This Ambrosia Salad recipe is an old family favorite. Sweet and refreshing, this side dish (or dessert) needs just a handful of ingredients.
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What is Ambrosia Salad?
Ambrosia means ‘food of the gods’, and this version is a family favorite. While it’s called a salad, ambrosia salad is more like a light, creamy dessert that often makes an appearance as a side dish during the holidays. This version has pineapple, coconut, mandarin oranges, and mini marshmallows all folded together in a sweet, creamy base.
Holly’s Recipe Highlights
- Flavor: Sweet, tangy, tropical, and creamy all in one spoonful!
- Skill Level: So easy, also called 5 cup salad, it needs just five ingredients and 5 minutes of prep.
- Swaps: Swap sour cream for Greek yogurt or change up the fruit to your liking.
- Serving Suggestions: It’s potluck perfect since it’s best made ahead of time.
Ingredient Notes
- Yogurt/Sour Cream: Our family has always used sour cream, which is sweetened by the marshmallows, for a creamy tang. Replace it with plain or vanilla Greek yogurt for a sweeter flavor.
- Marshmallows: Use miniature marshmallows to add sweetness and fluff. Use fruit-flavored marshmallows to add extra color!
- Fruit: My grandma always used coconut shreds, canned mandarin oranges, and pineapple chunks. Drain the fruit well to prevent the salad from becoming watery, and be gentle with the mandarin oranges to prevent them from breaking apart.
Variations
- Add Fruit: Mix in chopped maraschino cherries, fresh bananas, grapes, kiwi, or strawberries. Or try swapping the pineapple for peaches.
- Add Nuts: Stir in some chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans for crunch.
How to Make Ambrosia Salad
- Combine all ingredients (full recipe below), folding in the mandarins last.
- Chill for 4 hours or overnight before serving.
More Dessert Salads
Did your family love this Ambrosia Salad? Leave a rating and a comment below!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup sour cream or plain or vanilla yogurt
- 1 cup miniature marshmallows fruit flavored or white
- 1 cup sweetened coconut flakes
- 1 cup pineapple tidbits well drained
- 1 cup mandarin oranges well drained
Instructions
- In a large bowl, add sour cream, marshmallows, coconut, and pineapple tidbits. Stir until combined.
- Gently fold in mandarin oranges.
- Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight. Serve chilled.
Video
Notes
- Make ahead to allow the flavors to blend and to soften the marshmallows.
- Be sure to drain all fruit well to prevent the dish from being watery.
- Mandarin oranges are fragile and break easily, so gently fold them in last.
- Greek, plain, or vanilla yogurt can serve as the base. I prefer sour cream, which is sweetened by the coconut and marshmallows.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Dessert, Salad, Side Dish
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This is my daughter’s family tradition recipe for Thanksgiving. I had her start making it when she was three and she helps make it or makes it on her own every year. She loves it! It’s a yummy fun addition to the table.
we made this often when I was growing up but we always called it ” 5 Cup Salad”.