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Pistachio Fluff +Video

Pistachio Fluff (also called Watergate Salad) is a dessert that is made from whipped topping, pistachio pudding, marshmallows and pineapple.

ALSO CALLED WATERGATE SALAD

This fluff recipe is one I can easily remember off the top of my head when I go grocery shopping. We used to always just call it the Green Stuff but it also goes by the name “Watergate Salad.” If you like this recipe, be sure to check out my Orange Creamsicle Fruit Salad.

Pistachio Fluff served in clear glasses. Closeup photo.

WHAT IS A FLUFF SALAD?

A fluff salad is a dessert made with jello pudding or gelatin, combined with fruit, marshmallows and Cool Whip (and sometimes nuts.) This Pistachio Fluff is a no-bake dessert that is made from whipped topping, pistachio pudding, marshmallows and canned pineapple. One of my favorite fluffs is my Mom’s Orange Fluff (also called “The Orange Stuff”).

No-Bake Pistachio Fluff (a.k.a. Watergate salad) recipe from The Country Cook. Serving shown in two stemless wine glasses.

INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (FULL RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST)

  • instant pistachio pudding
  • crushed pineapple
  • mini marshmallows
  • chopped pecans (optional)
  • whipped topping (COOL WHIP)
Pistachio Jello Pudding, crushed pineapple, mini marshmallows, whipped topping Cool Whip, chopped pecans.

HOW TO MAKE PISTACHIO FLUFF:

In a medium bowl, combine pudding mix with crushed pineapple. Stir well.

pistachio pudding mixed with crushed pineapple in a glass bow.l

Stir in marshmallows and chopped pecans. Pecans are optional if you don’t like nuts.

mini marshmallows, chopped pecans, crushed pineapple and Pistachio flavored pudding mixed together in a bowl.

 Then gently stir in whipped topping.

cool whip added to the bowl with pistachio gelatin and pineapple.

Chill (covered) for about an hour before serving. You could dig in right away but I think it tastes better when you give it time to hang out in the fridge. It lets the flavors really marinate and come together better.

No Bake Pistachio Fluff (Watergate salad) in a large bowl.

Then dig in! Top with extra marshmallows.

(close up) Pistachio fluff in a glass with marshmallows and pecans on top.

CRAVING MORE RECIPES? GIVE THESE A TRY!

No Bake Pistachio Fluff (Watergate salad) recipe

Pistachio Fluff (+Video)

Pistachio Fluff (also called Watergate Salad) is a no-bake dessert that is made from whipped topping, pistachio pudding, marshmallows and pineapple.
4.83 from 28 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 10

Ingredients

  • 3.5 ounce package instant pistachio pudding mix
  • 20 ounce can crushed pineapple, undrained
  • 1 cup mini marshmallows
  • ½ cup chopped pecans, optional
  • 8 ounce tub whipped topping (COOL WHIP), thawed

Instructions

  • In a medium bowl, combine pudding mix with crushed pineapple. Stir well.
  • Stir in marshmallows and chopped pecans.
  • Then gently stir in whipped topping.
  • Chill for about an hour before serving.

Video

YouTube video
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Calories: 99kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Fat: 4g | Sodium: 148mg | Sugar: 13g

Nutritional Disclaimer

“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.

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Originally published: August 2015
Updated and republished: February 2019

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19 Comments

  1. I have a question regarding the pink fluff recepe is see everywhere. They call for cool whip, sweet condensed milk, cherry pie filling, crushed pineapple. I don’t recall it being that Sweet.
    I thought it was just cool whip, cherry or strawberry jello mixed in, nuts, crushed pineapple, marshellows (optional) and marichino cherries for decorating top Can it be done like this or will it be grainy? I just don’t recall using sweet condensed milk.

  2. 5 stars
    My husband’s cousin and I call this Parfait, but you have to say it with your nose in the air and through your teeth like Randolph and Mortimer from Trading Places. If you’ve seen that movie then you know what I am talking about. LOL! This is one of my favorite “parfaits”! Pretty much anything that calls for cool whip and shmallows (not a typo) together are winners in my book!

  3. 5 stars
    I made this Watergate Salad last Thursday to take to my son’s house, and I added cottage cheese, diced banana and some cut up maraschino cherries as well. It was awesome! Never any leftovers, lol… I added some lemon juice to the banana to keep it from turning brown too. Couldn’t even taste the lemon juice. Was so good.

  4. 5 stars
    I first ate this salad 40 years ago. Loved it! We were on our honeymoon in the USA and stopped to visit with friends and I thank Virginia for this recipe….but we are Canadian and I had to wait 2 anxious years before I could buy pistachio pudding in Canada. It was well worth the wait. Don’t know anyone who does not like it. I love nuts, but I don’t like them in this salad so I leave them out. We have 11 great-nephews and nieces with another due in May. Our great-nephew Brayden loves this stuff, so if I know he will be around I try to make it for him….it’s funny to watch who treats it like a salad and who treats it like a dessert. Great recipe!

  5. 5 stars
    Pistachio Fluff is even better with 16oz of cottage cheese added to it.! The same salad/dessert can be made using orange jello instead if the pudding mix. Then add mandarin oranges.

    1. 5 stars
      We call it Pistachio Salad…………add cottage cheese (as Deanna said) and we go ahead and add the mandarin oranges, too!! No nuts, tho! We also drain the pineapple and mandarin oranges………think I will have to try her version, not draining the pineapple. And I have made it with orange jello, too!

      I make a sugar free salad/dessert with just a 3 oz pkg of s.f. lemon pudding mix, an 8 oz container of S.F. Cool whip and a carton of cottage cheese (16 oz or 24 oz to your liking)
      You could basically use any Sugar Free pudding mix or jello to your own taste!

    2. 5 stars
      Delicious and refreshing! I like to keep the ingredients on hand, it is sure to impress and almost everyone loves it! I use low fat cottage cheese in my version, sugar free products. mostly drain the pineapple, leave out the marshmallows, only use 1/2 the Cool Whip and sometimes use nuts. Thanks for the suggestions about the orange jello and s.f. lemon pudding salads. I almost bought s.f. orange jello today, next time!.

  6. 5 stars
    We make this for family events and call it Pistachio Pudding Salad and several other names. We make ours with a can of chunk pineapple and fruit cocktail leaving out the marshmallows and nuts. I especially love the chunks of pineapple.

  7. 5 stars
    I've got a similar one with no marshmallows and add a carton of sour cream. Mom never put nuts in it either, but I do when I make it. That's our New York recipe.This was a side every single time we had a bbq, which was nearly every weekend. And mom would take it to every dish-to-pass too. We never had leftovers. Hmm, I think I'll make some this weekend lol. Thanks for reminding me about this, Brandie