This Ambrosia Watergate Salad is so flavorful, creamy, and delicious. It’s light and fluffy and has added crunch from the nuts. Perfect for parties and special occasions.
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Ambrosia Watergate Salad makes for a refreshing side dish or a flavor packed dessert. Make this beautiful and tasty pastel green colored pistachio fluff for Easter Sunday, your family will love this recipe.
For more adorable treats perfect for Easter, check out this Easter treat collection. We’re also loving this Pistachio Salad.
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What We Love About This Pistachio Salad
- 15 Minute Prep: This recipe for pistachio marshmallow salad requires 15 minutes of active prep time in addition to 4-6 hours of cool time.
- Easy Ingredients: All you need is a total of 6 easy to find ingredients to make this pistachio salad.
- Family Friendly: Pistachio salad is a great dish to bring to your easter family gathering.
Ingredient Notes
- Cool Whip: Use the name brand or generic store brand. You can also substitute by making homemade whipped cream.
- Pineapple: You will want to use a can of crushed pineapple (not chunks) and do not pour the juice down the drain.
Variations and Substitutions
- Pudding Flavor – You don’t have to use pistachio flavored pudding if that isn’t your jam, for an alternative flavor I recommend using vanilla but you can use whatever flavor you like best.
- Nuts – If pecans are not your favorite nut, swap for pistachios, walnuts, almonds or whatever floats your boat.
- Toppings – Add some extra toppings such as coconut flakes, grapes, or mandarin oranges as a garnish to make your pistachio salad stand out.
How to Make Pistachio Fluff
These are the basic steps for making Ambrosia Watergate Salad. Please refer to the recipe card below for more detailed instructions, prep time and total time.
STEP 1: MAKE THE PUDDING MIX
In a large bowl, combine the instant pistachio pudding mix with the juice from the crushed pineapple. Whisk it until there is no more clumps of powder remain. Next using a rubber spatula gently fold in the Cool Whip or homemade whipped cream until combined.
STEP 2: ADD REMAINING INGREDIENTS
Then to the pistachio fluff mixture add the crushed pineapple, mini marshmallows, and chopped pecans; fold carefully until combined.
STEP 3: CHILL PISTACHIO MARSHMALLOW SALAD
Cover and chill in the refrigerator for 4-6 hours, or overnight for a more flavorful salad. This will allow the marshmallows to soften and really soak up more flavor.
Prep and Storage Tips for Ambrosia Salad Recipe
HOW TO MAKE THIS RECIPE AHEAD OF TIME
To make this recipe ahead of time follow the instructions as directed. It is recommended to make this no more than 1-2 days ahead of time.
HOW TO STORE THIS PISTACHIO FLUFF SALAD RECIPE
Store leftover pistachio fluff in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days, do note that after 3 days the marshmallows will begin to get sticky.
HOW TO FREEZE THIS RECIPE
Freeze pistachio salad in airtight freezer-safe container or freezer safe bag for up to 3 months.
Frequently Asked Questions about this Watergate Salad Recipe
Easily swap the pistachio flavored pudding for vanilla pudding if pistachio it’s your favorite. Yogurt works great too.
Easily double or half this recipe, just proportionally increase or decrease the ingredients.
Ambrosia salad got it’s name in the 1970s after after being created by a chef at the Watergate hotel in Washington. It’s known for being a creamy, yet refreshing and delicious dessert. This dessert salad is also known as pistachio delight, green goop or green fluff and is a staple at potlucks.
Expert Tips for Making Classic Pistachio Marshmallow Salad
- Don’t Over Mix: When you are folding the whipped cream into the pudding mix, it is crucial that you fold gently and don’t over mix as it will cause this pistachio fluff to loss some of its airiness, resulting in a heavier and denser pistachio salad.
- Homemade Whipped Cream: Homemade whipped cream is so easy to make and uses minimal ingredients, if you could like swap the cool whip and make your own, use this recipe from Lemon Tree Dwelling.
- Fruit Salad: Fresh fruit, such as strawberries, apples or bananas or fruit cocktail are great in this, kids love it.
What to Serve with Ambrosia Watergate Salad
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Ambrosia Watergate Salad
Ingredients
- 6.8 ounce pistachio Jell-O instant pudding mix, 2 boxes
- 40 ounce crushed pineapple in juice, (2) cans, do NOT drain
- 8 ounce Cool Whip OR homemade whipped topping, tub
- 3-4 cups mini marshmallows, use a 10 ounce bag of mini marshmallows for extra fluff if desired
- ¾ cup chopped pecans
- Maraschino cherries for topping
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, mix the pistachio pudding mix with the juice from the crushed pineapple. Whisk it until there is no more clumps of powder remain.
- Next using a rubber spatula gently fold in the Cool Whip or homemade whipped cream until combined. Do not overmix, as doing so will make the consistency denser than it should be.
- Then to the pudding and whipped cream mixture add the crushed pineapple, mini marshmallows, and chopped pecans; fold carefully until combined.
- Cover and chill in the refrigerator for 4-6 hours, or overnight for a more flavorful salad. This will allow the marshmallows to soften and really soak up more flavor.
Expert Tips
- Don’t Over Mix: When you are folding the whipped cream into the pudding mix, it is crucial that you fold gently and don’t over mix as it will cause this pistachio fluff to loss some of its airiness, resulting in a heavier and denser pistachio salad.
- Homemade Whipped Cream: Homemade whipped cream is so easy to make and uses minimal ingredients, if you could like swap the cool whip and make your own whipped cream in place, use this recipe.
Estimated Nutritional Information
The nutritional information provided are estimates. To learn more about how I calculate this information go to www.itisakeeper.com/about-its-a-keeper/privacy-disclosure-policies/
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