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Small white bowl of creamy fruit Ambrosia Salad Recipe with red and green grapes, pineapple, orange, and nuts.

Ambrosia Salad Recipe

A light, fluffy, and creamy Ambrosia Salad Recipe dessert that has been the star of family gatherings for decades. Juicy fruits, marshmallows, and a tangy-sweet cream base create a nostalgic "fluffy fruit bowl" that tastes like the food of the gods.
5 from 1 vote
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Course: Dessert, Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Southern
Keyword: 1950s ambrosia salad recipe, ambrosia (fruit salad) main ingredients, Ambrosia salad recipe with Cool Whip, Ambrosia salad recipe with fruit cocktail, Best ambrosia salad recipe, Easy ambrosia salad recipe, Hawaiian ambrosia salad, Pioneer Woman ambrosia salad recipe
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Chill Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 280kcal
Cost: $8

Equipment

  • 1 Large mixing bowl (Preferably glass for serving)
  • 1 Rubber spatula (For gentle folding)
  • 1 Sharp paring knife (For cutting fruit)
  • 1 Fine mesh strainer (For draining canned fruit)
  • 1set Measuring Cups (Standard)

Ingredients

  • 1 can 20 oz Pineapple chunks - Drained, reserve 2 tablespoon juice
  • 1 can 15 oz Mandarin oranges - Drained
  • 1 cup Grapes - Halved
  • 1 jar 10 oz Maraschino cherries - Drained, stems removed
  • 1 cup Sour cream - Room temperature
  • 1 tub 8 oz Cool Whip - Thawed
  • 2 cups Mini marshmallows - White or pastel
  • 1 cup Shredded coconut - Sweetened
  • ½ cup Chopped pecans - Optional
  • 1 cup Fresh strawberries - Sliced optional
  • 1 Banana - Sliced just before serving optional

Instructions

  • Drain, cut, and prepare fruits
    Assortment of canned and fresh fruits: pineapple, mandarin oranges, cherries, and purple grapes.
  • Make creamy base with sour cream, Cool Whip, marshmallows, and coconut
    Metal bowl of fresh fruit including red and green grapes with pineapple chunks.
  • Toss fruits with pineapple juice
    Person whisking whipped cream and shredded coconut in a metal mixing bowl.
  • Fold fruit into creamy mixture
    White bowl of creamy fruit salad with strawberries, oranges, pineapple, and grapes, with a gold spoon on the side.
  • Chill salad, stir gently, and garnish before serving
    Large glass bowl filled with creamy fruit salad with grapes, oranges, pineapple, and sliced almonds.

Notes

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Nutrition

Serving: 200g | Calories: 280kcal (14%) | Carbohydrates: 42g (14%) | Protein: 3g (6%) | Fat: 12g (18%) | Saturated Fat: 7g (44%) | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 10mg (3%) | Sodium: 80mg (3%) | Potassium: 240mg (7%) | Fiber: 3g (13%) | Sugar: 32g (36%) | Vitamin A: 200IU (4%) | Vitamin C: 45mg (55%) | Calcium: 60mg (6%) | Iron: 0.8mg (4%)
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