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    Home » Recipes » Desserts & Treats

    Pistachio Fluff Salad

    Updated: Jun 27, 2024 · Published: May 9, 2022 · by Jan Nunes

    A four image collage of how to make Pistachio Fluff Salad with text overlays.
    Pale green Pistachio Fluff Salad in a small glass cups topped with chopped pecans with text overlays.

    Pistachio Fluff Salad is an easy 5 ingredient recipe that has been a favorite recipe since the '70s. It is elegant, creamy, and quickly made.

    Made with creamy whipped topping, pistachio pudding mix, sweet pineapple, crunchy pecans, and mini marshmallows, this great recipe is always a winner for taste and budget.

    Pale green Pistachio Fluff Salad in a small glass cups topped with chopped pecans.
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    Plus, it's a perfect choice for potlucks, cookouts, and get-togethers and for those looking for a lighter option to traditional creamy fruit salads and desserts. 

    Jump to:
    • What are Fluff Salads and Desserts?
    • About This Recipe
    • Ingredient Notes
    • How to Make Pistachio Fluff Salad
    • My Top Tips
    • Substitutions & Variations
    • Make-Ahead & Storage
    • More Great Fruit and Fluff Desserts
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    What are Fluff Salads and Desserts?

    All fluff recipes are sweet and fluffy and primarily contain whipped topping or whipped cream. They are sweet enough to be a dessert and are a great side dish for buffets and the holidays.

    But, whether you think of these dishes as salads or desserts they all have two ingredients in common: whipped topping plus a pudding or gelatin mix, which creates the basic flavor and makes it "fluffy". 

    Then ingredients are stirred in to build and enhance the main flavor of the fluff. These can include canned or fresh fruit, cottage cheese, pie filling, mini marshmallows, chopped nuts, coconut, bits of candies or chocolate, and even pieces of broken pretzels.

    About This Recipe

    It's History and Other Names

    The original pistachio fluff recipe was developed by General Foods to help market its new pistachio pudding flavor. The year was 1975 and they named it "Pistachio Pineapple Delight".

    But it quickly became referred to as Watergate Salad and no one knows exactly why. The Watergate break-in and trials occurred in 1972 and 1973, President Nixon resigned in 1974, and the Watergate Hotel and Office Complex was never green.

    So, it really didn't get invented during the time of the Watergate scandal. So who knows where the name came from?

    Wherever the name came from... it stuck for a long time. But over the years, it has also been called many other different names, too, like Green Fluff, Green Goop, Green Stuff, Pistachio Delight, Pistachio Pudding Salad, Shamrock Salad, and even Shut The Gate Salad.

    The recipe became popular for having only a handful of ingredients that could be mixed quickly and served in the same big bowl. It was a sweet salad or a sweet side dish depending on when you served it.

    I clearly remember seeing people at church potlucks trying to decide where to place it, with the sides... or with the desserts!

    Recipe Highlights

    This Pistachio Fluff Salad contains pistachio pudding, crushed pineapple, marshmallows, whipped topping, and chopped pecans.  Of these 5 ingredients, only two require measuring which makes it very quick to make.

    I've deviated from the original recipe by adding chopped pecans because I love just a small amount of texture and crunch in this pistachio fluff fruit salad.

    If you loved my Mandarin Orange Fluff you are going to love this beautiful pale green Pistachio Fluff Salad. Just like orange fluff, this recipe is a favorite for family gatherings, holiday dinners, and potlucks. Plus it is one of the easiest fluff salad recipes you can make.

    Whatever you call this classic recipe, this dessert is a delicious combination of pistachio and pineapple that is completely irresistible. 

    So... let's make some!

    Ingredient Notes

    Pistachio Fluff Salad labeled ingredients, clockwise from top: whipped topping, crushed pineapple, mini marshmallows, chopped pecans, and pistachio pudding mix.

    To make this Pistachio Fluff Salad you will need these simple ingredients:

    • Whipped Topping - Thawed frozen whipped topping (Cool Whip) is the traditional ingredient for this fluff dessert.
    • Crushed Pineapple - Any brand of crushed pineapple is delicious. I prefer pineapple canned "in its own juice" but you can use "light syrup" too.
    • Pistachio Pudding Mix - This is the 3.4-ounce package "instant pudding" mix from Jell-O. Although store-branded pudding mixes are available I have not tried any other brand of pistachio pudding.
    • Mini Marshmallows - Just plain vanilla mini marshmallows. No need to cut them. Just measure and add.
    • Chopped Pecans - I prefer to buy whole pecans and cut them myself for a fresher taste and to get the perfect size of the pieces of pecans.

    Please see the recipe card for quantities.

    How to Make Pistachio Fluff Salad

    Process Photo 1a - Crushed pineapple and pistachio pudding mix in a large bowl.
    Process Photo 1b - Crushed pineapple and green pistachio pudding mix are well mixed in a large bowl.

    Stir Together. Stir together the crushed pineapple and the instant pistachio pudding in a large bowl until they are well combined.

    Process Photo 2a - Whipped topping is added to the mixture of crushed pineapple and pistachio pudding mix.
    Process Photo 2b - Whipped topping is mixed well with crushed pineapple and pistachio pudding.

    Add and Mix. Add the whipped topping and mix well.

    Process Photo 3a - Mini marshmallows and chopped pecans are added to the pistachio pineapple mixture.
    Process Photo 3b - All of the ingredients are folded together in a large bowl.

    Fold In. Fold in the mini marshmallows and chopped pecans.

    Pale green Pistachio Fluff Salad in a small glass cups topped with chopped pecans.

    My Top Tips

    ♡ Do not drain the crushed pineapple! This recipe needs both the juice and the fruit.

    ♡ For the quickest prep time chop the nuts and measure the marshmallows before starting to mix the fluff.

    Substitutions & Variations

    • Omit the Nuts. The original recipe was completely no fuss and did not contain chopped nuts. So feel free to omit them.
    • Substitute Chopped Walnuts. You can substitute chopped walnuts for the pecans.
    • Substitute stabilized whipped cream for the frozen whipped topping.

    Make-Ahead & Storage

    Make-Ahead: Pistachio Fluff Salad can be made one day ahead or made just 1 hour before serving.

    Storage: It stores well in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.

    Pale green Pistachio Fluff Salad in a small glass cups topped with chopped pecans with a pink background.

    More Great Fruit and Fluff Desserts

    • Ambrosia Salad in footed dessert bowls garnished with a cherry.
      Ambrosia Salad
    • Square image of orange fluff garnished with whipped topping, a mandarin orange, and a sprig of mint.
      Mandarin Orange Fluff
    • An ice cream sundae glass filled with vanilla ice cream and topped with red dessert sauce.
      Red Wine Dessert Sauce with Berries
    • Square image of a serving of fruit salad in a clear glass bowl.
      5 Cup Fruit Salad
    • A white dish with black flowers contains a pink fluff with marshmallows and cherries.
      Cherry Pineapple Fluff
    • Strawberries and cream are in dessert glasses garnished with mint and a halved strawberry.
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    ♡ Did you love this Pistachio Fluff Salad? Please leave a star rating and a comment below!

    📖 Recipe

    Pale green Pistachio Fluff Salad in a small glass cups topped with chopped pecans.

    Pistachio Fluff Salad

    5 from 1 vote
    By: Jan Nunes
    Pistachio Fluff Salad is an easy 5 ingredient recipe that has been a favorite recipe since the '70s. It is elegant, creamy, and quickly made.
    Print Share Pin Email
    Prep Time ~ 10 minutes minutes
    Chilling Time ~ 1 hour hour
    Total Time ~ 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes
    Servings ~ 8 Servings
    Calories ~ 173kcal
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    Ingredients
     

    • 20 Ounces Crushed Pineapple with Juice
    • 1 Package Pistachio Instant Pudding Mix, 3.4 Ounce
    • 8 Ounces Frozen Whipped Topping, Thawed
    • 1 Cup Mini Marshmallows
    • ½ Cup Chopped Pecans

    Instructions
     

    • Stir together the crushed pineapple and the pistachio instant pudding in a large bowl until they are well combined.
      20 Ounces Crushed Pineapple with Juice, 1 Package Pistachio Instant Pudding Mix
    • Add the whipped topping and mix well.
      8 Ounces Frozen Whipped Topping
    • Fold in the mini marshmallows and chopped pecans.
      1 Cup Mini Marshmallows, ½ Cup Chopped Pecans
    • Cover and refrigerate until well chilled.

    Notes

    Do not drain the crushed pineapple! This recipe needs both the juice and the fruit.
    Pistachio Fluff Salad can be made one day ahead or just one hour before serving. It stores well in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 173kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 28mg | Potassium: 145mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 60IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 1mg

    Per 1 serving. All nutritional information on this site is an estimate. Your results may vary.

    Encharted Cook™ or Jan Nunes shall not be liable for adverse reactions or any other outcome resulting from the use of recipes or recommendations on this website or actions you take as a result.

    © 2018-2025 Encharted Cook, Jan Nunes. All rights reserved.

    Course: Dessert, Salad, Side Dish
    Cuisine: American

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    About Jan Nunes

    Jan is the creator and owner of Encharted Cook. Her cooking and baking journey began more than 50 years ago and she specializes in showing how recipes and ingredients can work together and why. At Encharted Cook you can rely on proven recipes and take your cooking and baking up to the next level.

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    Jan Nunes

    Hey There!

    Welcome to Encharted Cook! I'm Jan, a seasoned cook with recipe charts, pro tips, and ideas to help you make delicious dinners. Over the years I've learned that many recipes are related... and if you learn to make one delicious dish, you can make many more!

    more about Jan

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