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Is every ambrosia salad recipe made equal? I think not. This traditional no-bake dessert may seem simple, but without the right ratios and ingredients (plus a few tricks I’ve perfected over the years), you may end up with a watery or separated mess. I’ve invested a ton of time into perfecting my ambrosia recipe, and now I’m sharing it with you!
BEST Ambrosia Salad Recipe
Making the perfect ambrosia salad can be a bit challenging, but I’ve got the expertise to help you get it just right! My tips have come from years of experience, and I’m happy to share them with you now so you can make the perfect ambrosia salad with zero guesswork and no fails.
A common issue is the salad becoming too watery—but in my step-by-step guide, we’ll make sure to drain the canned fruit thoroughly. Another problem people have is the cream mixture separating; using full-fat sour cream or yogurt helps maintain the ideal consistency. We use sour cream in my recipe and it comes out perfect every time!
One of the problems you hear about often is the marshmallows getting too mushy. If you’re making this ahead of time, add the marshmallows just before serving to keep them fresh. Balance is crucial, so taste as you go to ensure the sweetness and tartness are perfect. If your salad turns out too sweet, try adding a bit of citrus juice to brighten the flavors.
Over the years I’ve also learned that overmixing can break down the fruit, so gently fold the ingredients together. Also using fresh, high-quality ingredients can make a big difference in the final taste. And finally, keeping everything chilled until just before serving can also help maintain the right texture.
With my years of experience as a baker and dessert enthusiast, I’ve perfected ambrosia salad and can guide you to create a delicious, well-balanced dish every time.
What is Ambrosia?
The word Ambrosia actually means “the food of the Gods”. Ambrosia salad is a classic dessert salad that typically features a variety of fruits mixed with a creamy base.
The traditional main ingredients include a combination of mandarin oranges, pineapple chunks, shredded coconut, and miniature marshmallows. The creamy base is usually made from whipped cream, sour cream, or a combination of both.
This creamy fruit salad is typically served chilled and makes a perfect side dish or dessert. For many families, this classic recipe is a family tradition for holidays and special occasions.
I have many fond memories eating this recipe as a young girl, and over the years as a baker I have enjoyed perfecting my own version.
Ambrosia Salad Recipe Ingredients
This easy ambrosia salad recipe is made with simple ingredients that come together with no baking or cooking required. As a busy mom, I love a good no-bake dessert! Here’s what you’ll need:
- Sour cream: Can be substituted for plain / vanilla yogurt.
- Frozen whipped topping: thawed
- Canned pineapple tidbits: drained
- Mandarin oranges: drained
- Mini marshmallows: fruit flavored or regular
- Sweetened coconut flakes
- Maraschino cherries: drained and cut in half
- Chopped pecans: optional
How to Make Ambrosia Fruit Salad
My simple ambrosia salad only takes 4 easy steps and 10 minutes to make. Here’s how to make this tasty marshmallow fruit salad:
- Drain fruit. Prepare the fruit by thoroughly draining.
- Begin combining ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, combine the sour cream and whipped topping until well blended.
- Fold in remaining ingredients. Gently fold in the pineapple tidbits, mandarin oranges, mini marshmallows, coconut flakes, maraschino cherries and pecans.
- Cool and serve. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the salad for at least 2 hours, or until thoroughly chilled. This allows the flavors to meld together. Ambrosia salad can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Make This Recipe For Ambrosia in Advance
This easy dessert salad can be made up to 3 days in advance, and stored tightly covered or in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Especially when it comes to family gatherings, it’s always convenient to be able to make a dish in advance and just pull it out when you’re ready to serve it. If you are going to make it in advance, I suggest adding the marshmallows in a few hours before serving so they don’t become too mushy but can soak up the flavors and have time to chill nicely with the other ingredients.
Variations
I have seen many variations of the ingredients in this classic ambrosia salad recipe. Here are some ideas:
- Fruit swaps: Fresh berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries), crushed pineapple instead of chunks, clementine segments instead of mandarin oranges, apples (diced and soaked in lemon juice to prevent browning), grapes (halved, red or green), kiwi slices, mango chunks, fresh or frozen pomegranate seeds, pears (diced).
- Creamy base swaps: Greek yogurt (plain or flavored), vanilla pudding, cream cheese (softened and blended with whipped cream), cottage cheese, or mascarpone cheese.
- Nut swaps: Sliced almonds, chopped pistachios, toasted coconut flakes, sunflower seeds
- Additional mix-in ideas: Dried cranberries or raisins, chopped dates or figs, dried fruits like apricot, cherries, pineapple (chopped), mango.
What to Serve With This Ambrosia Recipe
This family favorite goes well with just about everything, which is probably why it’s been a staple at holiday dinners for decades. It’s sweet flavor pairs well with other desserts, or it can hold its own as a side dish in a spread of savory dishes. It’s light and fresh taste go well with heavier dishes. Another win for this recipe is that you can’t go wrong serving it with just about anything!
More Fluff Salad Recipes
- Strawberry Pretzel Jello Salad
- Cherry Fluff Salad
- Pistachio Salad
- Orange Fluff Salad
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Recipe For Ambrosia
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup sour cream, or plain / vanilla yogurt
- 8 oz frozen whipped topping, thawed
- 8 oz can pineapple tidbits, drained
- 11 oz can mandarin oranges, drained
- 2 cups mini marshmallows, fruit flavored or regular
- 1 cup sweetened coconut flakes
- 10 oz maraschino cherries, drained and cut in half
- ½ cup chopped pecans, optional
Instructions
- Prepare the fruit by thoroughly draining.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the sour cream and whipped topping until well blended.
- Gently fold in the pineapple tidbits, mandarin oranges, mini marshmallows, coconut flakes, maraschino cherries and pecans.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the salad for at least 2 hours, or until thoroughly chilled. This allows the flavors to meld together. Ambrosia salad can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
