Two-Layer Watergate Cake

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Take a white cake mix and add pistachio pudding, eggs, oil, soda, nuts and top with a pistachio whipped topping and you’ll have yourself a Watergate cake.

The Watergate Cake has been around since the historical June 1972 “Watergate Scandal”. I remember my grandmother making this wonderful 9×13 cake made with pistachio pudding and lots of nuts and a dreamy pistachio icing. It was or should I say IS a great summertime recipe.

Like I said, my sweet grandmother made her cake in a 9×13 cake pan. Since I have always felt the 9×13 cake as being so dense I decided to make my recipe as being based on a two-layer cake. Which I prefer much better. Sorry Grandma! But in all seriousness, I do believe Grandma would definitely approve of my adjustments to this recipe!

I’m not sure the relevance of the ingredients for the making of this recipe. One ingredient that really pops out to me is the nuts! Rather it be the pistachio nuts, pecan nuts or the walnuts but the whole Watergate situation, as described below, was nuts. Totally nuts!

The Watergate Scandal

If you were born after 1970 you may not have heard about the Watergate Scandal unless you were a history buff and either learned it through reading history or maybe it was taught in schools. You see, in 1969 Richard Nixon was the 37th president of the United States and he served two terms as the president until 1974. During his time in office there was some shady activity that took place right around re-election time.

Out of the five ballot placement qualifications which political party was Richard Nixon registered?

In order for a candidate to run for office they must identify themselves as one of the five ballot placements which include being a member of the Democratic Party, Republican Party, Libertarian Party, Green Party or the Constitutional Party. That’s five right? Yep! As for Richard Nixon, he was registered as a Republican Party.

When did the Watergate scandal begin?

The Watergate scandal actually took place in the early hours of June 17, 1972, when several burglars were arrested in the office of the Democratic National Committee, located in the Watergate complex of buildings in Washington, D.C.

The burglars were actually connected to President Richard Nixon’s re-election campaign, and they had been caught wiretapping phones and stealing documents from the Democratic National Committee office. Nonetheless, President Nixon denied any involvement and was re-elected and held a second-term as President in 1972. Nixon’s second term ended early when he resigned in 1974 from office following the Watergate scandal. You talk about some shady activity? Boy, was 1972 through 1974 a big marker of history and talk of the town! Anyway, lets get to this Watergate Cake Recipe!

Two-Layer Watergate Cake Recipe

If you decide a two-layer cake is not the route you want to go that is ok. The only difference to making this a 9×13 cake is the icing. Make the cake the same and follow the box directions for baking a 9×13 cake pan and then when it comes to making the icing just decrease the icing ingredients by half and there you go.

Cake Ingredients

• 1 white cake mix
• 1 3.4 ounce box Instant Pistachio Pudding (that’s the small box of pudding)
• 3 egg whites
• 3/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 cup soda (7-up or Sprite)
• 1/2 cup nuts chopped (pecan, black or English walnuts)

Icing Ingredients

• 2 boxes Dream Whip Whipped Topping Mix (4 envelopes total)
• 2 3.4 ounce boxes Pistachio Pudding
• 3 cups whole milk (make sure it is cold)

Topping/sides Ingredients (optional but highly recommended)

• 1 cup nuts chopped (pecan, black or English walnuts)
• 1 cup sweetened or unsweetened coconut – (flaked or shredded) – toasted recipe below

Cake Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheight. In a large mixing bowl combine white cake mix, instant pistachio pudding, egg whites, oil, and soda. Use an electric mixer and beat on medium speed for about three minutes. Fold in chopped nuts and pour, dividing evenly, into two greased layer cake pans. I used two 9-inch round cake pans for this recipe. Bake for 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool cakes on a baking rack for about 10 minutes. Then carefully invert pans to remove cakes and continue cooling on baking rack until completely cooled.

Icing Instructions

In a large bowl combine the 4 envelopes of Dream Whip, instant pistachio puddings and milk. Using an electric mixer beat on low speed until ingredients are combined then continue beating on high speed until mixture reaches stiff peaks.

Toast Coconut Instructions

To make toasted coconut place coconut into a small pan. Place over medium heat and cook, stirring constantly, until toasted or lightly brown. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely before placing on cake.

Assemble and Ice Cake

Place about 1/8 cup of icing on cake plate in the center. Place one cooled cake on top of the icing. Center the cake and give it a twist so that it will not slide. Next, place about 1 cup of icing on top begin icing only the top of this cake. Then add the other cake on top of the iced cake and add icing to top and sides of the now two-layer cake. Add chopped nuts to top of cake and add toasted coconut to sides of cake.

Keep cake covered with a cake dome and keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

I AM EXCITED YOU ARE VIEWING JETT’S RECIPE FOR WATERGATE CAKE AND WOULD LOVE TO HEAR HOW IT TURNS OUT SHOULD YOU DECIDE TO MAKE IT!

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