Best Ever Ambrosia Salad - The Recipe Critic (2024)

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Ambrosia Salad is filled with mandarin oranges, pineapple, maraschino cherries, coconut, and marshmallows and mixed in a fluffy cool whip! This is a potluck classic!

Quick and easy side dishes that can be made in minutes with ingredients that you already have on hand are the best! Creamy grape salad, pea salad with bacon or classic potato salad are a few more of my go-to potluck side dishes.

Best Ever Ambrosia Salad - The Recipe Critic (1)

What is Ambrosia Salad?

Now I will be the first to admit that I am not above cool whip or marshmallows in a fruit salad. I mean, we grew up on this Pistachio Salad when I was little. And no potluck is complete in Utah without a cool whip marshmallow salad. I love them! I am always making Ambrosia Salads for potlucks. Because let’s be honest, have you ever met someone that doesn’t love it? Why haven’t I put this out on the blog until now!? This is a true potluck classic.

Ambrosia is an American variety of fruit salad. Most ambrosia recipes contain canned fruit, miniature marshmallows, and coconut. But the great thing about this is that you can put whatever you want in it which is why everyone loves it! The combination of pineapple, cherries, mandarin oranges, crunchy pecans, and then mixed into a cool whip sour cream fluff of glory is absolutely heavenly to me! So add in other fruits, different nuts, and then make this again and again! Because no potluck is complete without this cool and creamy summer salad, and I know that your family will love it!

Ingredients in Ambrosia Salad

These ingredients are so fresh and delicious, and when you combine them, it makes my mouth water! See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact measurements and then get mixing!

  • Cool Whip: Make sure that the cool whip isthawed so that it mixes up nice and fluffy!
  • Sour Cream: I know, it doesnt seem like this would be in a salad like this but trust me. It’s so perfect!
  • Mandarin Oranges: Drain your cans.
  • Fresh Pineapple: You can use canned pineapple tidbits (drained) but fresh is always best!
  • Maraschino Cherries: When you take the cherries out, take off the stems andslice them in half!
  • Marshmallows: I like using the multi-colored flavored marshmallows
  • Coconut: Shredded coconut adds the perfect texture and flavor.
  • Pecans: Chop the pecans up into small pieces so that you can have some in every bite!

How Do You Make Ambrosia Salad?

  1. Combine: In a large mixing bowl add thawed cool whip and sour cream and stir until combined. Then, add in the mandarin oranges, pineapple, cherries, marshmallows, coconut and pecans.
  2. Stir and Chill: Stir until combined and then chill salad for at least 1 hour or overnight.
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Substitutions

Sometimes, you just don’t have on hand what a recipe calls for! If that’s happened to you before then here are a few ideas on making this still work!

  • I don’t have any cool whip, what can I use? Mix 1/3 cup softened butter with 3/4 cup milk for a whipping cream substitute. Using an electric mixer will help achieve the desired consistency. This is not a dairy-free option, but it works if you are out of whipping cream and need it for a recipe. This ratio is the equivalent of 1 cup of cream.
  • No sour cream? No problem! Go for whole-milk Greek yogurt: The yogurt closest in texture and flavor to regular sour cream is whole-milk Greek yogurt. While you can use plain regular yogurtinstead, it might be worthwhile to strain some of the liquid out of it first so that it thickens up slightly.
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Ingredients to Mix-In

Additional fresh fruit will taste great with this ambrosia salad. If you decide to add in more fresh fruit then you will want to pat the fruit dry before adding it to the salad.

  • Mango
  • Strawberry
  • Kiwi
  • Grapes
  • Banana
  • Pistachios
  • Walnuts
  • Cashews
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Leftover Ambrosia Salad

  • Can you make ambrosia salad a day ahead? Yes! You can make ambrosia salad a day ahead. It is always best to let fruit salads chill to let the cream settle and fruits to chill.
  • How long can you keep ambrosia salad in the fridge? Properly stored fruit salads will last 3-5 days in the fridge.
  • Can you freeze ambrosia salad? You can; however I do not recommend it. You will want to place the Ambrosia Salad in a airtight container. Serve while it is still frozen with an ice cream scoop or something similar. Leave the Ambrosia Salad in the fridge to defrost if you would like to enjoy it fresh. Add the Mandarin oranges after it is defrosted.

More Delicious Salad Recipes

Doesn’t it feel like everyone brings the same things to all of the potlucks? Be the person to swtich things up and try some of these other delicious salad recipes. You will love them, all of your guests will love them and even your kids will love them! Especially any of them like this ambrosia salad that have marshmallows!

Salads

Mandarine Orange Salad

20 mins

Desserts

The Famous Raspberry Pretzel Salad

20 mins

Salads

Honey Lime Quinoa Fruit Salad

20 mins

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Best Ever Ambrosia Salad

4.34 from 3 votes

By: Alyssa Rivers

Ambrosia Salad is filled with mandarin oranges, pineapple, maraschino cherries, coconut, and marshmallows and mixed in a fluffy cool whip! This is a potluck classic!

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 6 Servings

Ingredients

  • 8 ounce cool whip thawed
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1 (15 ounce) can mandarin oranges drained
  • 1 cup chopped fresh pineapple
  • 3/4 cup maraschino cherries without stems, sliced in half
  • 3 cup marshmallows I like using the multi-colored flavored marshmallows
  • 1 cup shredded coconut
  • 3/4 cup pecans chopped

Instructions

  • In a large mixing bowl add thawed cool whip and sour cream and stir until combined. Add in the mandarin oranges, pineapple, cherries, marshmallows, coconut and pecans.

  • Stir until combined and chill salad for at least 1 hour or overnight.

Video

Notes

Originally Posted June 3, 2019

Updated March 23, 2022

Nutrition

Calories: 437kcalCarbohydrates: 66gProtein: 4gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 17mgSodium: 104mgPotassium: 204mgFiber: 3gSugar: 49gVitamin A: 224IUVitamin C: 14mgCalcium: 92mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Tried this recipe?Mention @alyssa_therecipecritic or tag #therecipecritic!

About Alyssa Rivers

Alyssa Rivers is the author of 'The Tried and True Cookbook', a professional food photographer and experienced recipe-developer. Having a passion for cooking, her tried and true recipes have been featured on Good Morning America, Today Food, Buzzfeed and more.

Read More About Me

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Best Ever Ambrosia Salad - The Recipe Critic (2024)

FAQs

What are the ingredients for an ambrosia salad? ›

The best Ambrosia Salad recipe is made with pineapple, mandarin oranges, yogurt, mini marshmallows, coconut and whipped cream. This easy side dish has a delicious tropical sweetness and is always a crowd favorite!

Why do people eat ambrosia salad? ›

The once hard-to-find ingredients were considered luxurious and exotic. The salad was a treat reserved for holidays and other special occasions, and named “ambrosia” after the food of the Greek and Roman gods.

Is ambrosia a Midwest thing? ›

Ambrosia is an American variety of fruit salad originating in the Southern United States.

Where is ambrosia salad popular? ›

For many Southerners, ambrosia salad is a dish often associated with holiday potlucks or aunts and grandmothers.

What did ambrosia consist of? ›

Ambrosia is an American version of fruit salad that dates back to the late 19th century and it seems as though everyone's family has their own recipe or spin on it. At its core, however, it traditionally contains pineapple and oranges (either fresh or canned), miniature marshmallows, and coconut.

Why is ambrosia so good? ›

Ambrosia apples have a thinner skin which means they're easy to bite into. This is great for the young and old – whether you're wearing dentures or breaking in your brand new teeth – Ambrosia apples are the better choice. For everyone else, the thinner skin just makes eating an Ambrosia apple that much more enjoyable.

Why is it called a Watergate salad? ›

It is sometimes said that Watergate salad was invented by a sous chef at the Watergate Hotel, and it was then served at brunch on most weekends. Watergate salad took off in popularity during and after the presidential scandal which shares the same name.

Who invented the ambrosia salad? ›

In 1867, Maria Massey Barringer of Concord, North Carolina, provided a recipe in her “Dixie Cookery; or, How I Managed My Table for Twelve Years." She counseled readers to stick to fresh grated coconut, sweetened with a little sugar in alternating layers with pulped oranges.

What is the flavor of ambrosia? ›

About The Fruit

Its flavor is best described as refreshing with floral notes and a pleasant crisp, fine-grained flesh. It's very sweet with very little acidity. Ambrosia is an apple that naturally doesn't brown quickly after being sliced, making it perfect for snacks or salads. You can cook with it too!

What is ambrosia in real life? ›

Some scholars have identified ambrosia as honey while others feel that a type of hallucinogenic mushroom was meant in the myths. Regardless of all this confusion, the word is now used metaphorically to mean anything so fragrant, so delicious that it seems divine — including a popular orange-and-coconut confection.

What is the most popular salad in America? ›

Caesar Salad

It is a popular choice in many American restaurants and is often served as a side dish or a main course.

What are the main ingredients in ambrosia salad? ›

Ingredients
  • 3 (20 ounce) cans pineapple tidbits, drained.
  • 4 (15 ounce) cans mandarin oranges, drained.
  • 1 (16 ounce) container sour cream.
  • 1 (10.5 ounce) package miniature marshmallows.
  • ¾ cup shredded coconut, or to taste.
Mar 4, 2024

What is the difference between ambrosia and watergate? ›

Ambrosia Salad Tastes Like Coconut, Watergate Salad Tastes Like Pistachio. One of the first things that sets ambrosia and Watergate salads apart is the flavor profile of each dish. Watergate salad uses a pistachio instant pudding packet and often calls for additional garnishings of pistachio on top.

What kind of fruit is an ambrosia? ›

Ambrosia is an attractive medium-sized apple, with a pink-tinged orange/red flush over a yellow background. As such it is very much in tune with the modern preference for "bi-coloured" apples.

What kind of alcohol is ambrosia? ›

Fill an 8-oz. glass with ice. Stir in rum, orange juice, pineapple juice, and a splash of grenadine.

Is ambrosia good for you? ›

Phytonutrients have been linked to general disease prevention, improved digestive health, reduction of inflammation, increased cognitive health, and overall longevity. Ambrosia apples contain several phytonutrients in the form of polyphenols and flavonoids (often celebrated for their antioxidant properties).

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