Classic Ambrosia Salad is a quick and easy vintage recipe made with colorful fruit, mini marshmallows, and coconut in a creamy sweet dressing.
Ambrosia Salad
If you are in need of a super quick and easy recipe to bring to a party or potluck, look no further. This Ambrosia salad, also called 5 cup salad, can be whipped up in less than 15 minutes, and it is loved by all.
This Ambrosia Salad is a vintage recipe that features canned fruit, making it easier to find ripe, juicy ingredients. Summer oranges are not always the best, but canned fruits are always the ripest of the bunch. Bright juicy fruit with sweet mini marshmallows and coconut swim in a creamy, sweet, and tangy dressing
Even though it's not a "salad" by the traditional green lettuce standards, this Ambrosia salad is light, refreshing and can be made ahead of time, which makes it perfect for parties and potlucks.
What is Ambrosia Salad?
Ambrosia salad is an American fruit salad. A salad only in the sense that it's a mixture of produce and has a dressing of sorts.
In ambrosia salad, the salad consists of canned or fresh pineapple, canned or fresh mandarin orange slices, mini marshmallows, shredded coconut, and possibly nuts such as pecans or walnuts.
For the dressing, this dish uses a mixture of sour cream and whipped cream for sweet and tangy creamy base to bring this salad all together.
Why is it called Ambrosia?
Back in the 19th century, when Ambrosia salad was first made, the ingredients were considered new, luxurious, exotic, and often difficult to find.
The salad was a special treat reserved for holidays and special occasions, and called “ambrosia” after the food of the Greek and Roman gods (The Greek myth said that ambrosia gave immortality to anyone who ate it.).
Why Sour Cream?
There’s a lot going on in this salad, including quite a few sweet ingredients such as the marshmallows, homemade whipped cream, and even the fruit, which is naturally sweet.
To counteract all that sweetness, sour cream brings in just a touch of tanginess. Plain Greek yogurts would also work the same way, but you really do need a little something to cut all of that sweetness.
Can you Freeze Ambrosia Salad?
I really love to freeze everything humanly possible, but I wouldn’t recommend freezing this salad. When it thaws it will become watery and soggy, and the texture just won't be the same.
Ambrosia salad is best when made fresh and served within 3 days.
More Fruit Salad Recipes You'll Love
- Watergate Salad - a unique mixture of ingredients that you would never think would work, but actually taste amazing.
- Homemade Fruit Salad - a bright healthy fruit salad featuring fresh berries and grapes.
- Berry Cheesecake Salad - a creamy dessert salad with fresh berries in a creamy cheesecake dressing.
- Snickers Caramel Apple Salad - crunchy apple pieces, gooey candy bar bits, and plenty of caramel all in a creamy pudding dressing.
Ambrosia Salad
Ingredients
- 1½ cups heavy whipping cream
- 1 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ½ cup sour cream
- 3 cups mini marshmallows
- 1 cup shredded coconut
- 1 can pineapple tidbits (15 ounces) drained
- 1 jar maraschino cherries without stems (10 ounces) drained and patted dry
- 1 can mandarin orange wedges (11 ounces) drained
- ½ cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, add cream, sugar, and vanilla. Beat until soft peaks forms. (We're making homemade whipped cream! You know the consistency 😉)
- Fold in sour cream until combined.
- Fold in all remaining ingredients.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before servings to allow to set and flavors to meld. Serve cool.
Notes
- To skip a step, use frozen whipped topping instead of making homemade whipped cream with the first 3 ingredients. Just make sure to thaw it first!
- You can use plain white marshmallows for the pretty multi-color fruit flavored ones.
- Be sure to pat dry your maraschino cherries or your whole dessert will be very pink.
- If you'd prefer to swap out the canned fruit for fresh fruit, use about 1.5-2 cups chopped fresh fruit. Try using chopped grapes and fresh pineapple, cherries, and oranges.
- Storage: Store covered in the refrigerator. Ambrosia salad is best when made fresh and served within 3 days.
- Make Ahead: This Ambrosia salad can (and should!) be made ahead. It's best to let it chill for at least 2 hours, so making it the morning or night before will work perfectly.
Nutrition
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Noelle Simpson says
Yum! This was so simple to make and had great flavors, thanks for sharing!
Dannii says
This is definitely my husband's ideal salad! I will give it a try at the weekend.
Michelle says
This looks like such a fun fruit salad! I've never tried Ambrosia salad so can't wait to give this a try.
April King says
This is just like the one my grandmother used to make. It was so tasty!!!
Cate says
This looks like such a great side for the holiday feast! Sounds so delicious thanks for sharing!
Chris Collins says
Now this is my kinda salad! Perfect for holiday season 🙂
Emily says
Oh my gosh! The addition of sour cream in this ambrosia recipe is genius! Totally balances out all that sweet!
Carrie Robinson says
This is such a classic recipe! 🙂 A definite must-make for the holidays.
Beth says
This classic side dish is always gobbled up at holiday dinners! Adults and kiddos will load up their plates with this salad and it's so quick and easy to make - love it!
Tayler says
This is our absolute favorite ambrosia salad recipe! We make it for all family get togethers!
Holley Goldman says
I love ambrosia salad! This is the perfect and refreshing comfort classic to any gathering event!
Beth says
I had forgotten about ambrosia. It was always one of my favorites! Yours reminds me of my youth. Thanks for jogging my memory.
Savita says
This fruit salad looks so scrumptious.
Andrea says
Glad I found this recipe especially for the easter season. My kids eat this up!
Gina says
Haven't had this since I was kid, such nostalgia looking at these pictures. Can't wait to whip up a batch and enjoy once again!
Jill says
Boy this salad brings me back to my childhood and church potlucks. I've gotta find some of those mini colored marshmallows and make this. Yum!
Macooney says
Making for Easter tomorrow. REAL whipped cream all the time. Just perfect….
Caro G says
I usually add blueberries, diced strawberries, seedless grapes and sliced bananas to make it fruitier.
Jill says
Oh my gosh. What a fantastic throwback recipe for me. I remember my grandma making something similar but I didn't have a recipe. So happy to have found yours!
Gina M says
I love this recipe! It has such great flavor and it always a hit whenever I make it!
Julia says
Delicious and so fresh! Entire family asked for more!
Farah Abumaizar says
This is the cutest salad! Have heard about it but never knew how whimsical it really is, This is one salad my kids could get behind!
Ieva says
We have never heard of Ambrosia Salad before (we live in the UK), but my husband loves any type of fruit salad or fruit dessert, so I am making a small bowlful of it for our anniversary tonight! It sounds delicious 🙂
Mary Grace Mattingly says
How much Cool Whip would you use instead of the whipped cream recipe?
Michelle says
About 3 cups, which should be pretty close to an 8 to 12 ounce tub.
Mary Mattingly says
Thank you. I need to make a salad for a bereavement meal. This looked easy & delicious.