Ambrosia Salad is one of those timeless, crowd-pleasing dishes that never goes out of style, and for good reason! As someone who has tested more no-bake, family-friendly recipes than I can count, I can confidently say this version hits that perfect balance of creamy, fruity, and refreshingly light. It’s quick to make, uses simple pantry staples, and delivers that nostalgic “oh wow, I forgot how much I love this!” moment every single time. If you’re looking for a no-fuss dessert that always gets recipe requests, this is it.
My family loves this classic Ambrosia Salad because it’s basically dessert disguised as a “side dish,” and who’s going to complain about that? It’s sweet, fluffy, fruity, and somehow always the first thing to disappear at any gathering. The kids go straight for the marshmallows, the adults pretend they’re just having “a little scoop,” and end up loving it!
I’ve actually been making this since I was a kid. My mom’s friend used to bring a big pastel bowl of ambrosia to every party, and I could not stop eating it! I’d hover near the table waiting for her to set it down so I could be first in line. Eventually she gave my mom the recipe, and now I make it the exact same way because, why mess with perfection?
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What is Ambrosia salad?
Ambrosia salad is a classic American fruit salad that is often served as a side dish or dessert. “Ambrosia” comes from Greek mythology and means food of the gods, which fits the sweet, creamy, fruit filled tangy "salad". It's served a lot around Christmas time or the holidays, but it is delicious all year round!
Ingredients to Make Ambrosia Salad
You only need a few simple ingredients to make this delicious dish!
- 1 can of crushed pineapple. Use your favorite brand from the grocery store. You can also use fresh pineapple if you have it on hand. If you need help, check out how to cut a pineapple to get step by step directions!
- 1 can of mandarin oranges. You can use fresh mandarin oranges or clementines but canned is the classic choice.
- Shredded coconut. Chose sweetened shredded coconut from the baking aisle and make sure its shredded and not large flakes. If you have some leftover, make some coconut ice cream or coconut cream pie!
- Maraschino Cherries. Use your favorite brand of cherries. The cherries should be well drained and cut in half. Use the leftovers to top your favorite milkshake.
- Mini marshmallows. The mini size work best in this recipe. They help to thicken the salad and give a fluffy texture.
- Sour cream or Greek yogurt. Chose whichever you have on hand. Sour cream is the classic choice. Greek yogurt will add more protein and is slightly less rich than sour cream.
- Whipped Topping. Use your favorite brand from the grocery store. Make sure the whipped topping is thawed so it can be folded into the salad. Cool whip is a classic option, but use whatever your store has!
Be sure to check out the printable recipe card for full recipe information on ingredients and quantities.
Substitutions and Variations
- Grapes (cut in half) can be added to the salad for some crunch
- You can use strawberries, blueberries, apples, etc, in your ambrosia salad based on what’s in season.
- Add a splash of vanilla extract for some more flavor!
How To Make Old Fashioned Ambrosia
Step 1
In a large mixing bowl, gently fold together the sour cream (or Greek yogurt).
Step 2
Add the thawed whipped topping.
Step 3
Drain your canned fruit thoroughly and add the pineapple, mandarin oranges, maraschino cherries, and marshmallows. Fold everything together gently. You don’t want the fruit to become mushy.
Step 4
Place the salad in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour to let it chill and for the flavors to come together. You can serve it in a fancy large serving bowl or you can serve it in the mixing bowl that you mixed everything in.
Tips and Tricks
- Drain the fruit REALLY well! Make sure to drain the mandarin oranges, pineapple and maraschino cherries really well. You can even pat them dry with a paper towel to get rid of any extra liquid.
- Use sweetened shredded coconut. Make sure its sweetened and shredded. You do not want to use large flakes. As the salad sits, the shredded coconut with soften and blend into the salad.
- Don’t overmix! Gently fold everything together in the large bowl. Overmixing can break the fruit and make it mushy.
- Chill before serving Let your ambrosia salad sit for 1-2 hours in the refrigerator before serving to allow all the flavors to come together. The marshmallow and coconut will also soften.
Storage Instructions
Store your ambrosia salad in an airtight container. It will last up to 3 days in the refrigerator but the texture of the salad will continue to soften so its best to eat within 24-48 hours. This is one of those recipes that is best made and served the same day.
You can even make it the night before! After combining all the ingredients, the salad can stay in the refrigerator overnight to chill and let the flavors come together.
What To Serve With Ambrosia Salad
Ambrosia Salad is one of those dishes that just fits in anywhere, which makes it perfect for holidays, potlucks, or backyard cookouts. It adds a sweet, creamy pop of flavor that balances out savory mains like ham, turkey, or even a store-bought rotisserie chicken.
You can set it out next to classic sides like deviled eggs, potato salad, or pasta salad and it blends right in. It’s also great at a barbecue! And if you want to treat it more like no bake dessert, serve it with some simple cookies or a slice of pound cake. You can pair your ambrosia salad with pound cake or an angel food cake. You can serve it in small individual cups with fresh fruit as a garnish.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Make sure to peel and segment citrus well before adding it to the salad, you want to remove as much of the pith as possible. Cut fresh fruit into bit size pieces and pat the fruit dry to make sure no additional liquid is released.
The best way to keep your ambrosia from getting watery is to drain all the fruit really well! You can also use a paper towel to pat the fruit dry before mixing it in. It is also helpful to use full fat sour cream or yogurt, low fat sour cream or yogurt tend to be too thin. Make sure to fold in mini marshmallows last to allow the marshmallows to absorb any extra moisture.
Ambrosia salad can be both depending on how you chose to serve it. It can be served alongside ham, turkey, fried chicken or BBQ and treated like a sweet side (such as sweet potato casserole). You can also serve the ambrosia salad in smaller portions as a dessert.
Ambrosia Salad
Equipment
- Mixing Bowls
- Measuring Cups
- Can Opener
Ingredients
- 1 can Crushed Pineapple Drained, 20 oz
- 1 can Mandarin Oranges Drained, 15 oz
- 1 cup Sweetened Coconut Shredded
- 1 Jar Maraschino Cherries Drained and halved, 10 oz
- 1 cup Mini Marshmallows
- 1 cup Sour Cream Full Fat
- 1 cup Whipped topping Thawed
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, fold together sour cream and whipped topping. Add pineapple, oranges, cherries, coconut, and marshmallows. Mix gently. Chill at least 1 hour to let the flavors come together.
Notes
- Use full fat sour cream or full fat Greek yogurt. You want this to be creamy in indulgent. Low fat sour cream might make the dish a little more watery.
- You can easily double or triple this recipe to feed a crowd! Just make sure you have a big enough bowl.
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