Description
Watergate Salad is a creamy, sweet, and fluffy dessert salad made with instant pistachio pudding, Cool Whip, crushed pineapple, mini marshmallows, and nuts. It’s a nostalgic classic that’s quick to prepare and perfect for potlucks, holidays, or as a light and refreshing treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Base
- 1 package (3.4 oz) instant pistachio pudding mix
- 2 cups cold milk
- 1 tub (8 oz) Cool Whip, thawed
Mix-ins
- 1 cup canned crushed pineapple, drained
- 1 cup mini marshmallows
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans (or walnuts)
Garnish
- 1/2 cup maraschino cherries
- Additional reserved pecans for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the pudding: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the instant pistachio pudding mix and cold milk until the mixture is smooth and begins to thicken, about 2-3 minutes.
- Fold in Cool Whip: Gently fold the thawed Cool Whip into the pudding mixture until completely combined, resulting in a light and fluffy texture.
- Add mix-ins: Stir in the drained crushed pineapple, mini marshmallows, and chopped pecans evenly throughout the mixture.
- Chill the salad: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least two hours to allow the flavors to meld and the salad to set properly.
- Serve and garnish: Before serving, give the salad a gentle stir, then transfer it to serving dishes. Top each serving with maraschino cherries and reserved chopped pecans for an attractive and flavorful garnish.
Notes
- Be sure to drain the crushed pineapple thoroughly to avoid making the salad watery.
- For added texture, you can substitute walnuts instead of pecans if preferred.
- This salad tastes best after chilling overnight but can be enjoyed after a minimum of 2 hours.
- Keep refrigerated and consume within 3 days for optimal freshness.
- Feel free to add a splash of lemon juice for a subtle zing if desired.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
