Watergate Cupcakes are the cupcake version of the famous Watergate Salad made from pistachio pudding mix, pineapple, cool whip, and marshmallows and they are the perfect nostalgic treat.
To make a cupcake version as close as possible to my Watergate Salad Recipe, I added a box of pistachio pudding mix and an 8-ounce can of crushed pineapple to a vanilla cupcake batter. Most Watergate Cake or cupcake batters are made by doctoring a box of cake mix, but I was in the mood to make one from scratch.
The cupcake part is super moist with just a little texture contrast from the crushed pineapple. Both the flavor of the pistachio and pineapple are evident, but not overpowering. I put in about 6 drops of green food coloring to make sure the cupcakes were extra photogenic, but the pistachio pudding alone will give them a green hue.
Since Watergate Salad has marshmallows mixed in, I wanted to incorporate them somehow and I decided to use marshmallow fluff to make the frosting. Mixed with butter and confectioners’ sugar, it’s a light and sweet frosting with a velvety smooth texture.
This wouldn’t have been a cupcake I would have enjoyed when I was younger. Nope. I was all about the chocolate then.
And the fact that I like them now is definitely a sign that I’m getting older. Like maybe not that many years away from being a grandma old.
And the thought of that makes me want to go back to eating nothing but chocolate.
But seriously. A green cupcake covered in marshmallow fluff frosting. That’s super fun.
And only for the young at heart. 😉
Watergate Cupcakes
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 box instant pistachio pudding, 3.4-ounce
- 1 can crushed pineapple, 8-ounce
Frosting
- 3/4 cups butter, softened
- 1 jar marshmallow creme
- 1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon milk
- Chopped pecans for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line 12 muffin cups with cupcake liners.
- In a small bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar together until light and creamy.
- Add eggs one at at time, stopping to scrape down sides of the bowl.
- With mixer on low, add in remaining cupcake ingredients. Turn to medium-speed and beat for about 20 seconds, or until batter is an even consistency.
- Pour into prepared cupcake cups and bake for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool.
- To make frosting, use an electric mixer to beat butter and marshmallow fluff until smooth. Gradually add in confectioners' sugar. Mix in vanilla extract and milk.
- Spread frosting on cupcakes. This is easiest to do using a pastry bag or plastic bag with the corner snipped off. Sprinkle with pecans.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.
Watergate cupcakes.. Hearing it for the first time.. These cupcakes look amazing!! Love the colour.. pistachio and pineapple cupcakes sounds awesome and that marshmallow frosting just wow!! 🙂
ooh i am so craving a cupcake right now.. they look delicious!
The color of these is so beautiful!! I bet the flavors are just as good.
These cupcakes are so fun! My mom makes watergate salad all the time, but I never thought of adapting that into another kind of dessert. Love that marshmallow frosting too! 🙂
OMG I’ve never heard of watergate cupcakes these look amazing! I love pineapple in muffins and cupcakes I bet these are delicious! They look fantastic! 🙂
LOL! I love these cupcakes, Christin! You think of the most creative twists on old-school desserts. Seriously, you blow my mind! I was also all about the chocolate when I was younger. Who am I kidding, I’m still all about the chocolate! 🙂
Once all about chocolate, always all about chocolate 🙂
Oh my gosh I LOVE all the flavors and COLORS you’ve got going on in these gorgeous cupcakes, Christin! Did I mention I adore the color green?! 😀
Such cute green cupcakes! Pistachio.. sounds really good 🙂
WOW! These cupcakes looks incredible! I wish we had pistachio pudding mix here – oh well, I’ll pop it on the to buy list for my next USA trip 🙂
These cupcakes look gorgeous, Christin! You could sell these from a bakery! I love the pistachio and pineapple flavors in here. Such a fun combination!