The Budget-Friendly Way To Enjoy A Dole Whip Protein Shake

A trip to a Disney theme park isn't complete without a Dole Whip, and it's been that way ever since the creamy pineapple soft serve's 1984 debut. Years later, the fruity, non-dairy dessert has also been offered outside of the parks as a generic "pineapple soft serve" available at fro-yo chains, small town ice cream shops, and even college cafeterias. Grocery stores began selling officially branded Dole Whip in 2023, and today, you can even buy dry Dole Whip protein powder to get that Tiki Room feeling after you've hit the weight room. But that branding comes at a cost, $49.99 for 25 servings to be precise. Thankfully, it's as easy as throwing a couple ingredients into a blender to duplicate a Dole Whip protein shake for a lot less money.

To get that smooth, frosty, pineapple taste with a whole lot of protein, your first inclination might be to simply blend frozen pineapple with your liquid of choice and plain protein powder. But if you're not careful about which supplement brand you use, it could actually cost more money per serving than the officially licensed Dole Whip protein powder. Unless you're a fan of the exceptionally low priced Nutricost whey powder at less than $1 a serving, or Orgain vegan protein powder at $1.60 a serving, you could be paying exactly the same $2 a serving as the Be:Amazing vegan Dole Whip protein powder ... and then you'd be adding the $1.20-per-cup cost of frozen pineapple on top of it.

If you want to maximize your savings with Dole Whip muscle shakes at home, the answer is to step away from pre-consumer food processing as much as you can. It may be convenient to grab a handful of already chunked pineapple out of the freezer, but a fresh whole pineapple is nearly a third the price by volume. If you don't mind dairy, give the whey a break in favor of a high-protein yogurt. A 0% Greek yogurt boasts 18 grams of protein for as low as 70 cents, versus the typical price of whey powder with 20 grams of protein going for somewhere between $1 and $2. For the vegans, look to oats, chia seeds, or silken tofu as easily blend-able protein sources. Dairy and soy milks can sneak even more protein into the equation, all without the need for expensive powders.

Once you've cracked your preferred recipe for knockoff Dole Whip protein smoothies, you're free to customize even further. The "creaminess" of vanilla extract is an easy choice to balance the sharp tang of pineapple. And while it is often pricey, Costco's vanilla extract is a great deal. Coconut water lends electrolytes and takes the drink into piña colada territory. The pineapple flavor is so strong, nobody will taste spinach or kale for extra nutrients. And a tablespoon of psyllium fiber will help digestion and keep you fuller for longer.