Ambrosia Salad

Ambrosia Salad

Classic Ambrosia Salad

Classic ambrosia fruit salad
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Ambrosia Salad is a classic holiday fruit salad made with juicy citrus, pineapple, coconut, marshmallows, and a creamy dressing. It's a favorite at Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, potlucks, and family gatherings because it's quick to prepare and always disappears fast!

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Chill Time: 2 hours
Serves: 10

Ingredients

  • 1 can mandarin oranges, drained
  • 1 can pineapple tidbits, drained
  • 1 cup miniature marshmallows
  • 1 cup shredded coconut
  • 1 cup sour cream or vanilla yogurt
  • 1 cup whipped topping
  • Maraschino cherries, for garnish (optional)

Directions

  1. Drain the mandarin oranges and pineapple thoroughly.
  2. In a large bowl, gently fold together the whipped topping and sour cream or vanilla yogurt.
  3. Stir in the pineapple, mandarin oranges, marshmallows, and shredded coconut.
  4. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours to allow the flavors to blend.
  5. Top with maraschino cherries before serving, if desired.

Holiday Favorite

Ambrosia Salad is traditionally served during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter, but it's also a refreshing dessert for summer picnics, cookouts, and family reunions.

Choosing the Right Creamy Base

Different creamy ingredients create different textures and flavors. Choose the one that best fits your recipe, holiday meal, or family favorite.

BaseBest ForFlavor
Vanilla YogurtBreakfasts, snacks, and lighter fruit saladsLight and creamy
Greek YogurtHigher-protein fruit saladsTangy and rich
Whipped ToppingHoliday salads and dessertsLight and fluffy
Vanilla PuddingLayered fruit desserts and triflesRich and creamy
Sour CreamClassic ambrosia and traditional fruit saladsSweet and tangy

Fun Variations

Try adding seedless grapes, chopped apples, bananas, pecans, walnuts, or maraschino cherries to make your family's own special version.

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