Desserts | Recipes
ByLynda SelfPublishedUpdated on
Jump to Recipe
This Watergate Cake recipe creates a creamy and delicious pistachio dessert that is sure to satisfy your sweet tooth. It’s been a family favorite for years, and it’s an easy dessert to make thanks to a box of pudding mix and Dream Whip.
Click here to pin for later 📌
If you like Watergate Salad, then you’re going to love this cake! It’s topped with a delicious frosting that keeps the cake cold—perfect for hot days when all we want is something refreshing.
The moist cake and frosting have a nice, light green color thanks to pistachio pudding mix. (The green hue makes it a great cake for serving on St. Patrick’s Day.)
This Watergate cake is sure to be a hit at any gathering. It’s light and creamy, with just the right amount of sweetness. The nutty flavor from pistachios is subtle but adds a nice touch. The frosting is light and fluffy, and it’s the perfect topping for this classic cake.
Ingredients
For this pistachio pudding cake recipe, you need the following ingredients:
- 2 boxes (3.4 ounces each) instant pudding mix, pistachio flavored
- 1 box of white cake mix
- 1 cup 7-Up (or other lemon lime soda)
- 3 egg whites
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 1½ cups cold milk
- 2 envelopes of Dream Whip
How To Make Watergate Cake
If you have never worked with Dream Whip, don’t let it intimidate you. Dream Whip is a commercial powdered mix to make whipped cream. If you have an electric mixer or hand mixer, you won’t have any problems with it.
To make Watergate Cake, start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees (Fahrenheit). While it is warming up, grease and flour a 9×13 cake pan. Alternatively, you can use Baker’s Joy to prep the pan. Just spray a light layer over the bottom and inside.
For the cake, blend one box of instant pistachio pudding mix, a box of white cake mix, 7-Up, egg whites, and a cup of vegetable oil in a large mixing bowl of an electric mixer for 5 minutes at medium speed.
What can I use besides 7 Up to make Watergate cake?
You can use any lemon-lime soda or even ginger ale. In a pinch you could use club soda.
Pour the cake batter into the prepared cake pan and bake for 30 – 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
Cool the cake completely before making the pistachio frosting/whipped topping, aka cover-up icing. [I like to place the cake pan on a wire rack to allow air circulation and speed up the cooling process.]
For the topping, beat 1 package of the pudding mix, milk, and the Dream Whip. Beat at high speed until it is thick and soft peaks form.
Spread the topping on top of the cake, cover it with plastic wrap, and place it in the refrigerator. This cake will need to be kept cold at all times.
If you plan on taking it to a family get-together, church potluck, or some other event, pack it in a container and include ice packs. Remember, the icing is made with a dairy product and needs to be kept cold.
To add a pop of color, serve slices of cake with a maraschino cherry on top.
Why is it called Watergate Cake? Is it because of the political scandal?
The cake is similar to Watergate Salad which is made with pistachio pudding, canned pineapple, whipped topping, crushed pecans, and marshmallows.
There are two possibilities of how “Watergate” landed in the name that unites both dishes, though no one knows for sure.
The first possibility is that the Watergate Salad recipe was developed by the chef at the Watergate Hotel – yes, that one that made the news thanks to President Richard Nixon.
According to Southern Living, the other explanation is that “the cake version has icing to ‘cover up’ any mistakes and,
like politics, is chock full of nuts.”
Watergate Dream Cake
This recipe for Watergate Cake has been enjoyed by my family for years. It's creamy and luscious and will have you wanting more.
4.45 from 61 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Desserts
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes minutes
Servings: 12 cake
Calories: 436kcal
Author: Lynda – Southern Kissed
Ingredients
- 1 3.4 ounce box instant pudding mix pistachio flavored
- 1 box white cake mix
- 1 cup 7-Up
- 3 egg whites
- 1 cup vegetable oil
Whipped Topping
- 1 3.4 ounce box instant pudding mix pistachio flavored
- 1½ cups milk
- 2 envelopes whipped topping Dream Whip
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9 x 13 inch cake pan.
Blend 1 box of pistachio pudding, cake mix, 7-Up, egg whites and oil in mixer for 5 minutes. Pour into prepared pan.
Bake for 30 – 35 minutes. Cool completely.
Beat 1 box of pistachio pudding mix, milk and whipped topping. Beat until thick and peaks form. Ice/frost cake. Keep cake chilled.
Nutrition
Serving: 1slice | Calories: 436kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 44mg | Sodium: 422mg | Potassium: 56mg | Sugar: 30g | Vitamin A: 109IU | Calcium: 158mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this Recipe? Share it Today!Mention @SouthernKissedBlog or tag #southernkissed!
Be sure to come back and tell us how your cake turned out!
