixture even thicker by adding in extra frozen pineapple to your blender until you reach your desired consistency.

In addition to its sweetness, coconut cream will make your Dole Whip feel like it's made with ice cream — and coconut cream brings healthy potassium to the mix as well. You can grab affordable coconut cream from Goya, and it's also easy to make your own. From DIY coconut cream to DIY Dole Whips, it's a sweet day to be vegan.