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Home » Recipes » Desserts & Treats Recipes

Pistachio Fluff Salad

Published: May 9, 2022 · Modified: May 20, 2022 by Jan Nunes

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Pale green fluff salad with chopped pecans in a small glass cup with process photos and text overlay.
Pale green fluff salad with chopped pecans in a small glass cup with text overlay.

Pistachio Fluff Salad is a favorite recipe since the '70s for potlucks, cookouts, and get-togethers. This easy 5 ingredient recipe comes together in just minutes.

Pale green fluff salad in a small glass cup topped with chopped pecans.

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 gatherings and is one of the easiest fluff salad recipes you can make.

It contains pistachio pudding, crushed pineapple, marshmallows, whipped topping, and chopped pecans and of these 5 ingredients, only two require measuring which makes it very quick to make.

Jump to:
  • Ingredients
  • Instructions
  • Substitutions & Variations
  • Make-Ahead & Storage
  • My Top Tips
  • More Great Fruit and Fluff Desserts
  • 📖 Recipe

The original pistachio fluff recipe was developed by General Foods to help market their new pistachio pudding flavor. The year was 1975 and they named it "Pistachio Pineapple Delight". But it has been called by many other names like "Watergate Salad", Green Fluff, and "Shut the Gate" and there are lots of stories about who invented this fluff dessert and named it whatever name, which to me are just urban myths.

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

So... let's make some!

Ingredients

Labeled ingredients, clockwise from top: whipped topping, crushed pineapple, mini marshmallows, chopped pecans, and pistachio pudding mix.
  • 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.

Instructions

Crushed pineapple and pistachio pudding mix in a large bowl.
Crushed pineapple and green pistachio pudding mix are well mixed in a large bowl.

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

Whipped topping is added to the mixture of crushed pineapple and pistachio pudding mix.
The whipped topping is mixed well with the crushed pineapple and pistachio pudding mixture.

Add the whipped topping and mix well.

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

Fold in the mini marshmallows and chopped pecans.

Individual servings of pale green pistachio fluff in glass serving cups.

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 for the chopped pecans.

Substitute stabilized whipped cream for the frozen whipped topping.

Make-Ahead & Storage

Pistachio Fluff Salad can be made one day ahead or made just 1 hour before serving. It stores well in a covered container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.

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.

More Great Fruit and Fluff Desserts

  • Ambrosia Salad
  • Mandarin Orange Fluff
  • Red Wine with Berries Dessert Sauce

📖 Recipe

Pale green fluff salad in a small glass cup topped with chopped pecans.

Pistachio Fluff Salad

5 from 1 vote
Encharted Cook | 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.
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Prep Time 10 mins
Chilling Time 1 hr
Total Time 1 hr 10 mins
Course Dessert, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 8 Servings
Calories 173 kcal

Ingredients
 

  • 20 Ounces Crushed Pineapple with Juice
  • 1 Package Instant Pistachio 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 instant pistachio pudding in a large bowl until they are well combined.
  • Add the whipped topping and mix well.
  • Fold in the mini marshmallows and chopped pecans.
  • Cover and refrigerate until well chilled.

Notes

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 for the chopped pecans.
Substitute stabilized whipped cream for the frozen whipped topping.
Make-Ahead & Storage
Pistachio Fluff Salad can be made one day ahead or made just 1 hour before serving. It stores well in a covered container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
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.

Nutrition Per Serving

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

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

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