Pistachio Fluff

This Old-Fashioned Pistachio Fluff will take you back to the good old days. It’s the perfect nostalgiac recipe to take to holidays and potlucks.

Pistachio Fluff

Pistachio Fluff

This recipe takes me back to my childhood when every family function or church potluck had someone’s recipe for Pistachio Fluff Salad.

Pistachio fluff recipes stand the test of time. In the 1980s, the fluffy green dessert salad was always a favorite dessert of mine, and now, in the 2000s, it’s a favorite dessert of my kids.

This recipe has been called Pistachio Dump Salad, Watergate Salad, Pistachio Salad Fluff, and Green Fluff.

It’s the perfect spring and summer recipe. It looks great at the St. Patrick’s Day dinner, or the Easter table, and is a refreshing summer dessert.

To make this recipe even more delicious, try adding my quick and easy recipe for Homemade Whipped Cream

pistachio fluff salad

Here is What I Love about this Recipe:

  • It’s an old-fashioned recipe
  • This is an easy-to-make recipe with very few ingredients
  • It’s easy to make ahead of time

If you love easy-to-make desserts, as I do, then you’ll want to try my recipe for Cherry Fluff next. You might also love this recipe for Dreamsicle Jell-O Salad and this amazing Waldorf Salad.

Why is Pistachio Salad called Watergate Salad

Pistachio Fluff and Watergate salad have similarities. Both have pistachio pudding and are both green.

What is a Fluff Salad?

A fluff salad usually has a fluffy and creamy texture made from ingredients like cream cheese, whipped topping, and fruit in the form of juice, Jell-O, or pudding.

How Many Ingredients are in Pistachio Fluff Salad?

Pistachio Fluff Recipes usually have 4 ingredients – pistachio pudding, whipped topping, crushed pineapple, and mini marshmallows

pistachio fluff

Make Ahead and Storage:

How far in Advance Can you make Pistachio Fluff?

You can make this fluff salad up to 4 days in advance

How do you Store Pistachio Fluff?

Store this salad covered and in the refrigerator for up to 5 days

Optional Add-Ins for Pistachio Salad Fluff

  • nuts like pistachios, pecans, or walnuts
  • green food coloring
  • chopped maraschino cherries
  • mandarin oranges – drained
  • cream cheese
  • cottage cheese

Tips and Tricks:

  • make this fluff at least 4 hours in advance, or a day in advance
  • some people swear by adding cottage cheese to this recipe. I have never had it with cottage cheese, but I can imagine that is a delicious version
  • I like to mix the cool whip and pudding together before adding the pineapple. The marshmallows are always folded in last
  • If you don’t want to use Pistachios, then you can substitute the pistachio pudding with another pudding like banana or coconut. It won’t be pistachio fluff, but it will still be delicious

What type of Ingredients do you need for Pistachio Salad?

pistachio fluff ingredients

Ingredients

  • Pistachio Pudding – Jell-O makes this, but you might be able to find a generic brand at your local grocery store
  • Cool Whip – this is that whipped topping that you find in the freezer section at your grocery store
  • Crushed Pineapple – Do not drain this can of pineapple
  • Mini Marshmallows – I only used one cup, but you could easily add more. Some people prefer to leave the marshmallows out and substitute cottage cheese

How do you make Pistachio Fluff?

This Fluff Salad is so easy to make and comes together quickly. Although you could technically serve it right away, it’s better after it has chilled in the fridge for a few hours and even better overnight

  • In a medium bowl, mix the pudding and cool whip
  • Add pineapples and their juices – mix in
  • Fold in marshmallows
  • Cover and refrigerate
pistachio salad

Pistachio Fluff

An easy-to-make fluff salad that is the perfect dessert to take to a holiday party
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 3 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Refrigeration: 4 hours
Servings: 12
Calories: 111cal
Author: Melissa Haines

Equipment

  • 1 medium mixing bowl
  • 1 mixing spoon

Ingredients

  • 3 oz. pistachio pudding
  • 8 oz. whipped topping thawed, but still cold
  • 20 oz. pineapple tidbits in 100% pineapple juice
  • 1 cup mini marshmallows
  • 4 drops green food coloring optional. My recipe images DO NOT have food coloring added.

Instructions

  • in a medium sized bowl, mix the pudding mix and cool whip
  • add pineapple with juices and mix in
  • fold in mini marshmallows

Notes

Nutrition Facts are only an estimate 

Optional Add-Ins

  • pistachio nuts
  • chopped maraschino cherries
  • food coloring – only if you want to turn the fluff from a mint green color to a darker color of green 

Optional Substitutions:

  • replace pistachio pudding with banana or coconut pudding for an entirely new flavor
  • replace mini marshmallows with cottage cheese for a lower-fat fluff 

Christmas Version:

  • Add in chopped maraschino cherries 

Nutrition

Calories: 111cal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 0.4mg | Sodium: 120mg | Potassium: 79mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 38IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 0.2mg
5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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