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!
What's not to love about fluffy desserts that can pass as a “salad” side dish, like this Frog Eye Salad or cranberry fluff salad we serve at Thanksgiving and Christmas?
I particularly love Ambrosia Salad during spring time, Easter or Mother's Day celebrations because the soft pastel colors are so fun. Many recipes for ambrosia salad use cool whip, but if you've followed my blog at all, you know I would never use cool whip when I could substitute fresh whipped cream. The taste is so much better!
How to Make Ambrosia Salad:
Whipped Cream: Add whipping cream to a large bowl or stand mixer and beat with electric beaters for 1-2 minutes. Slowly add powdered sugar and continue beating until stiff peaks form. Fold in yogurt.
Add Fruit: Drain canned fruits very well, then add remaining ingredients to a large serving bowl.
Chill and Serve: Fold in whipped cream mixture. Chill this easy ambrosia salad for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Make Ahead Instructions:
This classic Ambrosia Salad recipe can be made several hours or up to 1 day ahead of time, but for best results, leave the marshmallows out and stir them in just before serving.
Consider trying these Fruit Salads:
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Recipe
Ambrosia Fruit Salad
Ingredients
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt , or vanilla
- 1 cup shredded sweetened coconut
- 11 ounce can mandarin oranges , drained
- 8 ounce can pineapple tidbits , drained
- 1 cup maraschino cherries , drained
- 1 1/2 cups mini fruit-flavored marshmallows
- Other optional fruit salad add-ins: chopped pecans , sliced bananas, chopped apples
Instructions
- Add whipping cream to a large bowl or stand mixer and beat with electric beaters for 1-2 minutes. Slowly add powdered sugar and continue beating until stiff peaks form. Fold in yogurt.
- Drain canned fruits very well, then add remaining ingredients to a large serving bowl.
- Fold in whipped cream mixture. Chill for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
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I originally shared this recipe March 2017. Updated March 2021 and April 2023.
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I loved this recipe growing up but have struggled to find a great recipe since I lost ours. I stumbled upon this one and it is a keeper for sure! Will be making regularly at holiday parties.
We also made Ambrosia salad when I was young. We often used pineapple, and sour cream instead of whipped cream, while omitting the added sugar. It was sweet enough with the shredded coconut but we did add some juices from the canned fruit. It tastes better when it sits for a while to let those flavors blend. Give it a good stir and enjoy.
This is how I make it also. I sometimes add walnuts to my portion!
So so good! Takes me back to childhood!
I made this with a few alterations, I wasn’t spending 7 dollars on Greek yogurt and I had lowfat on hand so I used that and to thicken it up I did half lowfat yogurt half sour cream, it was super sweet so I added in a little bit more sour cream and it came out perfect, I also didn’t do fruity marshmallows as im vegetarian and couldn’t find any plant based fruity ones so I just used vanilla vegan marshmallows and it was great everyone loved it, although I think my six year old would’ve been fine with just the cherries lol which I think I’ll cut in halves before adding them next time just personal preference