Dreamy Watergate Cake Recipe (2024)

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ByLynda SelfPublishedUpdated on

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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.

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Dreamy Watergate Cake Recipe (1)

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 cake recipe, you need the following ingredients:

  • 2 boxes (3.4 ounces each) instant pudding mix, pistachio flavored
  • 1 box 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
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👩🏻‍🍳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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

FAQ

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.”

What can I use besides 7 Up to make Watergate cake?

You can use any lemon lime soda or even ginger ale.

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Dreamy Watergate Cake Recipe (10)

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
  • 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!

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Be sure to come back and tell us how your cake turned out!

Dreamy Watergate Cake Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why do they call it Watergate cake? ›

According to WAMU reporter Gabe Bullard, the name may be satirical wordplay: an early recipe published by the Hagerstown Daily Mail of Maryland in September 1974 (a month after the resignation of Richard Nixon) credits Christine Hatcher, who gave the cake its name "because of all the nuts that are in it." Author Joseph ...

What's the best frosting for pistachio cake? ›

Frosting- you can use your favorite frosting that fits pistachio flavor well like vanilla buttercream, mascarpone whipped cream, and cream cheese frosting. Green color- if you want your cake to have a green color you can add a few drops of green food coloring or instant pistachio pudding.

Why is it called Texas cake? ›

The origins of this cake are murky. Some sources say it may have first shown up in a Texas newspaper, which is why it's called "Texas" sheet cake, while others claim the name comes from the fact that it's the size of Texas. Regardless of its origins, this cake is truly a crowd-pleaser.

Why is it called buckle cake? ›

A buckle is a funny name for an old fashioned fruit studded coffee cake. Like many other desserts in the extended cobbler family buckles take their name from their appearance—grunts grunt as they cook, slumps slump when served, buckles—you guessed it—buckle.

What's in a Robert Redford cake? ›

Ingredients
  1. 1 chocolate cake (baked in a 9 x 13-inch baking pan)
  2. 3/4 cup fudge topping, slightly warmed.
  3. 3/4 cup caramel topping, or butterscotch topping, slightly warmed.
  4. 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk.
  5. 6 chocolate-covered toffee bars, such as Heath bars, divided; or 1 1/3 cups toffee and chocolate chips.
Aug 29, 2021

What frosting do professionals use for cakes? ›

Swiss meringue buttercream is a favorite among many cake decorators because of its smooth finish on the outside cakes and its ability to hold piping detail.

What flavors compliment pistachio? ›

Flavor pairings
  • Chocolate (dark, milk or white)
  • Citrus: orange, blood orange, lemon, Meyer lemon.
  • Candied orange.
  • Orange blossom water and rose water.
  • Wildflower or orange blossom honey.
  • Dried fruits: dates, apricots, raisins.
  • Spices: saffron, cardamom, clove, sea salt, pink peppercorns.

What is Watergate known for? ›

Aerial view of the Watergate complex, site of June 17, 1972 burglary of Democratic National Committee Headquarters that became synonymous with the President Nixon cover up and eventual resignation. The break-ins occurred in the office building in the center.

Is there still a Watergate Hotel? ›

Dream in couture at our legendary Washington D.C. luxury hotel, located right next to Georgetown. The Watergate Hotel's 336 guest rooms and spacious hotel suites redefine luxury with lavish finishes, sleek furniture, and lush bedding, all artfully chosen with the guest in mind.

Who invented pistachio pudding? ›

Pistachio pudding is a green pudding made from pistachio nuts and occasionally contains small chunks of almonds. Jell-O also sells boxed pistachio pudding mix. Boxed pistachio pudding was developed by Kraft Foods in 1975.

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