Skip to Content
Menu

Creamy Tropical Dessert (lighter recipe)

Betty Crocker Kitchens
Updated May 18, 2016
  • Pin
Enjoy these chilled creamy fruit squares without worrying about your waistline! Removing fat--but not flavor--is easily accomplished with reduced-fat cream cheese and frozen whipped topping.

Creamy Tropical Dessert (lighter recipe)

  • Prep Time 15 min
  • Total 9 hr 0 min
  • Servings 15
  • Ingredients 12
  • Pin

Ingredients

Almond Pastry

  • 1 1/2 cups Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup margarine, softened
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/2 cup almonds, finely chopped

Filling

  • 1 package (8 oz) reduced-fat cream cheese (Neufchâtel), softened
  • 2/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 1 can (20 oz) crushed pineapple, drained, 1 cup juice reserved
  • 3 cups Cool Whip lite frozen whipped topping, thawed
  • 2 cups miniature marshmallows
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 cup kiwifruit slices or strawberries, quartered
Make With
Gold Medal Flour

Instructions

  • Step 
    1
    Heat oven to 400°F. In large bowl, beat flour, margarine and powdered sugar with electric mixer on low speed 1 minute, scraping bowl constantly. Beat on high speed about 2 minutes or until creamy. Stir in almonds. Spread in ungreased 13x9-inch pan. Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until edges are golden brown; cool.
  • Step 
    2
    In large bowl, mix cream cheese, granulated sugar and the vanilla until smooth. Reserve 1/2 cup pineapple. Stir remaining pineapple into cream cheese mixture. Fold whipped topping and marshmallows into cream cheese mixture. Spread over pastry crust. Cover and refrigerate at least 8 hours but no longer than 48 hours.
  • Step 
    3
    In 2-quart saucepan, gradually stir reserved 1 cup pineapple juice into cornstarch. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and boils. Boil and stir 1 minute; cool. Fold in reserved pineapple and the kiwifruit. Cut dessert into squares; serve with fruit mixture. Store in refrigerator.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 Serving
Calories from Fat
180
% Daily Value*:
Vitamin A
16%
16%
Exchanges:
Free
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Tips from the Betty Crocker Kitchens

  • Trademarks referred to herein are the properties of their respective owners.
© 2025 ®/TM General Mills All Rights Reserved

Reviews & Questions Section