Pineapple Cream Cheese Spread: A Kraft-Style Copycat Recipe
This homemade Pineapple Cream Cheese Spread is quick and easy to make with simple ingredients. It works as a spread or dip for crackers, bagels, toast or as a party appetizer. This easy recipe is just about as close as you can get to the original.
My version is inspired by the spread that the Kraft® company introduced in the 1950’s and is based upon my taste buds and memory. If you’ve lived long enough, you’ll remember the sweetness and tanginess of this light and fluffy cheese spread that came in a little 5-ounce glass jar. Fluffy cream cheese with pineapple bits and a few other simple ingredients brings back the nostalgia of yesteryear.
This particular spread was discontinued sometime in the early 2020’s, which left many consumers heart-broken. (You might remember some of the other jarred spreads: Old English Sharp Cheese Spread, Pimento Spread, CheezWhiz and their infamous Sandwich spread.)
Why this tastes just like the original
This version uses almost the same ingredients as the original pineapple cream cheese spread except for some filler ingredients like whey protein, guar gum, carob bean gum, pectin, and gelatin. This homemade version is much healthier and uses only Philadelphia cream cheese®, drained pineapple packed in pineapple juice and not heavy corn syrup, sugar, a hint of salt and a hint of white vinegar.
This recipe is in no way affiliated or endorsed by the KraftHeinz or Philadelphia Cream Cheese companies.
Pineapple Cream Cheese Spread Ingredients
Even though the KraftHeinz company discontinued the pineapple spread, their subsidiary, Philadelphia Cream Cheese, introduced a very similar version during the 1990’s. The primary difference was the vessel: the Philly version comes in a small gray and white tub. I tried the tub of pineapple spread and somehow, it didn’t taste the same to me…must have been that little jar that made all the difference!
- Cream cheese – there’s a million different brands out there; I’ve used Philadelphia Cream Cheese and Kroger Cream Cheese for this recipe and couldn’t tell any difference.
- Pineapple – crushed or tidbits packed in pineapple juice and not heavy syrup
- Sugar – plain ole’ white granulated sugar
- Salt – a pinch of Kosher salt
- White vinegar – just a little
- Cheddar cheese – this is optional; you’ll want to use finely shredded sharp cheddar if you decide to include it
You can serve this old fashioned pineapple dip anytime of the year, but its especially welcome in the Spring and Summer as a light fruit spread! Craving more pineapple recipes? Check out my Hawaiian Pasta Salad, Baked Pineapple Bread Casserole or my quick and easy Pineapple BBQ sauce.
How to make it
Drain the pineapple and bring the cream cheese to room temperature. In a medium-size mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese and the other ingredients. (You can do this by hand or use a hand or stand mixer.) Cover with plastic and chill for 10 minutes.
Serving suggestions
- Serve with crackers, bagels, shortbread cookies, fresh fruit or use it as a topping for waffles or pancakes.
- This fluffy pineapple spread also tastes great on a ham sandwich or as a side dish with other salty proteins like barbecue ribs or brisket!
Storage and Make Ahead
You can make this 3-5 days in advance; store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The maxiumum storage time is about 7 days; this is because this homemade pineapple cream cheese spread doesn’t contain any additives or stabilizers that extend the life of the product. Freezing is not recommended because the texture changes.
If you make this recipe, please scroll down and leave a rating and comment.
Pineapple Cream Cheese Spread: A Kraft-Style Copycat Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 oz. package cream cheese, softened
- 10 oz. can pineapple, crushed or tidbits, drained , packed in 100% pineapple juice, not heavy syrup
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon white vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅓ cup finely shredded sharp cheddar cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Drain the pineapple; bring cream cheese to room temperature
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine all ingredients; cover and chill for 10 minutes
- Serve with chips, crackers, bagels, pancakes or muffins
Notes
Nutrition Estimate
FAQs
Yes. You’ll want to dice the pineapple into tiny pieces and squeeze the juice out using a fine mesh sieve or a paper towel or clean dish cloth.
Yes, but in my experimention with this recipe, I found the sugar is a key element in achieving the flavor of the original.
This pineapple spread will safely last up to 7 days in the refrigerator if stored in an airtight container. The homemade version does not contain fillers or additives that extend the shelf life like the original.)
I remember that cute little jar of pineapple goodness! Thanks for bringing it back, because I’ve missed it. Do you think I could use low-fat cream cheese in this recipe?
Sure!