Watergate Salad

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If you’re craving something sweet and unique, Watergate Salad is always a great idea. This dessert consists of delicious ingredients including pistachio pudding, pineapple, marshmallows, and chopped pecan. If you have a sweet tooth, prepare it for a tasty ride!

Watergate Salad in a large glass bowl, topped with almonds and maraschino cherries, sitting on a blue patterned tea towel

I can never deny a good dessert! Whenever I’m done with a good meal, I definitely have sweet cravings, and my homemade Watergate Salad always hits the spot.

If you’re looking for more fruit salad recipes, try Winter Fruit Salad, Triple Berry Fruit Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing, Thanksgiving Fruit Salad, or Honey Lime Fruit Salad.

You may also want to add Pumpkin Dip to your list!

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A picture showing the cover images for all three cookbooks written by Aileen Clark.

Watergate Salad Origin

So, why is this pistachio salad called “Watergate Salad,” anyway? The Watergate Salad origin is obscure, but the sweet dessert dates all the way back to the early 1900s. According to The Salt, the pistachio salad was not invented at the Watergate Hotel (much like how the Waldorf Astoria Hotel gave us the Waldorf Salad).

It is believed that The Watergate Salad came to life during the rise in popularity of gelatin. The gelatin boom brought on tons of new recipes, including this pistachio pudding salad.

Bird’s eye view of Pistachio Pudding Salad, garnished with chopped almonds and maraschino cherries
A hand holding up a bowl of Pistachio Pudding Salad with a gold spoon

What is a Watergate Salad, Anyway?

This recipe is far from your leafy, traditional salad. On the contrary! Also known as a Pistachio Pudding Salad or Pistachio Salad, this dessert is a mixture of pistachio pudding, pineapple, marshmallows, and Cool Whip, topped with a generous amount of chopped almonds and maraschino cherries.

Can I Substitute Any Ingredients?

To stay true to the classic recipe, I recommend using the ingredients that are recommended in my recipe (be sure to scroll down to my recipe card for the full step-by-step instructions!). However, feel free to choose a different brand of pistachio pudding if that’s what’s available to you. You may also use canned pineapple pieces/chunks.

How to Store Leftovers

This dessert is best stored in the refrigerator (it does not freeze very well) in an airtight container for up to five days.

How Long Does It Take to Whip-Up?

The best part about Watergate Salads is that they’re incredibly easy to put together. Prep time is only about 10 to 15 minutes. For the full step-by-step instructions, just take a look below for all of the details!

Bird’s eye view of Pistachio Pudding Salad, garnished with chopped almonds and maraschino cherries

Watergate Salad

Aileen Clark
I can never deny a good dessert! Whenever I’m done a good meal, I definitely have sweet cravings, and my homemade Watergate Salad always hits the spot.
5 from 2 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Dessert Recipes
Cuisine American
Servings 8 servings
Calories 116 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 3.4-ounce package pistachio Jell-O instant pudding mix
  • 1 20-ounce can crushed pineapple
  • 1 cup mini marshmallows
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans
  • 1 8-ounce container Cool Whip
  • 1/4 cup maraschino cherries

Instructions
 

  • Combine pudding mix, crushed pineapple, mini marshmallows, and pecans in a large bowl.
    Ingredients laid out on a wooden table to make a Pistachio Salad
  • Mix well.
    Folding in ingredients that make up a Watergate Salad
  • Fold in the cool whip and mix.
    Ingredients laid out on a wooden table to make a Pistachio Salad
  • Top with a cherries, serve, and enjoy.
    A serving of Watergate Salad in a large glass bowl on top of a blue patterned tea towel

Notes

Store leftovers in the refrigerator, up to 5 days. This is not a freezer friendly recipe.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 116kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 1gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 57mgFiber: 1gSugar: 11g
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
If you’re craving something sweet and unique, a Watergate Salad is always a great idea. This dessert consists of delicious ingredients including pistachio pudding, pineapple, marshmallows and chopped pecan. If you have a sweet tooth, prepare it for a tasty ride!

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