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    Home » Recipes » Side Dishes

    Ambrosia Salad

    Published: Apr 2, 2023 by Melissa Stadler · This post may contain affiliate links · 4 Comments

    144 shares
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    The Best Ambrosia Salad is a fluffy salad made with fresh pineapple, mandarin oranges, maraschino cherries, coconut, marshmallows, fresh whipped cream, a touch of sour cream, and sugar. This is a nostalgic, classic side dish or dessert recipe.

    The Best Ambrosia Salad is a fluffy salad made with fresh pineapple, mandarin oranges, maraschino cherries, coconut, marshmallows, fresh whipped cream, a touch of sour cream, and sugar. This is a nostalgic, classic side dish or dessert recipe.

    Growing up, my Mom and Grandma were obsessed with making holiday ambrosia salad for all of the special holidays, especially Easter. This fluffy marshmallow fruit salad was always a hit, especially with the kids.

    Have you ever tried ambrosia fruit salad? It is creamy, sweet, fresh, and is right in between a side dish and a dessert.

    I wanted to take that classic, old-fashioned recipe and modernize it a bit. I tweaked this recipe and had my recipe testers analyze it over and over again to perfect it.

    The Best Ambrosia Salad is a fluffy salad made with fresh pineapple, mandarin oranges, maraschino cherries, coconut, marshmallows, fresh whipped cream, a touch of sour cream, and sugar. This is a nostalgic, classic side dish or dessert recipe.

    If you ever attended a picnic or potluck in the 1970's and 1980's, you probably saw a big bowl of ambrosia salad on the table. I called it marshmallow salad and as a young girl, I would try to pick out as many marshmallows and maraschino cherries as I could out of the bowl.

    I wanted to elevate this ambrosia salad recipe by using fresh pineapple instead of canned and making the fluffy filling with fresh whipped cream and sugar instead of Cool Whip. The fresh pineapple is a huge game changer and everything is better with homemade whipped cream.

    The Best Ambrosia Salad is a fluffy salad made with fresh pineapple, mandarin oranges, maraschino cherries, coconut, marshmallows, fresh whipped cream, a touch of sour cream, and sugar. This is a nostalgic, classic side dish or dessert recipe.

    Some other classic Southern recipes that I have worked to perfect are my classic pimento cheese dip recipe, creamy deviled eggs, easy potato salad with bacon, and cold spinach dip with crunchy water chestnuts.

    The Best Ambrosia Salad is a fluffy salad made with fresh pineapple, mandarin oranges, maraschino cherries, coconut, marshmallows, fresh whipped cream, a touch of sour cream, and sugar. This is a nostalgic, classic side dish or dessert recipe.

    Ambrosia Salad Ingredients

    I looked up my Mom's old church cookbooks to find every single ambrosia salad recipe I could get my hands on. They varied in the ingredients and amounts but some ingredients were constant -- pineapple, oranges, coconut, cherries, and whipped cream. And a touch of sour cream for some tang!

    Ambrosia Salad Ingredients. The Best Ambrosia Salad is a fluffy salad made with fresh pineapple, mandarin oranges, maraschino cherries, coconut, marshmallows, fresh whipped cream, a touch of sour cream, and sugar. This is a nostalgic, classic side dish or dessert recipe.
    • Pineapple -- I suggest using fresh pineapple but you can also use canned crushed pineapple or pineapple rings, cut into small pieces.
    • Mandarin Oranges -- you can find canned mandarin oranges in the canned fruit aisle or you can use fresh clementines.
    • Maraschino Cherries -- the cherries add so much sweetness and a little almond flavor which pairs perfectly with the whipped cream.
    • Coconut -- I suggest using sweetened flaked coconut in this recipe.
    • Marshmallows -- use soft mini marshmallows.
    • Heavy Cream -- whip heavy whipping cream and sugar until soft peaks form and fold in sour cream.
    • Sugar -- if you want this to be more of a dessert, feel free to add more sugar to taste.
    • Sour Cream -- a touch of sour cream in this ambrosia salad gives the perfect amount of tang. I suggest using full-fat sour cream.

    Optional Ingredients: green grapes, pecans, etc.

    See recipe card for quantities.

    The Best Ambrosia Salad is a fluffy salad made with fresh pineapple, mandarin oranges, maraschino cherries, coconut, marshmallows, fresh whipped cream, a touch of sour cream, and sugar. This is a nostalgic, classic side dish or dessert recipe.

    Instructions

    This is such an easy ambrosia salad recipe. All you need to do is throw the fruit in a large bowl, whip the heavy cream and fold in sour cream, stir it all together, and let it chill in the refrigerator.

    1. Start by whipping the heavy cream and sugar until soft peaks form. Carefully fold in the sour cream. If you want a sweeter ambrosia salad, add more sugar to taste.
    2. Cut the pineapple into small pieces.
    3. In a large bowl, add pineapple, drained mandarin oranges, drained maraschino cherries, coconut flakes, and mini marshmallows. Make sure to thoroughly drain the fruit so this ambrosia fruit salad isn't runny.
    4. Carefully fold in the whipped cream mixture. Cover and place in the refrigerator to chill for about 2 hours to allow the flavors to develop.
    The Best Ambrosia Salad is a fluffy salad made with fresh pineapple, mandarin oranges, maraschino cherries, coconut, marshmallows, fresh whipped cream, a touch of sour cream, and sugar. This is a nostalgic, classic side dish or dessert recipe.

    Substitutions

    There are so many ways to customize this ambrosia salad recipe.

    Can I use Cool Whip in this recipe?

    Absolutely! You can make ambrosia salad with Cool Whip. I would suggest adding 12 ounces of Cool Whip.

    Can I add nuts?

    Yes! You can add your favorite type of nuts. I usually see pecans added to homemade ambrosia salad.

    Can I add more fruit to this recipe?

    Of course! You can add green grapes or even fresh strawberries to this creamy marshmallow fruit salad.

    The Best Ambrosia Salad is a fluffy salad made with fresh pineapple, mandarin oranges, maraschino cherries, coconut, marshmallows, fresh whipped cream, a touch of sour cream, and sugar. This is a nostalgic, classic side dish or dessert recipe.

    Storage

    The homemade ambrosia salad can be stored in an airtight container for up to 7 days in the refrigerator. It can be made ahead of time.

    Top tip

    Drain the canned mandarin oranges and maraschino cherries well for the creamiest ambrosia salad.

    The Best Ambrosia Salad is a fluffy salad made with fresh pineapple, mandarin oranges, maraschino cherries, coconut, marshmallows, fresh whipped cream, a touch of sour cream, and sugar. This is a nostalgic, classic side dish or dessert recipe.
    The Best Ambrosia Salad is a fluffy salad made with fresh pineapple, mandarin oranges, maraschino cherries, coconut, marshmallows, fresh whipped cream, a touch of sour cream, and sugar. This is a nostalgic, classic side dish or dessert recipe.

    Ambrosia Salad

    Modern Honey® - www.modernhoney.com
    The Best Ambrosia Salad is a fluffy salad made with fresh pineapple, mandarin oranges, maraschino cherries, coconut, marshmallows, fresh whipped cream, a touch of sour cream, and sugar. This is a nostalgic, classic side dish or dessert recipe.
    4.75 from 4 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    2 hours hrs
    Course Dessert, Side Dish
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8
    Calories 487 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 cups Fresh Pineapple (cut into small pieces)
    • 15-ounce can Mandarin Oranges (drained)
    • 14 ounces Maraschino Cherries (drained)
    • 1 cup Sweetened Shredded Coconut
    • 3 cups Marshmallows
    • 1 ⅓ cup Heavy Cream
    • 3 Tablespoons Sugar (add more if you want it sweeter)
    • ¼ cup Sour Cream

    Optional Ingredients:

    • 1 cup Green Grapes (cut into half)
    • ½ cup Pecans (chopped)

    Instructions
     

    • In a large mixing bowl, add the heavy cream and sugar and whip until soft peaks form. Carefully fold in the sour cream. If you want a sweeter ambrosia salad, add more sugar to taste.
    • Cut the pineapple into small pieces.
    • In a large bowl, add pineapple, drained mandarin oranges, drained maraschino cherries, coconut flakes, and mini marshmallows. Make sure to thoroughly drain the fruit so this ambrosia fruit salad isn't runny.
    • Carefully fold in the whipped cream mixture. Cover and place in the refrigerator to chill for about 2 hours to allow the flavors to develop.

    Notes

    Can I use Cool Whip in this recipe?
    Absolutely! You can make ambrosia salad with Cool Whip. I would suggest adding 12 ounces of Cool Whip.
    Can I add nuts?
    Yes! You can add your favorite type of nuts. I usually see pecans added to homemade ambrosia salad.
    Can I add more fruit to this recipe?
    Of course! You can add green grapes or even fresh strawberries to this creamy marshmallow fruit salad.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 487kcalCarbohydrates: 62gProtein: 4gFat: 27gSaturated Fat: 17gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 47mgSodium: 46mgPotassium: 238mgFiber: 5gSugar: 49gVitamin A: 673IUVitamin C: 22mgCalcium: 79mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword ambrosia fruit salad, ambrosia salad, marshmallow fruit salad
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sheri McDaniel

      April 12, 2023 at 5:35 pm

      4 stars
      This was good but It doesn't last long in the refrigerator. It gets sogged out really fast but was a nice addition to Easter dinner

      Reply
    2. Nat

      April 02, 2023 at 9:26 pm

      5 stars
      SO GOOD!!!!!

      Reply
    3. Kelli Holman

      April 02, 2023 at 8:24 pm

      Do you have your mother’s old orange 2nd Ward cookbook? (Your dad was our bishop, and married my husband and I).

      Reply
      • Melissa Stadler

        April 03, 2023 at 7:04 am

        Hi Kelli! Oh yes, of course, my Mom has kept all of them. 🙂 I love our awesome history with the Holman family. My parents love you guys!

        Reply

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    Melissa Stadler Modern Honey

    Hi, I'm Melissa Stadler! I am an Award-Winning Recipe Creator. Cover of Food Network Magazine. Two-Time Pillsbury Bake-Off Finalist. I am passionate about sharing the best recipes so you have success in the kitchen!

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