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This quick and easy no-bake Watergate Salad Recipe is made with pistachio-flavored instant pudding mix, canned pineapples, whipped cream, mini marshmallows, and toasted nuts.! It is perfectly sweet and irresistibly fluffy, and comes together in just 5 minutes!
No-Bake Watergate Salad
Watergate Salad, aka Pistachio Fluff or Pistachio Delight, is the perfect example of a nostalgic, no-bake dessert that comes together with very little effort. It’s literally made by dumping together a handful of simple ingredients, mixing them together, and chilling in the fridge until ready to serve. It’s light, fluffy, FUN, and so delicious! It’s the perfect retro dessert for parties, potlucks, and holidays (like St. Patty’s Day!) Plus, it’s super budget friendly, which means more dessert for everyone! Right?
I hope you enjoy it as much as we do 🙂
Table of Contents
Key Ingredients
Below are the ingredients (and possible substitutions) needed to make this watergate salad recipe. For the full recipe with ingredient amounts, please see the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Instant Pistachio Pudding Mix: The pistachio pudding mix flavors and colors your Watergate salad. It combines with the juice from the pineapple, giving it a creamy texture and sweet flavor. You can also use vanilla pudding mix if preferred.
- Crushed Pineapple: Yummy crushed pineapple adds a tangy, fruity flavor that contrasts and complements the sweetness of the other ingredients. The small bits of crushed pineapple also provide a slightly chunky texture.
- Miniature Marshmallows: Not only are marshmallows sweet, but they’re also soft and chewy – a pleasant contrast to the rest of the textures in the salad.
- Whipped Topping (e.g., Cool Whip): Whipped toppings like Cool Whip are creamy, light, and airy. They’re also stabilized, meaning they keep their shape and structure even after mixing with other ingredients.
- Chopped Pecan or Chopped Walnuts: For a nice crunch!
How to Make Watergate Salad
- In a large bowl, mix the crushed pineapple and pistachio pudding mix until combined, then stir in the marshmallows and pecans.
- Fold in the Cool Whip (or whipped cream), cover, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. Garnish with maraschino cherries before serving.
Make-Ahead Tip
This Watergate Salad recipe can be made up to one day in advance. This actually allows the flavors to meld and the texture to set even better. Prepare as outlined, then cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. For the best appearance, add garnishes like maraschino cherries just before serving.
Customizations
There are countless fun and delicious ways to add your personal touch to this easy fluff salad recipe. Here’s a handful of examples:
- Chocolaty: For a chocolatey twist, try adding mini chocolate chips, chopped chocolate bars, or a sprinkle of chocolate sprinkles (my personal favorite). These options give the salad a sweet, decadent touch that pairs perfectly with the pistachio and pineapple flavors.
- Crunch and Texture: Add crunch and texture with various chopped nuts including chopped walnuts, toasted almonds, and pistachios. You can even sprinkle crushed cookies like vanilla wafers or graham crackers over the top for a little crunchy goodness.
- Extra Fruity: Boost the fruity flavors by mixing in mandarin orange segments, chopped maraschino cherries, halved grapes, diced apples, pears, or bananas (add bananas just before serving for best results). These additions make the salad even more colorful and refreshing.
- Tropical: Stir in shredded coconut, diced pineapple chunks, or chopped dried mango or papaya. These ingredients bring extra sweetness and a taste of the tropics.
- Extra Creamy: For an extra creamy salad, blend in cottage cheese or softened cream cheese.
Frequently Asked Questions
Fresh pineapple is not recommended unless cooked. The enzymes in raw pineapple can prevent the pudding from setting properly. Use canned crushed pineapple with juice for best results.
Yes, homemade whipped cream can be used in place of Cool Whip in Watergate Salad. However, it is less stable and may not hold its texture over time, so the salad should be served immediately after preparation.
To make a dairy-free Watergate Salad, use a plant-based whipped topping (such as coconut whipped topping) and verify that the pistachio pudding mix is dairy-free. Omit or substitute regular marshmallows with a vegan-friendly alternative if necessary.
Yes, the marshmallows can be omitted or replaced. Alternatives include flavored mini marshmallows or fruit-flavored marshmallows for added color and taste variation.
Watergate Salad should not sit at room temperature for more than 2 hours. Because it contains dairy-based ingredients, it must be kept chilled to ensure food safety.
More Dessert Salad Recipes
If you love this fluffy green Watergate Salad Recipe, be sure to check out these other old-fashioned dessert salad recipes next:
- Pineapple Fluff – This no-bake dessert is perfect for anyone craving a taste of the tropics.
- Frog Eye Salad – If you love creamy whipped topping desserts filled with mini marshmallows, canned fruit, coconut, and even tiny pasta, you’re going to love this classic Midwest favorite.
- Ambrosia Salad – Maraschino cherry lovers this recipe is for you! Made with pastel colored mini marshmallows, it’s the perfect Easter dessert or side dish.
If you make this watergate salad recipe, I’d love to hear how it turned out in the comment section below! Your review will help other readers in the community. And if you’re hungry for more delicious food inspiration and exclusive content, join my free newsletter here.
Watergate Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 (20-ounce) can crushed pineapple, undrained
- 1 (3.4-ounce) package pistachio pudding mix
- 2 cups mini marshmallows
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 1 (8-ounce) container cool whip
Instructions
- Combine the crushed pineapple with the pudding mix in a large mixing bowl. Immediately, you’ll see the beautiful, bright green color of the pistachio-flavored Jell-O pudding mix mixing with the pineapple juice. Once combined, stir in the marshmallows and crushed pecans until fully incorporated.
- Fold in the Whipped Topping. Stir in the Cool Whip (or whipped cream, if preferred), then cover tightly with plastic wrap. Transfer to the refrigerator to chill for at least 30 minutes.
- Garnish and Serve. Garnish with maraschino cherries, if desired, and serve.
Notes
Storage and Freezing Tips
Storage: Keep leftovers stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Much longer than this, and the salad may turn soggy and the marshmallows will lose their fluffy texture. Note: Repeated temperature changes may affect its texture and freshness. Freezing: I have not tried freezing this salad or any other dessert salad like it, so I can’t speak from personal experience, however it is possible. Should you give it a try, transfer leftovers to an airtight container with a little extra space at the top for expansion. When ready to enjoy, thaw in the refrigerator.Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
