Can you make watergate salad ahead of time

Below are the best can you make watergate salad ahead of time topics edited and compiled by Family Cuisine

Watergate Salad is an easy dessert salad recipe made with pistachio pudding, pineapple, marshmallows, and cool whip. It’s a heavenly retro dessert!

bowl of fluff with cherries on top

Table of Contents

  1. Easy Watergate Salad Recipe
  2. What is Watergate Salad?
  3. What ingredients are in Watergate Salad?
  4. How to make Watergate salad Fluff
  5. Substitutions
  6. Making Fluff Salad Ahead and Storing
  7. Tips for making Easy Watergate Fluff Salad:
  8. Pistachio Salad FAQ
  9. Other Fluff Recipes
  10. Watergate Fluff Salad Recipe

Easy Watergate Salad Recipe

If you need an easy last minute dessert or side dish for the weekend, this is the one you should make! I mean it’s a fluff SALAD and it’s green which makes it healthy! (HA)

This retro dessert will bring back memories at your family table: a Watergate Salad! Have you ever tried this fluff?

I’ll be honest: I’d never heard of it until I started blogging. Fluff wasn’t something we ate growing up. I think it’s more of a mid-western or southern thing because I’d never even seen dessert salad until apple salads started showing up in my Pinterest feed.

What is Watergate Salad?

In researching this salad recipe I found that it’s called by several funny names: Watergate, Green Goddess, Pistachio Delight, or Shut The Gate Salad or colloquially as Green Goop, Green Fluff or Green Stuff. I mean, I’m partial to Green Goop, aren’t you? LOL

(Why is #shutthegatesalad not a hashtag? SHUT THE GATE! LOL)

Watergate Salad got it’s start back in the 70s when Kraft Jell0-O came out with pistachio pudding mix. Can you imagine the conversation the Kraft kitchens chefs had?

“Dude, WTH do we do with PISTACHIO pudding mix?”

“I know, let’s mix it with pineapple and marshmallows and call it a SALAD!”

However it was developed or whatever it’s called, Watergate salad aka Pistachio Fluff is an iconic dessert that brings back so many family memories.

ingredients in Watergate salad photo: marshmallows, nuts, cool whip, pudding box, pineapple can

What ingredients are in Watergate Salad?

I have seen recipes all over the internet for making Watergate salad with cottage cheese or other fruit or even how to make Watergate salad with lime jello, but this is the traditional pistachio fluff recipe:

  • Pistachio pudding mix: be sure to get instant pudding
  • Crushed pineapple: a 20 ounce can
  • Cool Whip: an 8-ounce container
  • Pecans: you can use your favorite nut
  • Marshmallows: mini marshmallows are best

That’s it! You can have pistachio fluff in just 5 minutes!

How to make Watergate salad Fluff

1. First, add pineapple and pudding to a very large bowl. Don’t drain the pineapple – the liquid will make the pudding. Note: if you want a thicker salad, drain the pineapple first. This is personal preference.

bowl of crushed pineapple with pudding mix

2. Once those are combined, add the whipped topping and stir it together.

bowl of green pudding with cool whip

3. Add the nuts and marshmallows and stir together, then chill.

bowl of pudding with marshmallows and nuts

Substitutions

Can you make easy Watergate salad without pineapple?

You can if you want, but it changes the recipe a bit. I suggest making the pudding as called for on the box then adding the other ingredients. If you want the flavor of pineapple without the chunks, make it with 1 cup milk and 1/2 cup pineapple juice.

Can you make pistachio fluff with cream cheese?

Yes, but again that changes the recipe a bit. You can just add an 8-ounce block of cream cheese to the recipe. Make sure it’s room temperature and mix it into the pudding and pineapple before folding in the cool whip.

Making Fluff Salad Ahead and Storing

You can make Watergate salad up to 2 days in advance. In fact, it’s better the longer it sits. Store in the refrigerator covered with plastic wrap.

bowl of fluff with cherries on top

Pistachio Salad FAQ

Other Fluff Recipes

  • Did you know you can add this fluff to a pie crust? Make Watergate Fluff PIE!
  • Oreo Fluff Pie is full of my favorite dessert salad.
  • Banana Pudding Fluff is one of my more popular fluff recipes.

Tools for success:

  • Pistachio pudding (instant)
  • Large mixing bowl

**Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!**

bowl of fluff with cherries on top

Watergate Salad is an easy dessert salad recipe like ambrosia with pistachio and pudding! This is such an easy no bake and simple recipe for a crowd.

Last Updated on June 3, 2022

Top 11 can you make watergate salad ahead of time edited by Family Cuisine

Watergate Salad – I Heart Eating

  • Author: ihearteating.com
  • Published: 02/18/2022
  • Review: 4.9 (882 vote)
  • Summary: 25.02.2021 It takes just 5 minutes and 5 ingredients to make. It’s always a hit at barbecues and potlucks, and it can be made ahead of time

Watergate Salad – Home. Made. Interest

  • Author: homemadeinterest.com
  • Published: 03/06/2022
  • Review: 4.73 (404 vote)
  • Summary: Can You Make Watergate Salad Ahead of Time? Yes! In fact I recommend you make it the night before, or first thing in the morning on party day, so that it can sit in the refrigerator and all of those flavors can meld together, the marshmallows will soften a little, and the Watergate Salad will firm up a little

Watergate Salad Recipe – Allrecipes

  • Author: allrecipes.com
  • Published: 08/01/2022
  • Review: 4.28 (533 vote)
  • Summary: Served as either a side salad or dessert, Watergate salad is made with pistachio … This Watergate salad recipe is proof you can’t go wrong with a classic
  • Matching search results: You can if you want, but it changes the recipe a bit. I suggest making the pudding as called for on the box then adding the other ingredients. If you want the flavor of pineapple without the chunks, make it with 1 cup milk and 1/2 cup pineapple …

Watergate Salad – Mildly Meandering

  • Author: mildlymeandering.com
  • Published: 01/22/2022
  • Review: 4.12 (451 vote)
  • Summary: 15.12.2021 Watergate salad is one of those vintage recipes that is popping around so many … It’s served chilled and can be made ahead of time
  • Matching search results: You can if you want, but it changes the recipe a bit. I suggest making the pudding as called for on the box then adding the other ingredients. If you want the flavor of pineapple without the chunks, make it with 1 cup milk and 1/2 cup pineapple …

Watergate Salad – Spend with Pennies

  • Author: spendwithpennies.com
  • Published: 08/08/2022
  • Review: 3.92 (436 vote)
  • Summary: 17.12.2021 Coconut is optional but we love to stir it in. This dish is best made ahead of time so the marshmallows soften and the flavors blend. Leftover 
  • Matching search results: This fluff salad gets it’s color and delicious flavor from a box of instant pistachio pudding mix. The addition of nuts (and coconut if you like) add texture while marshmallows and whipped topping make it fluffy. Great next to a holiday meal, served …

Watergate Salad – Mama Loves Food

  • Author: mamalovesfood.com
  • Published: 04/05/2022
  • Review: 3.68 (465 vote)
  • Summary: 12.02.2021 Can you make fluff salad ahead of time? … Yes, you can prepare this recipe ahead and store it in the refrigerator for 2 – 3 days. Give it a stir 
  • Matching search results: According to lore, the recipe previously known as Pistachio Pineapple Delight was renamed by an an unnamed Chicago food editor to promote interest in the recipe when she printed it in her column. Presumably because this was around the time of the …

The Best Watergate Salad Recipe

  • Author: myforkinglife.com
  • Published: 08/08/2022
  • Review: 3.54 (570 vote)
  • Summary: 25.02.2020 This salad can be made ahead of time. It can last on your fridge for up to 3-4 days. This salad is similar to Waldorf salad or Ambrosia salad 
  • Matching search results: Next, slowly pour 1 cup of heavy cream into the bowl while mixing on medium speed. Pour heavy cream about ¼ cup at a time until it is fully blended into cream cheese. Once all heavy cream is poured in, add ¾ cup powdered sugar and 1/2 tsp of vanilla …

Watergate Salad Recipe (With Video!)

  • Author: gonnawantseconds.com
  • Published: 01/02/2022
  • Review: 3.21 (296 vote)
  • Summary: 03.07.2020 The key, however, is to make it the night before. Prepare the salad, cover it in plastic wrap, then let it sit overnight in your refrigerator
  • Matching search results: This insanely de-lish Watergate salad is ideal for summer potlucks and backyard barbecues. It serves well in a large glass bowl garnished with pecans and cherries. You can also serve it as a retro dessert in some pretty little glasses or pudding …

Watergate Salad – Dash of Sanity

  • Author: dashofsanity.com
  • Published: 08/03/2022
  • Review: 3.14 (329 vote)
  • Summary: 29.03.2021 Can you make Watergate salad ahead? Yes, you can make it up to a day in advance. Just keep it covered and chilled. Is it the same thing as 
  • Matching search results: That’s where I not only picked up the Watergate Salad ingredients I needed but also a new hand mixer {I go through these too often}. I had no idea the variety of offerings they have in their appliance sections, including a griddle, slow cooker, …

Watergate Salad – The Seasoned Mom

  • Author: theseasonedmom.com
  • Published: 06/24/2022
  • Review: 2.88 (91 vote)
  • Summary: 04.03.2020 The salad needs at least 1 hour to chill in the refrigerator and “set up” before serving, and can easily be made a day ahead. Leftovers will 
  • Matching search results: Watergate Salad (or “Pistachio Fluff”) is very similar to ambrosia salad, with the sweet, creamy, and fruity combination of pineapple, marshmallows, and coconut. It’s one of those dishes that everyone loves, it can be prepared in advance, and it …

Watergate Salad (The BEST Pistachio Delight)

  • Author: insanelygoodrecipes.com
  • Published: 02/05/2022
  • Review: 2.75 (111 vote)
  • Summary: 13.06.2022 This Watergate Salad recipe is creamy, refreshing, and you can whip up in just a few minutes … Can You Make Watergate Salad Ahead of Time?
  • Matching search results: Watergate Salad (or “Pistachio Fluff”) is very similar to ambrosia salad, with the sweet, creamy, and fruity combination of pineapple, marshmallows, and coconut. It’s one of those dishes that everyone loves, it can be prepared in advance, and it …
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