Watergate Cake is a recipe that has been popular for years and has stood the test of time. A box of cake mix, instant pistachio pudding, and Crisco® Pure Vegetable Oil combine to make a super moist and tender Bundt cake that’s then covered in a pistachio-flavored frosting.
A Great Holiday Recipe
The holidays are all about reaching for those nostalgic recipes that bring back memories and remind you of holidays past. As children, we always received a bag of pistachios in our Christmas stockings and it was about the only time of year we ever had pistachios in the house so I always associate them with Christmas.
Unlike most southern families, there’s not a long line of people who love to cook in my family. Neither one of my grandmother’s enjoyed spending time in the kitchen. But my Grandfather did. And this is his recipe for Watergate Cake which was printed in a cookbook that his church (St Paul’s Episcopal Church in Monroe, NC) published. I think he may have been the only male to submit recipes for the cookbook.
My grandfather passed away nearly 20 years ago, so it’s nice to be able to bring back memories of him through his recipes.
My grandfather in the center and me in the red shirt and knee high socks.
I love this recipe for Watergate Cake because it is simple and quick to make and it brings back wonderful memories. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that it has a seasonally appropriate color.
I’ve followed my grandfather’s recipe for this cake, but sometimes when I make it for the holidays, I also like to add some shredded coconut to the frosting or sprinkle it on top like snow. It goes wonderfully with the pistachio flavor of the cake.
Crisco® Pure Vegetable Oil really makes the cake moist and tender and it has a perfectly neutral flavor that is great for baking.
Give this Watergate Cake a try this holiday season and I think you’ll find that your family requests it year after year. 🙂
More Watergate Recipes
Watergate Cake
Ingredients
- 1 (16.25-ounce) box white cake mix
- 1 (3.4-ounce) box instant pistachio pudding mix
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup Crisco Vegetable oil
- 1 cup club soda
- 1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts
Frosting
- 1 (3.4-ounce) box instant pistachio pudding
- 1 package cool whip mix
- 1 1/2 cups cold milk
- additional walnuts for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 10-inch Bundt pan.
- Using an electric mixer, beat cake mix, 1 box of pistachio pudding, eggs, vegetable oil, and club soda for 2 minutes. Stir in walnuts.
- Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 50 to 55 minutes.
- Let cool 5 minutes and then remove from pan to cool completely.
- To make frosting. beat 1 box pistachio pudding, cool whip mix, and milk until thick. Spread frosting on cooled cake. Top with walnuts.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Originally posted December 14, 2015.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of The J.M. Smucker Company. The opinions and text are all mine.
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Love the Watergate cake … so moist and so good …
What about using pistachios instead of walnuts?
Growing up in deep South Texas, we always had Watergate Salad. All of my kids, grandkids included love Watergate salad. I’m so excited to see there is a cake version of this! Thanks so much. We also would have Fruit Cocktail cake and Nilla Wafer cake in the summer time. Such awesome classic timeless recipes that are oh so yummy!
Hope you get to try the cake soon!
I’m curious. Why is it called Watergate? Did they serve it at the restaraunt there?
This cake was first invented in the 1970’s around the time when Nixon was president. The cake name was introduced because of his Watergate scandal AMD was a metaphor that sweet things (the frosting) may hide secrets under them(nutty cake) and because of this it was come to be known as the “watergate cake” becoming its most popular at the time that Nixon left office.
we always just called it pistachio cake, my daughter likes this so much she asks for it for her birthday cake.
I’ve even used food coloring at Christmas time. very old recipe.
I love that this is your grandfather’s recipe. I’ve never heard of a watergate cake before but it sounds amazing! 🙂 That is such a sweet picture of you and your family 🙂
I loved reminiscing with you…the cake is a treasure for sure!
How have I never heard of this cake before?! I always use pudding mixes in our baked goods because it ads such great flavor, I have got to do this!
I love that soft green color!