Julie Clark
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Ambrosia Salad Recipe
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Soft, fluffy and sweet, this creamy, fruit-filled Ambrosia salad will look so pretty on your holiday dinner table.
Was ambrosia salad ever been on your dinner table growing up? We often had a jello salad or ambrosia at holiday dinners. And with all of the rich foods the holidays bring, it’s cool and refreshing texture was a welcome addition to my plate.
Is ambrosia a salad or a dessert? You decide. In the midwest we like to call dishes like this “salads”, although we know there is not much leafy and green about them. It’s much more like a dessert, but often served as a side dish.
Why you’ll love this recipe:
- old fashioned recipe that has stood the test of time
- light and sweet for holiday dinners or summer picnics
- recipe variations to lighten up the calories and fat
- perfect for potlucks or for when you don’t want a rich dessert
What is ambrosia made of?
The term ambrosia comes from Greek mythology where it references “the food of the gods”. We’ve had it on holidays for years. It’s a classic all over the United States. You may remember your grandma making it at Christmas!
It’s full of pineapple, oranges, coconut, nuts, marshmallows and a creamy filling. You’ll often find it topped with maraschino cherries for a gorgeous look.
How to Make Ambrosia Salad
- Use a hand mixer to mix the cream cheese in a large bowl until it is smooth.
- Add the sour cream and mix again until combined.
- Add the cool whip and gently fold to combine.
- Add the pineapple, cherries, oranges, marshmallows, pecans and coconut and stir to combine.
- Top with additional coconut, pecans and whole cherries if you like.
Recipe Variations:
- Whip one cup of cold heavy cream and ¼ cup powdered sugar until it holds peaks and use this in place of the Cool Whip.
- Add vanilla pudding for extra sweet vanilla flavor.
- Use low fat cream cheese, low fat sour cream and sugar free Cool Whip to lower the calories and fat.
- Use fruit cocktail instead of the separate canned fruit.
- My mom often uses colored marshmallows which gives it a pretty look.
- Add grapes if you’d like!
Ambrosia Salad Recipe
Soft, fluffy and sweet, this creamy, fruit-filled Ambrosia salad will look so pretty on your holiday dinner table.
Servings 10
Prep Time 10 minutes
Ingredients
- 4 ounces cream cheese (at room temperature)
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 8 ounces cool whip (thawed)
- 20 ounces crushed pineapple (drained as much as possible)
- 16 ounces maraschino cherries (drained and each cut in half)
- 15 ounces mandarin oranges (drained and each cut in half)
- 3 cups mini marshmallows
- ½ cup chopped pecans
- ½ cup shredded sweetened coconut
Instructions
- Use a hand mixer to mix the cream cheese in a large bowl until it is smooth.
- Add the sour cream and mix again until combined.
- Add the cool whip and gently fold to combine.
- Add the pineapple, cherries, oranges, marshmallows, pecans and coconut and stir to combine.
- Top with additional coconut, pecans and whole cherries if you like.
- Refrigerate until serving.
Notes
The calories shown are based on the recipe serving 10, with 1 serving being about 1 cup. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. The information in the nutrition box are calculated through a program and there is room for error. If you need an accurate count, I recommend running the ingredients through your favorite nutrition calculator.**
Nutrition
Calories: 331kcal | Carbohydrates: 54g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 74mg | Potassium: 247mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 44g | Vitamin A: 569IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 97mg | Iron: 1mg
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does ambrosia last in the fridge?
It is best if eaten within 3-5 days of making it.
Can you freeze ambrosia fruit salad?
This salad is not the best frozen. It may become watery as it thaws.
I want to add bananas and apples. How do I keep them from turning brown?
You can try tossing the bananas and apples with lemon juice, then drain. This should preserve them slightly longer.
This is too sweet! Can I somehow lower the sugar?
If you want, you can use more sour cream and less Cool Whip. This will help the salad be less sweet.
This is always a must at our Easter dinner table. However, I have never used cream cheese nor cool whip, just the sour cream….about 1-2 cups. We love it!
This is the first time I’ve heard of Ambrosia salad 😮 I though it was ice cream because it looks beautiful. Thank you for the recipe! Definitely make this.