Pistachio Fluff (Watergate Salad)

Whether you call it Pistachio Fluff, Pistachio Salad, or Watergate Salad, this creamy green fruit salad with marshmallows whips up in just 5 minutes, with only 5 ingredients. A great make-ahead recipe for holidays and potlucks.

Pistachio Fluff (Watergate Salad)

This Pistachio Fluff is so nostalgic and well-known that almost everyone has their own favorite version and name for it.

Some people simply call it Pistachio Salad. Other names include: Watergate Salad, Pistachio Fruit Salad, Pistachio Dump Salad, or Pistachio Pudding Salad.

We can’t forget Green Stuff, Green Fluff, and Green Goop.

Who knows?! There’s probably even more names.

What is Pistachio Salad?

Pistachio Fluff salad is a no-bake dessert typically made with pistachio jello pudding mix, crushed pineapple, mini marshmallows, whipped topping (aka Cool Whip) and sometimes nuts.

This old-fashioned recipe possibly originated from Kraft foods in 1975. Back then it was simply pistachio pudding mix and whipped topping, but has since evolved to include fruit, marshmallows, and (sometimes) nuts.

MY variation, includes cottage cheese. It mellows out the sweetness, increases the volume, and adds a bit of protein. That almost makes it “healthy.” Haha. (Don’t knock it until you try it!)

If you like fruit with cottage cheese, you won’t mind it in this pistachio fluff salad.

If you hate cottage cheese, just leave it out. Problem solved! I’ve got instructions for both ways.

A No-Bake, Make-Ahead Dessert

The best thing about fluff recipes is that they are made in one bowl. They require no baking. You can make them ahead of time. And they feed a crowd, which makes them some of the easiest desserts you can make.

This type of fruit salad, or jello salad, is great for potlucks, barbecues, baby showers and parties.

The green color of this pistachio fluff also makes it a festive treat for holidays like St. Patrick’s Day, Christmas, or Easter.

Ingredients

You only need five ingredients to make this Pistachio Fruit Salad.

• Pistachio Instant Pudding Mix
• Crushed Pineapple (drained, if using cottage cheese — OR — with the juices, if omitting the cottage cheese)
• Mini Marshmallows
• Whipped Topping (aka Cool Whip)
• Cottage Cheese (Optional)

How to Make Pistachio Fluff

1. Combine the pudding mix with the whipped topping and cottage cheese.
2. Then fold in the crushed pineapple and mini marshmallows.

That’s it! You can serve this pistachio fluff salad right away, but it is best after being chilled for 1 hour or so.

Chilling the pistachio fluff gives the pudding mix time to absorb into the other ingredients which makes it thick and fluffy. It is called “pistachio fluff” after all.

NOTE: If omitting the cottage cheese, mix the pudding with the crushed pineapple in its juices first. Then fold in the whipped topping and mini marshmallows.

Optional Mix-Ins

Pistachio Salad is great with additional chopped pistachios or other nuts, like pecans. Sweetened coconut flakes are also a hit in these kinds of jello salads.

You can also substitute the crushed pineapple with fruit cocktail, mandarin oranges, or halved maraschino cherries.

This is a very versatile recipe. Feel free to make it your own.

More Dessert Salads

If you like this recipe, you might also want to try these other dessert salads:

• Strawberry Fluff
• Lemon Fluff
• Raspberry Fluff
• Orange Fluff Salad
• Pink Fluff

If You Make This Recipe, Please Rate and Review it in the Comments Below. THANKS!