Heavenly Ambrosia Salad: A Southern Classic for Every Occasion

This Ambrosia Salad combines fruits and nuts in a creamy dressing, making it a must-try dessert for any occasion.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20

Chilling Time 2

Total Time 2 20

Servings: 8 servings

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Southern

Calories: 200

Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients

For the Creamy Base

2 cups Cool Whip or homemade whipped cream
1 cup Sour Cream or Greek yogurt

For the Fruit

1 cup Mini Marshmallows or diced apples
1 15-oz can Mandarin Oranges drained; can substitute fresh oranges
1 cup Chopped Fresh Pineapple or canned pineapple
1 cup Maraschino Cherries halved, stems removed, drained; can swap for fresh cherries

For the Texture

1 cup Shredded Coconut or unsweetened coconut
1 cup Toasted Pecans or walnuts, omit for nut allergies

Equipment

Mixing bowl
Spatula
plastic wrap

Method

Step-by-Step Instructions for Ambrosia Salad

In a large mixing bowl, combine 2 cups of Cool Whip and 1 cup of sour cream. Mix until fully blended.
Gently fold in 1 cup of mini marshmallows, 1 can of drained mandarin oranges, and 1 cup of chopped fresh pineapple.
Stir in 1 cup of shredded coconut and 1 cup of toasted pecans.
Fold in 1 cup of halved maraschino cherries.
Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
Once chilled, stir gently and serve in dessert bowls.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupCalories: 200kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 2gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 100mgPotassium: 150mgFiber: 1gSugar: 18gVitamin A: 500IUVitamin C: 20mgCalcium: 50mgIron: 0.5mg

Notes

Ensure all fruits are well-drained; excess moisture can make the salad watery. Adjust sweetness as needed before serving.

Tried this recipe?

Let us know how it was!