Ambrosia Salad

This Ambrosia Salad recipe is easy to make with fluffy Cool Whip, Pineapples, Cherries, Mandarin Oranges, Fruit Cocktail, and more! It’s the best side dish recipe that everyone loves.

Ambrosia Salad

This Ambrosia Salad is a simple, refreshing, and nostalgic side dish recipe that is so easy to prepare. It’s perfect for summer potlucks and BBQs, but it has a special place at the holiday table well!

It’s got juicy mandarin oranges, pineapples, and fruit cocktail, and maraschino cherries.

You’ll also find varying textures with every bite, ranging from creamy Cool Whip and vanilla yogurt, to crunchy chopped pecans, fluffy mini marshmallows, and sweet coconut flakes! 

You can’t beat this recipe, there’s a place for it at just about every occasion! 

How to Make It

Note: This is an overview. See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.

Use paper towels to remove as much moisture from the fruit as possible. Use a silicone spatula to gently stir the ingredients together in a large bowl until well-combined. Serve immediately, or refrigerate until ready to serve.

Pro Tips

• Be sure to use paper towels to remove as much moisture from the fruit as possible so that the consistency remains creamy and not watery.
• Coconut Flakes: Feel free to toast the coconut flakes in a skillet over medium for a few minutes to add more depth of flavor! Stir frequently and watch them closely.
• Yogurt: 1/2 cup sour cream + 1 tsp. vanilla extract can be used instead of yogurt if needed or preferred.
• Mint: Fresh mint makes a beautiful garnish to this dish!
• Feel free to add a little cottage cheese to the mix as well! 
• Make Ahead: Feel free to make this dish hours ahead of time and store in an airtight container until ready to serve. It can also be stored overnight until ready to serve.
• Ambrosia: This word comes from Greek mythology and translates to “the food of the Gods“. It implies that the food is delicious and life giving, providing eternal youth or immortality. (Wouldn’t that be nice!?)

Storage

• Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. (Leftovers don’t freeze well.)

Tools For This Recipe

(Amazon affiliate links*)- Check out all of my kitchen essentials here.

• Silicone Spatulas– My tool of choice to gently combine these ingredients together.
• Mixing Bowls with Lids– Perfect for preparing this and refrigerating or transporting it until ready to serve! (I have these and love them.)
• Serving Bowls

*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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Ambrosia Salad

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes minutes

5 from 2 ratings

Servings: 8 people

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This Creamy Ambrosia Salad is easy to make with juicy pineapples, mandarin oranges, cherries, and fruit cocktail! It's accompanied by fluffy cool whip, yogurt, marshmallows, coconut flakes, and chopped pecans!

Ingredients

US Customary - Metric

• ▢ 20 oz. pineapple chunks, drained and patted dry
• ▢ 15 oz. mandarin oranges, drained and patted dry
• ▢ 15 oz. fruit cocktail, drained and patted dry
• ▢ 10 oz. maraschino cherries, drained and patted dry
• ▢ 6 oz. vanilla yogurt, full fat. See notes
• ▢ 1 cup mini marshmallows
• ▢ ½ cup sweetened coconut flakes
• ▢ 8 oz. cool whip, thawed
• ▢ 1/3 cup chopped pecans, optional

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Instructions

• Use paper towels to remove excess from the fruit so that the texture remains creamy (vs. watery).
• Set aside a few mandarin oranges, cherries, coconut flakes, and nuts to decorate the top of the salad.
• Add salad ingredients to a large bowl and use a silicone spatula to gently combine. Transfer to a serving dish and top with reserved fruit, coconut flakes, and nuts.
• Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve.

Notes

Pro Tips:

• Be sure to use paper towels to remove as much moisture from the fruit as possible so that the consistency remains creamy and not watery.
• Coconut Flakes: Feel free to toast the coconut flakes in a skillet over medium for a few minutes to add more depth of flavor! Stir frequently and watch them closely.
• Yogurt: 1/2 cup sour cream + 1 tsp. vanilla extract can be used instead of yogurt if needed or preferred.
• Mint: Fresh mint makes a beautiful garnish to this dish!
• Feel free to add a little cottage cheese to the mix as well! 
• Make Ahead: Feel free to make this dish hours ahead of time and store in an airtight container until ready to serve. It can also be stored overnight until ready to serve.
• Ambrosia: This word comes from Greek mythology and translates to "the food of the Gods". It implies that the food is delicious and life giving, providing eternal youth or immortality. (Wouldn't that be nice!?)

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Storage

• Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. (Leftovers don't freeze well.)

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Nutritional information is an estimate and is per serving. This recipe has 8 servings.

Nutrition

Calories: 295kcal, Carbohydrates: 59g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 7g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 6mg, Sodium: 61mg, Potassium: 346mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 50g, Vitamin A: 585IU, Vitamin C: 22mg, Calcium: 124mg, Iron: 1mg

Did you try this recipe?Mention @TheCozyCook on Instagram or tag #thecozycook!

Course: Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Author: Stephanie