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Ambrosia Salad is a timeless, creamy fruit salad that combines mini marshmallows, juicy mandarin oranges, pineapple, and a hint of crunch from pecans and coconut. Whether served as a side dish or a dessert, Ambrosia Salad is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that both kids and adults love!
What is an Ambrosia Salad?
Ambrosia Salad is a classic American fruit salad that has been a staple at family gatherings for generations. I grew up seeing it at every family picnic, barbecue, and holiday dinner – Thanksgiving, Christmas, you name it!
This creamy, dreamy dish is made with juicy mandarin oranges, pineapple, mini marshmallows, and a light, fluffy dressing. It’s the kind of “salad” my kids grab first (and let’s be honest, they’re not alone!). According to Harry & David, Ambrosia Salad is one of the top ten most popular salads in the world!
Ambrosia Salad Ingredients
- Fruit – Canned mandarin orange slices, pineapple tidbits, and maraschino cherries are three fruits that create the base of the ambrosia fruit salad. Fruit cocktail and other canned fruit can be used as well. This recipe is flexible that way! See more variations below.
- Fruit-flavored Mini Marshmallows – You’ll definitely want to use the colorful, fruit-flavored mini marshmallows for this recipe with kids. Not only does it add flavor, but it adds such fun colors as well! If you are serving this to adults, white marshmallows may be more appetizing.
- Chopped Pecans – The nuts add a nice crunch to an otherwise soft and creamy dish.
- Sour Cream – Some people may be tempted to use something sweeter like Cool Whip or homemade whipped topping, but the sour cream gives it a tangy flavor that compliments the sweetness of the fruit. If you are just dying for some more sweetness, you can stir in some vanilla extract as well.
- Optional – Sweetened coconut shreds are in almost every ambrosia salad recipe. If you have coconut lovers then this is a MUST add in!
How to Make Ambrosia Salad
- Prepare the fruit. The most important step in this recipe is to drain the fruit. If you leave too much liquid in, the sour cream won’t stick to the fruit and you’ll have a mess on your hands. Pour the fruit into a strainer and really let the liquid run off for about 10 minutes. If using fresh fruit, rinse the fruit then drain off any excess liquid.
- Combine the fruit, marshmallows, coconut, and walnuts in a large bowl. Stir gently so the fruit stays in tact.
- Fold in the sour cream. Again, gently mix it in to the salad ingredients to keep the fruit from breaking apart.
- Cover and chill in the refrigerator for 24 hours. The salad needs time for the sweetness of the fruit and marshmallows to blend with the tartness of the sour cream.
- Serve the salad. When you are ready to serve the salad, stir it gently. If you feel the salad needs more moisture, stir in some of the reserved pineapple juice into the salad a little at a time until it reaches your desired consistency. Serve the salad chilled in a large bowl or divide it into cups. Garnish with extra cherries, mandarin oranges, and chopped walnuts.
Variations for Ambrosia Salad
Since ambrosia salad is such a simple recipe, there are many ways to make it your own! Add in some of these favorite fruits and nuts to make this the best Ambrosia Salad for you. Below are some ideas, but if you have any of your own, let us know in the comments below!
- Fruits – Add bananas, peaches, blueberries, strawberries, or peeled grapes. You can also use fresh fruit as opposed to canned. Use sliced tangerines and sliced fresh pineapple for this fruit salad recipe.
- Nuts – Instead of pecans, you can use walnuts or pistachios.
- Sour Cream substitutions – If the sour cream just isn’t working for you, you can try Greek yogurt, vanilla yogurt, or a whipped cream mixture. My grandma made her ambrosia salad with cottage cheese as the dressing. Way to add some protein, grandma! I’ve also seen it dressed with vanilla pudding.
“We loved this side salad, it was so good! The kids ate it like they eat candy!! The best replacement for a healthier dessert!”
-Lily
Frequently Asked Questions
The word “ambrosia” is found in Greek mythology and refers to food the gods eat. According to authors like Homer, ambrosia is what gave the gods longevity and immortality. The Greek gods didn’t have mini marshmallows, but ambrosia was said to include fruit, just like this salad.
Ambrosia salad comes from America originating in the southern United States. An ambrosia salad is popular at potlucks and food gatherings as a classic side dish that can also be a dessert. Some may see it as a “retro” dish but its been a staple in the south since it was invented!
If you need your ambrosia salad today, you can let it set for just 4 hours in the fridge. However, for the flavors to truly meld together and for the marshmallows to reach the perfect texture, it needs to set for a full 24 hours.
More Sweet Salad Recipes
If you grew up in the U.S., chances are you’ve seen Ambrosia Salad alongside other classic fruit salads like Watergate Salad and Waldorf Salad at potlucks and holiday dinners. They are both salads that also incorporate fruit and a creamy dressing. In addition to these, here are some more sweet salads that may not be as familiar, but are fun to serve at family dinners and potlucks:
Classic Ambrosia Salad Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 15 ounces mandarin oranges
- 20 ounces pineapple tidbits
- 16 ounces maraschino cherries
- 3 cups fruit-flavored mini marshmallows
- 1 cup pecans chopped
- 1 cup shredded coconut optional
- 1 pint sour cream
Instructions
- Use a strainer to drain the juices from the fruit. Allow the fruit to drain for about 10 minutes to remove the moisture. Reserve ¼ cup of pineapple juice.
- Mix everything except the sour cream together in a large bowl.
- Fold in sour cream.
- Chill for 24 hours. Top with extra fruit and nuts if desired. Add a little of the reserved pineapple juice, a tablespoon at a time, if the salad needs more moisture.
