Ambrosia Salad is a staple side dish that’s been around for years! This recipe is super simple to make, and always a crowd-pleaser!
With its silky sweet, whipped-cream-based “dressing”, plenty of soft mini marshmallows, and an abundance of juicy, colorful fruit, Ambrosia Salad may be a bit different than some of the other salads you’re used to seeing around potlucks and parties, like this Frog Eye Salad, but I promise you that it’s every bit as good… if not better! This classic salad has been a staple for decades (maybe your grandmother has made it for you?) and the version that I’m sharing today is made with a simple from-scratch dressing and takes only 10 minutes to assemble!
AMBROSIA SALAD
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Ambrosia Salad never appealed to me growing up. It was always too… colorful, for me to take it seriously as a dessert, my grandmother often served it on Thanksgiving and while I piled my plate high with plenty of her Strawberry Cheesecake, Angel Food Cake or Apple Pie, I always steered away from the Ambrosia Salad.
What is ambrosia
- Ambrosia, or Ambrosia Salad, is a variation on a traditional fruit salad that’s become a classic Southern recipe that’s usually served at Thanksgiving or Christmas.
As an adult with a new-found love for ambrosia fruit salad, I wish I’d caught on to this heavenly salad (aptly named “ambrosia”, meaning “food of the gods”) sooner. I had no idea what I was missing out on, and if you’ve never tried Ambrosia Salad yourself, you’re in for a real treat.
While there are many recipes for Ambrosia with Cool Whip to form their base “dressing”, I prefer to make mine completely from scratch. If for some reason you do have a strong desire to use pre-made Cool Whip instead of homemade whipped cream (you’re really missing out, seriously!) you can and you would substitute 3 cups of Cool Whip for the whipped cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract that is called for (no need to beat the Cool Whip either, just stir in your sour cream and you’re ready to go!).
Making it yourself is so simple (and is part of the technique that I use to make my popular No-Bake Cheesecake) and will take less time than thawing a container of Cool Whip, so I really hope you’ll try it out.
What is ambrosia made of
- Other than the whipped cream that we’ve already covered, ambrosia salad is made with mini marshmallows and a number of fruits. For my version, I stuck with the classics: pineapple, maraschino cherries, coconut, and mandarin oranges.
For the marshmallows, you can use either standard mini marshmallows or the mini, fruit-flavored, pastel ones. Either will work perfectly in this salad, but if I had to choose a favorite I’d reach for the fruity marshmallows every time.
All of the fruits that I used came from cans or jars where they were stored in their own fruit juices (which I recommend, because even though you’ll drain the fruit the residual juice really adds to the flavor of the salad!), but fresh diced pineapple could be substituted instead.
Many people also like to add nuts (usually pecans or walnuts) to their ambrosia salad, and while you certainly can (I would add up to 1 cup of your preferred chopped nuts) I left them out of mine. Or you could go completely nutty and make Watergate Salad. It’s like an ambrosia recipe that uses pistachio pudding. Yum!
Can you make ambrosia salad a day ahead
- You sure can! It’s best to let this salad sit for at least a couple of hours before serving, but you could make it in the morning or even the day before serving.
How long can you keep ambrosia salad in the fridge
- Ambrosia can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days in an air-tight container. That is if there are any leftovers.
Want more easy fruit salad recipes?
- Berry Cheesecake Fruit Salad
- Grape Salad
- The Best Fruit Salad Recipe
- Boozy Tropical Fruit Salad
- More side dish recipes…
Tools used to make this Ambrosia Salad recipe
Hand Mixer: While I love my stand mixer, this handheld mixer is perfect for smaller recipes and when I need just a quick mix.
Mixing Bowl: These mixing bowls get used just about every day at my house. The grip handle makes them easy to hold and the pour spout makes them perfect for batters!
Rubber Spatula: Rubber spatulas are one of those kitchen tools you don’t realize how much you use until they’re all dirty. This set of three spatulas in various sizes and shapes will make cooking everything from dinner to dessert a breeze.
Serving Bowl: This large glass serving bowl is one of my favorite dishes. It’s perfect for everything from salads to pastas. Simple, classic, and a must have!
Ingredients
- ¾ cup heavy cream chilled
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup sour cream
- 4 cups mini marshmallows either regular or fruit-flavored ones (rainbow colors)
- 1 ½ cups sweetened shredded coconut
- 11 ounces mandarin oranges (1 can) well drained
- ¾ cup maraschino cherries stems removed
- 1 cup pineapple tidbits well-drained
Instructions
- In a clean, medium-sized bowl, combine the heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract.
- Use an electric mixer to beat on high speed until stiff peaks have formed (mixture should reach a Cool Whip consistency).
- Add sour cream and stir until well-combined.
- In a separate, large bowl, combine mini marshmallows, coconut, oranges, maraschino cherries, and pineapple. Stir to combine.
- Pour whipped cream/sour cream mixture over ingredients and stir until everything is evenly combined and all ingredients are covered in the cream mixture.
- Cover and refrigerate at least one hour before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Shirley Brunson says
I made it today, let it set for several hours. Did not change anything., a Hugh Hit. My family loved it.
Eileen says
Just thought I used fruit cocktail instead of other fruit and used everything else. It’s an old way of doing it and comes out great
Aleta Zeiler says
This turned out so well. Thank you!
Maya says
Made this as a yogurt parfair for a thanksgiving dessert. Tastes lovely!
Joey H. says
Needed an ambrosia recipe for a ‘70s party and this was perfect. I appreciate you offering both the homemade whipped cream and Cool Whip alternatives. Because of the party theme, I obviously went with Cool Whip. 😁 I’m disabled and not much of a cook, and I loved how easy this was. Excellent tip on draining the fruit for an hour! I also halved the cherries just to spread a little more joy around.
Donald says
Can I make it without the sour cream.?
Jennifer Kimmel says
Hey Donald! You can leave out the sour cream but it does make it a little creamier and a tad less sweet. Let me know if you try it.
Kenneth Freeman says
I make it all the time without sour cream
Ajhu Patel says
Wow, it was so yummy and easy to make! Thank you for the recipe.
Margie says
You cant use colored.marshmallows your salad will turn gray you can only use white marshmallows
Aut says
I have only used colored marshmallows and it never changes the color of the salad and tastes yummy.
Susan says
Do you use a full tub of cool whip or a cup and a half which is what a pint of whipping cream would make?
Jennifer Kimmel says
Hey Susan! I would use a full tub of cool whip.
Jerry says
Great and easy recipe to follow, this is a real nice cool desert and not all filling after dinner desert.
Aubrey Cota says
Thank you, Jerry!
IFortuna says
Hubby wants me to make this salad. You can buy fresh California Mandarin oranges at the grocers these days. The are juicy and not tart or acidic or too sweet. They are great for this salad, coleslaw and most fruit salads. Thanks for this recipe!
Aubrey Cota says
Thanks!
Pattie Hayward says
I have never made this with whipping cream. Made this for my granddaughters first birthday party, and what a hit it was. Thank you for your advice of the homemade whipping cream, so much better.
Aubrey Cota says
Pattie, I’m so glad to hear it turned out so well for you! Thank you.
Miranda says
I made this at Thanksgiving; it was so delicious and easy to make! Thank you for the recipe.
Aubrey Cota says
Thank you, Miranda! I’m so glad to see it was a hit.
Rosemary Valdez says
I don’t remember using Heavy Cream? Cool Whip, Mixed Fruit, Pineapple chunks/tidbits, sour cream, Cheeries, nd something else??
Do you know of this recipe?
Please HELP!!!
Aubrey Cota says
You can refer to the ingredients list of this recipe to find out all that should be included.
Miranda says
The heavy cream, powdered sugar and vanilla combined are the ingredients to make a homemade version of Cool Whip. If you’re using a tub of Cool Whip, you would simply leave out the first two steps of mixing those three ingredients and just start at the part after it says to mix until you get a Cool Whip consistency!!
Patricia Zehr says
So much better with home made whipped cream than Cool Whip. It’s so easy to make, and only takes a few min.
Beverly L says
I use chopped pecans like my grandmother did
Susan says
Do you use a full tub of cool whip or a cup and a half which is what a pint of whipping cream would make?
Paul says
Bananas, grapes, , grenadine (added to whipped cream before incorporating into salad.)
Vita says
The recipe just before this one is the one you want.
Cool Whip, sour cream, mandarin oranges, nuts, maraschino cherries, mini marshmallows, shredded coconut, crushed pineapple or tidbits (drained).
Joli says
Cool Whip, sour cream, maraschino cherries, pineapple tidbits, mandarin oranges, mini marshmallows, and shredded sweetened coconut flakes. The fruits are from a can yet drained.
Mary L Fake says
Very good and easy recipe! Turns out well every time.
Dianna says
this is a very complicated recipe indeed. Instead of sour cream and vanilla flavoring just use pudding or vanilla yogurt and instead of the heavy cream and powder sugar just use whip cream. once a recipe become this complicated it’s time to just head to your local deli and buy it premade they are just as delicious and will probably even be cheaper in the end