This vintage Watergate salad recipe is a beloved 5-minute treat combining pistachio pudding, pineapple, coconut, pecans, and maraschino cherries. It’s perfect for any occasion, from potlucks to holiday meals!
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If you love creamy fruit salad recipes, be sure to try this 6-cup Ambrosia salad, pink salad, a cherry fluff salad, a bowl of mandarin orange salad, and this cranberry fluff, too!
I absolutely love this salad. I could eat it every day for the rest of my life and die happy—which it looks like I might be doing, since I’m the only one in the house!!!
– Jeannette
How to Make Watergate Salad | 1-Minute Video
If you’ve ever been to a potluck or enjoyed a holiday meal at Grandma’s house, then you’ve most likely enjoyed this beautiful green dish! Watergate Salad is a dessert salad that has been popular since the release of pistachio pudding mix in the 1970’s.
What to Know Before You Get Started
- This recipe was originally called “Pistachio Pineapple Delight,” and has since been referred to as “Green Goop,” “Green Stuff,” “Pistachio Delight,” “Pistachio Salad,” “Pistachio Fluff,” “Shut the Gate Salad,” “Pennsylvania Puddle Pudding,” and “Green Fluff” — but it’s now most commonly known as Watergate salad.
- The salad gets its beautiful pastel green color from the pistachio pudding mix. I assume the pudding has traditionally been dyed green because when you crack open a pistachio, the nut inside is a bright green color too!
- Make sure that you buy instant pistachio pudding mix. You only need the dry mix — you do not need to prepare the pudding according to the package directions. A 4-serving small box is all that you need (either a 3.4 oz box of the regular instant pistachio pudding mix or a 1-ounce box of the sugar-free instant pistachio pudding mix). I use the sugar-free version because that’s all that my grocery store carries, but either variety works!
- Do not thaw the Cool Whip on the countertop. Instead, allow at least 4-5 hours (or overnight) for the Cool Whip tub to thaw in the refrigerator. This will maintain its fluffy texture.
- Prepare the salad in advance. It needs at least 1 hour to chill in the refrigerator and “set up” before serving, and can easily be made a day ahead.
Directions
Pistachio fluff is very similar to ambrosia salad, with the sweet, creamy, and fruity combination of pineapple, marshmallows, and coconut. Some say that an unnamed Chicago food editor named it Watergate Salad to promote interest in the recipe when she printed it in her column. Other rumors suggest that a Watergate salad recipe was created by a sous chef at the Watergate Hotel in Washington, DC. Regardless of the origin, one thing is clear: this pistachio pudding salad is here to stay!
- Stir together the pineapple (and the pineapple juice from the can), dry instant pudding mix, mini marshmallows, pecans, and coconut.
- Add the Cool Whip. Make sure that you gently fold the Cool Whip into the salad — do not stir. This will maintain the air in the whipped topping. Cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate the salad for at least 1 hour.
- Garnish with maraschino cherries, whipped cream, and extra chopped nuts (if desired) right before serving.
Preparation and Storage Tips
- Make Ahead: Prepare the salad at least 1 hour before you plan to serve it, or even up to 24 hours in advance. Keep it covered in the fridge.
- How to Store: Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2-3 days. After about 24 hours, however, the texture of the salad is less fluffy.
- I do not recommend freezing this recipe, since the texture of the marshmallows will be “off” when thawed. The salad will not maintain its fluffy texture and will be watery, too.
Did you make this recipe?
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Watch How to Make It
Watergate Salad
Ingredients
- 1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple, not drained
- 1 (3.4 ounce) box instant pistachio pudding (or use a 1-ounce box of sugar-free instant pudding)
- 1 cup miniature marshmallows
- ½ cup chopped pecans
- ½ cup sweetened coconut flakes
- 1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping (such as Cool Whip), thawed
- Maraschino cherries, for topping
Instructions
- In a large bowl, stir together pineapple (and its juice), dry pudding mix, marshmallows, pecans and coconut.
- Gently fold in the whipped topping. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (and up to 24 hours).
- Give everything a gentle stir just before serving. Garnish with maraschino cherries.
Notes
- Make sure that you buy instant pistachio pudding mix. You only need the dry mix — you do not need to prepare the pudding according to the package directions. A 4-serving small box is all that you need (either a 3.4 oz box of the regular instant pistachio pudding mix or a 1-ounce box of the sugar-free instant pistachio pudding mix). I use the sugar-free version because that’s all that my grocery store carries, but either variety works!
- Do not thaw the Cool Whip on the countertop. Instead, allow at least 4-5 hours (or overnight) for the Cool Whip tub to thaw in the refrigerator. This will maintain its fluffy texture.
Nutrition
Recipe Variations
- Some versions of the classic Watergate salad recipe incorporate the maraschino cherries into the salad (rather than just using them as a garnish). If you’d like to do this, I recommend rinsing the cherries and patting them dry first. Otherwise, they will turn your salad pink.
- Any nuts will work in this salad, so feel free to swap out the pecans and use walnuts, almonds, peanuts, or pistachios instead.
- Try a Watergate cake for an easy dessert with a similar ingredients!
- To serve a larger group, double all of the ingredients.
More Fruit Salad Recipes to Try
Cranberry Jello Salad
5 hours hrs 10 minutes mins
Easy Fruit Salad with Vanilla Pudding
15 minutes mins
Honey Lemon Fruit Salad Dressing
15 minutes mins
This recipe was originally published in March, 2020. It was updated in November, 2024.
Cannot find the pistachio pudding mix here in Australia, what can i use instead?
Hi, Lynette! I honestly have no idea. It’s not an easy product to recreate because it has such a unique flavor and color. Do you have other instant pudding mixes available? You might be able to make a similar dish with a vanilla flavored pudding mix and then add a bit of almond extract. That would be my best bet!
Hi. I think my mom used to put cottage cheese in these types of salads. It would at a healthy protein to the dish. How much cottage cheese should I add?
Hi Kristin,
We’ve never tested this recipe with cottage cheese and can’t say for sure. We would start with 1/2 cup or so and go from there.
cannot use cool whp either as it is banned her, can i use single cream whipped instead?
Yes, you can make your own whipped cream and add a bit of sweetener to it. 🙂
I absolutely love this salad. I could eat it every day for the rest of my life and die happy—which it looks like I might be doing, since I’m the only one in the house!!!
I don’t remember having this growing up, so this was a very special treat when my former mother in law made it every Thanksgiving. Thank you very much!!!!
Thanks, Jeannette! I’m so glad that you love it, too. 🙂