This Ambrosia Salad is a fun and easy way to enjoy the taste of summer any time of year! With its bright colors and sweet flavors, this salad is sure to be a hit at your next potluck or picnic. And, it’s so easy to make that you’ll be able to whip it up in no time!
This recipe takes its inspiration from the 1953 Better Homes and Garden New Cookbook and was created by my friend, Rhonda, who made a few small changes to the original recipe, but it’s still just as delicious!
Classic ambrosia salad is a dish that typically consists of fruit, marshmallows, and whipped cream. There are many variations of ambrosia salad, but the most common ingredients include oranges, pineapple, grapes, coconut, and nuts. It’s often served in the South during winter months at holiday gatherings, but can be enjoyed any time of year.
This ambrosia salad recipe includes all of the classic ingredients, plus a few extras, like maraschino cherries and mandarin oranges. Let’s take a quick look at the recipe, shall we?
Ambrosia Salad Recipe
Ingredient List
- 15 ounce can mandarin oranges, drained
- 15 ounce can pineapple tidbits, drained
- 4 cups miniature marshmallows (white or rainbow)
- ½ cup green seedless grapes, diced
- ¼ cup unsweetened shredded coconut or coconut flakes
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- ½ cup maraschino cherries
- ¼ cup walnuts, diced (optional)
- 1 banana, sliced (optional)
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream
- ½ cup vanilla Greek yogurt
Steps For Making Ambrosia Salad
Step 1: Place the mixing bowl, the whisk attachment, and the whipping cream in the freezer and let it chill while you are preparing the dish.
Step 2: Assemble the ingredients. First, drain the pineapple and the mandarin oranges and place them in the large bowl.
Step 3: Add in the mini marshmallows and dice up the seedless green grapes and then add those in.
Step 4: Chop and add the walnuts, coconut, and maraschino cherries.
Step 5: Next, squeeze in the fresh lemon juice and stir.
Step 6: Pull the mixing bowl, whisk attachment, and whipping cream from the freezer. Add the whipping cream into the mixing bowl and whisk at high speed until stiff peaks form. Then slowly incorporate the Greek yogurt using a spatula. You will want to fold the yogurt in.
Step 7: Add the whipped cream and yogurt mixture to the fruit. If you are adding the sliced banana, you can add it in now and stir.
Step 8: Place the bowl into the refrigerator and chill for an hour.
Serve in fun serving bowls.
Recipe Notes
- If you don’t like walnuts, you can use pecans. This is also great without nuts.
- Feel free to use apples, dates, or purple grapes in this dish.
- Store ambrosia salad in the refrigerator for up to three days. (Please see FAQ below.)
- You can use fresh pineapple chunks in place of canned pineapple tidbits.
If you like fruit, be sure to check out our recipes for No-Bake Fruit Tart, Brownie Fruit Kabobs, and Ginger Green Juice.
Ambrosia Salad
Ingredients
- 15 ounces mandarin oranges drained
- 15 ounces pineapple tidbits drained
- 4 cups mini marshmallows white or rainbow
- ½ cup green seedless grapes diced
- ¼ cup unsweetened coconut shredded
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice freshly squeezed
- ½ cup maraschino cherries
- ¼ cup walnuts diced (optional)
- 1 medium banana sliced (optional)
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream
- ½ cup vanilla Greek yogurt
Instructions
- Place the mixing bowl, whisk attachment, and the whipping cream in the freezer and let it chill while you are preparing the dish.
- Assemble the ingredients. First, drain the pineapple and the mandarin oranges and place them in the large bowl.
- Add in the mini marshmallows and dice up the seedless green grapes and then add those in.
- Chop and add the walnuts, coconut, and maraschino cherries.
- Next, squeeze in the fresh lemon juice and stir.
- Remove the mixing bowl, whisk attachment, and whipping cream from the freezer. Add the whipping cream into the mixing bowl and whisk at high speed until stiff peaks form. Fold the Greek yogurt into the whipped cream.
- Stir the whipped cream and yogurt mixture into the fruit mixture. If you are adding the sliced banana, add it in now and stir.
Video
Nutrition
FAQs
Can I make it the night before?
I don’t recommend it. This recipe makes a homemade whipped cream that does not keep well overnight. The salad will still taste great, but the whipped cream will be on the runny side. If you wish to make it ahead of time, prepare the recipe through Step 5 and refrigerate. Complete the remaining steps prior to serving.
Alternatively, you can substitute premade whipped topping (think Cool Whip) for the whipping cream in Step 6. Place the whipped topping in a large bowl and then fold in the Greek yogurt.
Can it be frozen?
You can, however, it’s best eaten the same day you make it.
Why do they call it ambrosia?
In Greek, ambrosia literally means “immortality”. In mythology, the gods and goddesses ate ambrosia to maintain their immorality. While this heavenly salad won’t grant you immortality, it will make your belly happy.
I hope you enjoy this ambrosia salad recipe! Please come back and tell us how your ambrosia salad turned out.
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