The Best Watergate Salad Recipe

Watergate Salad, also called Pistachio Delight, is a light, creamy dessert that is easy and delicious. Its simple combination of sweet pineapple, crunchy pecans, and fluffy marshmallows makes it the perfect treat for any occasion.

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The full recipe with ingredients/instructions is available on the recipe card at the bottom of the post. Important tips/tricks are also included in the blog post.

I had never heard of Watergate salad until this guy I was dating mentioned it. He asked me to make it for him, and I gave him the side-eye because I had no clue what it was. After dating for months, I got invited to his family reunion and decided to make a recipe for the event. I followed a recipe on the side of a box of pistachio jello pudding.

The recipe was really good. The Watergate salad I brought was all gone by the end of the reunion. About a year and a half later, that guy I was dating became my husband. If anyone asks him what made him decide I was his wife, he always mentions Watergate salad. 

Over the years, I’ve adapted the original recipe and added a few ingredients I preferred. The original recipe called for using a jar of Cool Whip.

This recipe uses homemade from scratch cream cheese and heavy cream that I whip together. I’ve also subbed pecans for walnuts and added way more marshmallows than the original recipe called for.

In my opinion, these little changes have made it the best Watergate salad recipe.

Ingredients Needed

• For the cream mixture - creamed cheese, heavy cream, powdered sugar, vanilla extract
• Pistachio pudding mix
• Mini marshmallows, crushed pineapple, chopped pecans

How to make Watergate Salad

First, place 8 ounces of softened cream cheese in a large bowl and beat with a hand mixer on medium speed until fluffy. This should take about 1-2 minutes. 

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 ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract and then mix until soft peaks form. 

Add a 3.4 oz box of pudding mix, 3 cups of marshmallows, a 20 oz can of crushed pineapple (undrained), and 1 cup of chopped pecans, and use a spoon or spatula to stir into the cream cheese mixture.

Cover and refrigerate for 2-4 hours. Serve and enjoy.

Notes:

• This salad can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. 
• This salad is similar to Waldorf salad or ambrosia salad but with a totally different flavor profile. 
• Watergate salad is an interesting name for a dessert salad. How watergate salad got its name. 
• You can substitute lime jello for pistachio pudding mix in the recipe if you prefer it.

Looking for more dessert recipes? Try these out:

• Carrot Cake Cheesecake
• Easy Southern Peach Cobbler Cake
• Orange Poppyseed Bundt Cake
• Cheerwine Float
• Mini Rum Carrot Cake
• Red Velvet Cupcakes

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5 from 3 votes

The Best Watergate Salad Recipe

This Watergate Salad Recipe is so good, it landed me a husband. This dessert, also known as pistachio delight, is a light creamy marshmallow fluffy salad made with pineapples and chopped pecans for the perfect dessert. 

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword dessert salad, watergate salad recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Chill Time 2 hours hours

Total Time 2 hours hours 10 minutes minutes

Servings 10 people

Calories 389kcal

Author Tanya

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

• 8 oz cream cheese softened
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• ¾ cup powdered sugar
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3.4 oz instant pistachio pudding mix
• 3 cups mini marshmallows
• 20 oz crushed pineapple undrained
• 1 cup chopped pecans

Instructions

• Place cream cheese in a large bowl and beat with a hand mixer on medium speed until the cream cheese has become fluffy. This should take about 1-2 minutes.
• Next, slowly pour 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 powdered sugar and ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract and then mix until soft peaks form.
• Add pudding mix, marshmallows, crushed pineapple, and chopped pecans and use a spoon or spatula to stir into the cream cheese mixture. Cover and refrigerate for 2-4 hours. Serve and enjoy.

Suggested Tools

hand mixer

Video

Notes

• 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 but with a totally different flavor profile. 
• You can substitute lime jello for pistachio pudding mix in the recipe if you prefer it.

Nutrition

Calories: 389kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 58mg | Sodium: 234mg | Potassium: 164mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 36g | Vitamin A: 689IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 56mg | Iron: 1mg

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This post was originally published on February 25, 2020. It has been updated with some new photos and information.