Excellent for the summer and holidays, cool and creamy. Kids adore making and eating this! HINT: Have them adorn the top with coconut and cherries to resemble a face.
| Prep Time: | 10 mins |
| Additional Time: | 1 hr |
| Total Time: | 1 hr 10 mins |
| Servings: | 6 |
| Yield: | 6 servings |
Ingredients
- 1 (3.4 ounce) package instant pistachio pudding mix
- 1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained
- 1 ½ cups miniature marshmallows
- 1 (12 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
- ½ cup flaked coconut
- ½ cup maraschino cherries, drained
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine pudding mix and pineapple; mix well. Add marshmallows and 3/4 of the container of dessert topping (add more to get a creamier consistency). Toss in the coconut; mix well. Transfer to a serving dish and top with halved cherries and any extra coconut. Chill for at least an hour before serving. Will be good the next day.
Reviews
Didn’t change a thing! This is the true Watergate recipe.
I sometimes add mandarin oranges and add plain yogurt to make it less sweet. I don’t add cherries but do nuts.
Changed can of crushed cherries for pineapple, chocolate pudding for pistachio, and mini chocolate chip for nuts. Call it Russian Collusion!
Changed nothing. Reminded me of when my mom would get it at the grocery store.
I love this recipe. The only changes I made was I whipped 1.5 cups of heavy whipping cream instead of the dessert topping…. I just tastes better and is better for you. I also used colored marshmallows to give it some color. Delicious!!
I made this without coconut (because I hate the texture) and it was great
This is staple at my families Thanksgiving table only difference is we leave out the cherries and freeze it. So light and refreshing.
We liked it! Didn’t drain the pineapple, and added a sprinkle of pecans on top. Wonderful!
This is my favorite version of Watergate salad. This is my go-to recipe for parties, and it’s always devoured!
ok maybe I don’t get out enough but I honestly believed that Watergate salad was my granny and moms private recipe!! I guess I was duped all these years, but this is the recipe almost exactly.
This stuff is soooo good! It’s the perfect light and refreshing dessert that everyone loves! I usually add some chopped pecans to it as well. Easter is almost here, so it will definitely be on the dessert table. Thanks for sharing your wonderful recipe. 🙂
Made this for a family function today. It was a hit! I only have about 1/2 of a serving left. I made 2 changes to this recipe: I did not drain the pineapple and I only used an 8 oz container of whipped topping. My mom even asked for the recipe 🙂
This is the best. I used pineapple chunks because that’s what I had, and I used the juice because that’s how other watergate salad recipes are written. The coconut and cherries are great in this. I also added chopped walnuts. I think next time I will quarter rather than halve the cherries to cut down on those super sweet bites.
Yuimmy!
Just like my grandmother used to make! I make this often now that I found this recipe. I make it w/o the cherries though and sometimes add a small amount of finely shredded apple pieces, like my grandmother did.
I normally skip the Coconut. This is very good. make it every holiday.
We love this salad-especially for a light dessert in the summer! I leave out the coconut but add pecans…YUMMO!
WONDERFUL!!! This is by far the best watergate salad recipe ever! I love it!! I didn’t add the nuts but that was only because I didn’t have any here, but it would have been just as good with them!! Definately will make this man more times!!
Also called ambrosia – good
this was perfect! i added a little extra pudding mix and did half cool whip and half homade whipped cream
This is my favorite salad to make and eat.So easy that my daughters make it for xmas every year.So good that i can eat the whole bowl(lol).Try it you will love it.