Ambrosia Salad: A Fun & Tasty Fruit Dessert Recipe For Any Occasion! (2024)

Ambrosia salad is an easy, creamy fruit dessert that features Cool Whip, pineapple, mandarin oranges, maraschino cherries, mini marshmallows, and more! It's a delightfully refreshing dish to bring to your next potluck, family gathering, or party with your friends. Whether you are celebrating a special occasion or need a simple dessert to make in a pinch, this fruit salad recipe is sure to be a hit with adults and kids alike!

Classic Ambrosia Salad Recipe

If you are looking for a vibrant and delicious dessert to make for your next get-together or potluck, look no further than ambrosia salad! This colorful medley of mandarin oranges, maraschino cherries, juicy pineapple tidbits, tender coconut flakes, and flavored mini marshmallows is a true crowd-pleaser!

It's all tied together with a sweet and tangy cream sauce made out of sour cream and Cool Whip. With its simple preparation and visually stunning appearance, this recipe is sure to quickly become a new family favorite!

🥘 Ambrosia Salad Ingredients

This short list of basic ingredients is easy to find at your local grocery store if you don't have all of them already. You can substitute the fruit to your preferences, just aim to maintain a variety of colors and textures for the best experience!

• Cool Whip - 8ounces ofCool Whipthat's thawed.
• Sour Cream - ½cup of sour cream, or you can use plain Greek yogurt or any of thesesour cream substitutes.
• Mandarin Oranges - 11ounces ofmandarin oranges that are drained.
• Pineapple - 15ounces ofpineapple tidbitsdrained
• Cherries - 10-12ounces ofmaraschino cherriesthat are drained, patted dry, and halved - reserve some whole cherries for garnish if desired.
• Mini Marshmallows - 1cup ofmini marshmallows.I like to use multi-colored fruity marshmallows, or you can use regular ones.
• Coconut - 1cup ofsweetened shredded coconut. You can use up to 1½ cups if desired.
• Walnuts or Pecans (optional)- ½cupchopped walnuts or pecans if you want a crunchy texture.

*Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!*

🔪 How To Make An Ambrosia Salad

Ambrosia salad is a delicious dessert that's so incredibly easy to prepare, and anyone can make it! Take out a mixing bowl, measuring cups, a cutting board, a chef's knife, and a silicone spatula set to get started.

This recipe will make around 6 servings! You can easily scale up the ingredients if you are feeding a larger crowd.

1. Combine ingredients. Combine the thawed8 ounces of Cool Whiptopping and½ cup of sour creamin a large mixing bowl.
2. Add ingredients. Add the drained11 ounces of mandarin oranges,15 ounces of pineapple tidbits, sliced10-12 ounces of maraschino cherries,1 cup of mini marshmallows,1 cup of sweetened shredded coconut, and optional½ cup of chopped walnuts or pecansif using. Fold the fruit into the whipped cream mixture.
3. Chill salad. Cover the bowl with plastic cling film and chill for at least one hour before serving. I prefer to chill the ambrosia for at least 4 hours, giving the flavors more time to marry while the fruit salad chills.
4. Serve salad. Serve with additional coconut(toasted coconut is a nice touch), additional cherries on top, and/or some extra marshmallows if desired.

A simple ambrosia salad can be served with just about anything! I like to make it with summer classics like my bacon cheeseburgers or BBQ beef short ribs. Enjoy!

💭 Angela's Tips & Recipe Notes

• For the canned fruits(mandarin oranges, pineapple chunks, tidbits, or crushed pineapple),you just need at least 1 cup of each fruit once well drained of liquid.
• If your creamy salad is too runny, add a bit more shredded coconut or some more of the crushed nuts to balance out the mixture, then chill before serving.
• For a homemade Cool Whip recipe, see mystabilized whipped cream. My tastychantilly creamis a great alternative too.
• You can substitute the Cool Whip or sour cream with your favorite dairy-free alternatives if you'd like for this salad to be dairy-free.
• If you're not a fan of marshmallows or want a healthier alternative, you can try using Greek yogurt. Keep in mind this will change the texture and taste of the salad.
• If you'd like to make this dessert in advance, you can prepare it up to a day in advance. In fact, some people prefer it after it's been allowed to chill and the flavors meld together

🥡 Storing

Store your leftover ambrosia salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. However, keep in mind that the texture may change slightly as the fruits release moisture over time. It's best to consume it within the first day or two for the freshest taste and texture.

>>>>See all of my recipes here<<<<

❓ FAQ

🍰🍨 More Tasty Dessert Recipes

• Chocolate Loaf Cake - A moist dessert cake that only takes a few basic ingredients and 10 minutes to prepare!
• Chocolate Cookies - If you are a fan of easy chocolate treats, these decadent cookies will quickly become a new favorite!
• Cranberry Crumble Bars - These delicious dessert bars combine the sweet and tangy flavors of cranberries with a buttery crust!
• Almond Brownies - If you love brownies as much as I do, then these fudgy brownies with crunchy almonds will be a new favorite!
• Cherry Blossom Cookies - This recipe combines cherry-flavored dough with sweet chocolate candies to make a classic cookie everyone will love!
• Butter Crunch Cookies - Thick and chewy cookies packed full of toffee bits then sprinkled with sea salt!

📖 Recipe Card

More Salads