Watergate Salad is a holiday retro dessert called pistachio fluff with pistachio pudding mix, cool whip, marshmallows, pineapple, and cherries!
Old-Fashioned Desserts like Ambrosia Salad or this fluffy Pistachio Delight are favorite holiday recipes that are a delicious bite of nostalgia.

Sabrina’s Watergate Salad Recipe
Watergate Salad, also known as Pistachio Delight, is a simple dessert salad made from pistachio pudding mixed with crushed pineapple, cool whip, mini marshmallows, and chopped pecans. Top this with Easy Whipped Cream and maraschino cherries with an extra handful of chopped nuts to make it a bit fancier when serving during the holidays.
Recipe Card


Ingredients
- 3.4 ounces instant pistachio pudding mix
- 20 ounces crushed pineapple , undrained
- 1 cup mini marshmallows
- 1/2 cup pistachios , chopped
- 1 1/2 cups cool whip
Instructions
- In a large bowl mix the pudding mix, pineapple, marshmallows and pistachios well then add in the cool whip gently.
- Refrigerate for at least one hour and garnish with chopped nuts and maraschino cherry if desired.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Table of contents
About this Recipe
The real crux of the flavors you’re looking for here in this salad is the crushed pineapple with the pistachio pudding mix. It has a really nice light green color, which is why it’s also called the “green stuff” or “pistachio fluff”. The color, fluffy texture and delicious flavor make it perfect for Easter or St. Patrick’s day parties.
Chef’s Note: Whipped Cream or Cool Whip?
Both fresh whipped cream or cool whip can work with some careful planning, and there are pros and cons for each. Cool whip uses oils and/or corn syrup to stabilize it, whether you make it yourself or you use the pre-made variety. This keeps the mixture fluffy for longer at room temperature. And if you use homemade Cool Whip, it’s not going to have the additives as store-bought so it will melt faster. A fresh made whipped cream will taste delicious fresh from the fridge but will also fall and melt pretty quickly. If using either homemade whipped topping, I recommend refrigerating it until you make this salad. Then freeze the salad for 20 minutes before serving to keep it as cold as possible.
How to Store
- Serve: Do not leave the finished salad out for more than 2 hours.
- Store: The prepared dessert salad will last in the refrigerator for 1-2 days. Cover it tightly with plastic wrap to keep it from drying out.
- Freeze: You can freeze this for up to 3 months. Freeze in molds to make fun popsicles, or spread in a loaf pan and scoop it like ice cream!
Frequently Asked Questions
It was initially made by Kraft in the 1975 as a promotional recipe for their new pudding called Pistachio Pineapple Delight, rewritten and renamed by the media over time.
The name Watergate Salad was originally coined by a columnist in Chicago, named for the presidential Watergate hotel scandal. The name just stuck, and now this is a popular salad for potlucks and parties across the country.
You can eat this dessert right away if you can’t wait, but I recommend the chilling step because it helps the pudding fully set, and it just tastes better cold. Ideally, make this the night before and let it set in the refrigerator overnight.
Spread the finished mixture in a graham cracker crust and chill for 3-4 hours to make a pistachio pudding pie.
Don’t drain the pineapple, it’s the juice from the can that turns the dry mix into pudding. If you’ve accidentally drained it, add some water (or pineapple juice if you have it), according to the pudding mix directions.
Use canned pineapple in water or juice, not syrup. The syrup will be too thick and won’t work with the pudding mix as well as the juice, and the salad will turn out too sweet.
The original Pistachio Delight recipe calls for pistachio pudding mix, but you could technically make it with any flavor. Try chocolate for a chocolate-pineapple combo, or coconut for a piña colada version.
Variations
- You can add other toppings to this salad like mini chocolate chips, walnuts, shredded coconut, crushed pistachios, or sliced bananas. Add the toppings right before serving.
- Use rainbow marshmallows in place of regular mini marshmallows for a more festive presentation. Or choose just the red and green ones if making for Christmas Day.
- Add more maraschino cherries to the recipe just be sure to rinse them well then dry them well so the mixture doesn’t turn brown. Green + red = brown which won’t be as appetizing. But green + spots of red = cute Christmas tree dessert.
More Sweet Old Fashioned Dessert Salads

Spellcheck. Dessert is spelled wrong under the picture.
Thanks Jane!
Wonderful!
Has anyone ever had this at the Watergate restaurant in the 60s?
All before the present buildings, a charming little restaurant….I have had the pleasure.
Love this recipe! My Grandma and my mom both used to make this. I made it today for tomorrow, Easter, for the first time, it’s so good. Thanks for posting it!
You’re welcome.
I’ve been making this desert for years. Always at Easter and various other times. It’s the quickest and easiest desert I know!! It’s really not nessary to add nuts. Just a bowl, a can of undrained pineapple, a package of pistachio instant pudding, a tub of Cool whip, and some mini marshmallows. Everyone loves it!! I think I’ve been making it since 1980!!!!
MY mother would make this a lot. I would love to save the recipe . what is the coast of getting it ? I would rate “TOP’S ” in my book . Rose
I realize this comment is very old, so I am so sorry for the delay in replying.
The recipes are free Rose!
Can You Add Cream Cheese to a pistashio pudding Salad?
I haven’t but it sounds rich and decadent! Let us know how much you decided to use and how it turned out!
Thank you have not made this for years. Going to make it this weekend2/ 20/21.
Just made this and it is yummy even before you put it in the refrigerator. I always love this at picnics and other occasions so I thought I’m just going to make some. It’s wonderful!!! ?
It’s such a classic! Thanks for the 5 stars, Mary.
When I make this for Christmas, I drain a small jar marachino cherries, halved and stir in. Great Christmas color!
Should this recipe be doubled for a pie crust size?
I know your meal is long gone now. I don’t think you’d have to double it, it won’t be a heaping pie, but some whipped cream on top would be great. Be sure you refrigerate well before cutting it.
It’s been years since I had this recipe. My mom made this on all holidays very special occasions.
I’m going to try and make at our Super Bowl game night.
Enjoy!
I finished the salad and was wondering can I add another pistachio pudding mix to the completed salad. eg Cool whip has already been added.
I wouldn’t recommend it. It’ll be really thick if that’s the only part you double.
It calls for pecans in the instructions and I don’t see them in the ingredients?
Hi Marni, I use pistachios, sorry for that confusion, I edited it.
On your ingredients it doesnt say pecans or cherries
Cherries are just a garnish for the photo. Sorry for the pecan confusion, it’s pistachios.
Do you drain the pineapple?
No 🙂 Leave it undrained.
do you make the pudding or just throw the powder and mix with pineapple
No don’t make the pudding, just add the powder.
You change the nuts so which is it? Pecans or pistachios?
pistachios. I tried it both ways, with the pistachio pudding this works best with chopped pistachios. Sorry for the confusion.
I’ve made this for years and now it’s always requested by my grown-up kids and grandkids for family and holiday gatherings. The only difference is my recipe adds a 24oz tub of cottage cheese and an extra box of pudding mix.
Do u mix the pudding like the box says with the milk or just pudding mix only
You’ll just be using the mix for this recipe.
This is one of my all time favorite picnic salads!!!
Love this classic! Always reminds me of my childhood. 🙂 YUM!
I’m so glad you love it!
This was so good!! My kids loved it!
So glad you here, Toni!
This has always been my number one go to salad. I call it a salad so I can have another dessert. I also put in a container of cottage cheese (justifies the “salad” labeling). To me, it’s one of life’s comfort foods. Also got your new book, Sabrina. Wonderful recipes and ideas. Thanks
My Mom use to make something super similar to this and it was one of my favorites – I need to make this for my kids!
It’s such a classic!
We used to have this all the time as a kid…. and somehow noone had kept the recipe. Thanks for sharing it! The pineapple juiciness and the crunch of pistachios …. yep! Dreamy wonderful!
You’re welcome, Michele!
My mom makes something similiar so this dish always reminds me of home! It’s one of my favs.
I love that!