Creamy Ambrosia Salad

Creamy Ambrosia Salad is a quick and easy dessert made with whipped topping, sweet fruits, shredded coconut, marshmallows, and buttery toasted pecans.

This traditional Southern fruit salad is the perfect side to bring to your next potluck, family get-together, or holiday celebration.

Ambrosia Fruit Salad

It’s hard for me to decide if this is a “salad” or a dessert. It’s full of fruit, coconut, and a creamy whipped dressing so you can call it a salad I guess. But to me, the ingredients scream dessert.

Whatever you call it, this sweet salad requires only 10-minutes of hands-on prep. So it’s a great dish to whip together when you have guests coming over or quickly need to make side dishes to bring to your next get-together!

Where does Ambrosia Salad come from?

Ambrosia salad is a classic southern fruit salad. Traditionally, they call for canned or fresh tropical fruits like pineapple, mandarin oranges, miniature marshmallows, and coconut.

However, the newer recipes include maraschino cherries, sliced bananas, strawberries, peeled grapes, and sliced pecans.

All the ingredients are tossed in a creamy dressing consisting of either mayonnaise, whipped topping, sour cream, cream cheese, vanilla pudding, yogurt, or even cottage cheese.

This fun and sweet salad is then refrigerated for at least one hour (overnight is best!) to allow the flavors to mix and mingle together.

Not only that, but it’s budget friendly and make a great looking dish. Just like my overnight salad recipe, my orange fluff jello salad, and my strawberry shortcake fluff recipe.

Ingredients Needed

Cool whip – Feel free to use original or light. You can also make your own homemade whipped cream.

Sour cream – Original or light can be used. Feel free to swap in whipped cream cheese, vanilla pudding, Greek yogurt, or cottage cheese.

Sweetened coconut – Toast the shredded coconut for more flavor and texture.

Miniature marshmallows – Use your favorite brand and either white or colored! If you only have large marshmallows you can cut them into smaller pieces.

Fruit – Canned or fresh fruit works. If using canned, I recommend using fruit in heavy syrup as it will provide the most flavor in the salad. Just be sure to drain it very well.

Pecans – Traditionally chopped nuts aren’t added but I love the crunchy and nutty flavor that the toasted pecans add to this recipe. And honestly, what’s more southern than pecans?!

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How to Make Ambrosia

First: In a large bowl, combine sour cream, coconut, pineapple, oranges, grapes, cherries, and pecans.

Second: Fold in the mini marshmallows.

Third: Mix in whipped topping, ensuring all ingredients are coated.

Fourth: Cover salad and refrigerate until ready to serve. Feel free to reserve a few oranges and cherries to decorate the top when ready to enjoy!

For the full recipe and detailed baking instructions, please see the recipe card at the end of this post.

How long does it last?

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Just be sure to give it a good stir before serving.

Can I make it in advance?

Ambrosia salad tastes best when the ingredients have had time to mix together in the fridge and when served cold.

This makes it perfect for prepping the night before and refrigerating until you’re ready to serve.

Can I use canned fruit?

Of course! Using canned fruit will make whipping up this salad even quicker (if that’s even possible!)

Just be sure to drain all the juice prior to mixing otherwise it will be too runny and never firm up.

Can I freeze it?

I don’t recommend freezing it as the fruit can release a bunch of water when you thaw it.

It’s also fun to eat this frozen. Think of it like a fun, new ice cream!

Tips for No Leftovers

• Toast the coconut for more flavor and texture.
• Use canned fruit in a jiffy just be sure to drain and pat the fruit dry to keep the salad from getting watery. You can also use fruit cocktail if you are in a real hurry!
• Rinse the maraschino cherries really well or the juice will make the salad pink.
• Substitute the sour cream for Greek yogurt.
• Fold the ingredients together gently as not to break up the fruit pieces and release the juices.
• Let set for a few hours to overnight for maximum flavor!
• Need a dairy free recipe? Use coconut whipped cream instead.

If you love this recipe as much as I do, please write a five-star review in the comment section below (or on Pinterest with the “tried it” button – you can now add pictures into reviews, too!), and be sure to help me share on facebook!

This Ambrosia Salad recipe is a classic southern dish. With only 10-minutes of prep time and a handful of pantry staples, this simple side is perfect to bring to your next holiday potluck, family get-together, or barbecue outing!

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