Description
Ambrosia Salad is a classic, creamy fruit salad that’s both nostalgic and indulgent. With a rich base of whipped cream and sour cream, this chilled dessert is studded with marshmallows, pineapple, mandarin oranges, coconut flakes, and pecans. It’s a perfect make-ahead dish for potlucks, holidays, or summer picnics.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 3 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 3 tablespoons sour cream
- 3 cups miniature marshmallows
- 1 (20-ounce) can pineapple tidbits, drained
- 1 (15-ounce) can mandarin orange segments in light syrup, drained
- 1 cup shredded sweetened coconut flakes
- 1/2 cup finely chopped toasted pecans
- 1/2 cup stemmed maraschino cherries (optional)
- Optional: Fresh berries, bananas, or sliced apples
- Optional: Mini chocolate chips
- Optional: Walnuts or almonds as nut substitutes
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, whip the heavy whipping cream with powdered sugar and salt until soft peaks form.
- Gently fold in the sour cream until well combined.
- Add the miniature marshmallows, pineapple tidbits, mandarin oranges, shredded coconut, toasted pecans, and optional maraschino cherries to the bowl.
- Carefully fold the ingredients together until everything is evenly coated with the cream mixture.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (or overnight) to allow the flavors to meld and the salad to chill.
- Serve cold, optionally garnished with extra cherries, coconut, or nuts.
Notes
- Make sure canned fruits are well-drained to prevent a watery salad.
- Chilling the salad for several hours enhances flavor and texture.
- You can substitute whipped topping for homemade whipped cream if short on time.
- For a lighter version, use Greek yogurt in place of sour cream.
- Add fresh fruits right before serving to maintain texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 40mg
Keywords: ambrosia salad, fruit salad, creamy fruit dessert, marshmallow salad, picnic recipe, summer salad