Pistachio Pineapple Poke Cake{aka Watergate Poke Cake}

Hello, friends!  Are y'all ready for Easter this weekend?  Even though my kids are older, they still enjoy coloring eggs and hunting for Easter baskets.  Personally, I am looking forward to the beautiful church meetings on Sunday morning, followed by a delicious family dinner.  Today I have a dessert recipe that would make a yummy addition to your Easter dinner.  

One of my favorite dishes that always seems to show up at pot-luck dinners is Watergate Salad.  Have you ever had it?  The big, fluffy, green mix of canned pineapple, pistachio pudding, and whipped cream.  Mmmmmm.....  Who would have thought those flavors would go together?!  It seems a little funky, but it is absolutely delicious.  But to masquerade as a salad?!  You're not fooling anyone, Watergate "Salad".  You may be green, but we all know you're not healthy.  I decided to make all that green goodness into a proper, respectable dessert. This cake has all the same flavors in light, fresh cake form.  

Pistachio Pineapple Poke Cake

1 box Pineapple Supreme cake mix {plus ingredients needed to make it}

1 can crushed pineapple

2 small boxes instant Pistachio pudding mix

3 C. milk

1 container Cool Whip

Drain pineapple juice from the pineapple into a measuring cup.  Set the pineapple aside for later.  Add water to the juice if needed to make enough to replace water in the cake mix.  Bake cake according to package directions, substituting the pineapple juice for the water that the mix calls for.  

When the cake has cooled, use the handle of a wooden spoon to poke holes all over the top of the cake.  In a bowl, mix instant pistachio pudding with 3 C. of milk.  Once the pudding has thickened, pour evenly over the top of the cake.  Spread the crushed pineapple evenly over the top of the cake then frost it with Cool Whip.  Chill in the refrigerator for several hours before eating.  {The longer you can wait, the better it will taste!  Make it up to 24 hours in advance if you can.}

In these pictures, I put the pineapple on the cake before the pudding, which I don't recommend.  It plugged up the holes in the cake so the pudding didn't get down into the cake like it is supposed to.  Put the pudding on first, THEN the pineapple.  This was a huge hit with my kids -- the husband does not like nuts.  If you're looking for a light, refreshing springtime dessert, this is your dish!

I’ll be linking up to some of my favorite link parties.  Come and check them out!

Happy Easter, friends!

Amy