This classic Ambrosia Salad recipe is a sure-fire hit that works as a sweet side dish or fruity dessert! Grapes, strawberries, pineapple, oranges, and marshmallows are tossed in a sweet and sour cream dressing for a marshmallow fruit salad that is too good to be missed!
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Why We Love This Ambrosia Salad Recipe
An old-fashioned marshmallow fruit salad is perfect for a holiday dish, although I can enjoy it any time of the year! It’s fluffy, light, and sweet, and it’s a delicious way to enjoy your fruits.
- Quick and Easy: It takes no more than 20 minutes to make up this fruit salad recipe, and there’s no cooking involved!
- Kid Friendly: If you have picky eaters who don’t like to eat fruit, they are going to love this! Whilst not exactly healthy, it’s a great treat and a tasty way to get some vitamins in!
- Make Ahead: This is a great make-ahead option for the holidays. Make it a day or two ahead of time for easy entertaining. This recipe also makes enough for 12 servings, so it’s perfect for a crowd.
Variations on Ambrosia Fruit Salad
To modify this recipe, you can use canned pineapple in place of the fresh pineapple. You can also use 1½ cups whipped topping in place of the heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar, and sour cream. And if you don’t have access to fresh fruit, you can use 2 drained (15.5-ounce cans) of fruit cocktail in place of all of the fruit in this recipe.
How to Make Ahead
This salad is a great make-ahead dish. Prepare the entire salad, leaving off any nuts or cherries that you plan to use as garnish, up to 2 days in advance. Store it tightly wrapped in the refrigerator, and garnish with cherries and chopped nuts when ready to serve.
How to Store
Store leftover ambrosia salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I do not recommend freezing this salad.
Serving Suggestions
This ambrosia salad recipe is one delicious and crowd-pleasing dessert, but it is also commonly served up as a side dish as part of a holiday meal. Try it with some of these favorite holiday mains: Air Fryer Garlic Rosemary Turkey Breast, Deep Fried Turkey Breast, Garlic Butter Prime Rib, or Sheet Pan Easter Dinner with Lamb. However you decide to serve this fruity marshmallow salad, it’s guaranteed to be a hit!
More Fruit Salad Recipes To Try
- Waldorf Salad
- Cranberry Fluff Salad
- Watermelon Feta Salad
- Grape Salad
- Grilled Peach Salad
- Watergate Salad
Ambrosia Salad Recipe
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
Ingredients
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream 227 grams
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar 14 grams
- ¼ cup sour cream 57 grams
- 10 ounces mini marshmallows 283 grams (1 bag)
- 1 cup canned mandarin oranges 268 grams, drained
- 1 cup diced fresh strawberries 170 grams
- 1 cup chopped fresh pineapple 170 grams
- 1 cup green grapes 150 grams, halved
- ⅓ cup maraschino cherries 57 grams, halved
- ⅓ cup chopped pecans 38 grams
Instructions
- In a large bowl, using a hand mixer, whip the heavy cream and powdered sugar until soft-medium peaks form. Gently fold in the sour cream.1 cup heavy whipping cream, 2 tablespoons powdered sugar, ¼ cup sour cream
- Gently fold in the marshmallows, mandarin oranges, strawberries, pineapple, grapes, maraschino cherries, and pecans.10 ounces mini marshmallows, 1 cup canned mandarin oranges, 1 cup diced fresh strawberries, 1 cup chopped fresh pineapple, 1 cup green grapes, ⅓ cup maraschino cherries, ⅓ cup chopped pecans
- Spoon into your serving dish and top with additional maraschino cherries and pecans.
Video
Becky’s Tips
- Do not over-mix the salad, as it will cause the whipped cream to deflate.
- I recommend making marshmallow salad 4 hours before you plan to serve and letting it rest in the refrigerator. This allows the flavors to mingle and preserves the salad’s structure!
- Maraschino cherries will turn your whipped cream pink. I recommend adding them right before serving to avoid this.
- Ambrosia salad can be left out of the refrigerator for up to 2 hours, but I recommend serving it cold because the whipped cream dressing will start to melt after just 30 minutes.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did you make this? Leave a comment!
How to Make Ambrosia Salad Step by Step
Whip the Cream: In a large bowl, using a hand mixer, whip 1 cup of heavy cream and 2 tablespoons of powdered sugar until soft-medium peaks form. Gently fold in ¼ cup of sour cream.
Fold in the Fruit: Gently fold in 10 ounces of mini marshmallows, 1 cup of canned mandarin oranges, 1 cup of diced fresh strawberries, 1 cup of chopped fresh pineapple, 1 cup of green grapes, ⅓ cup of maraschino cherries, and ⅓ cup of chopped pecans.
Serve the Salad: Spoon into your serving dish and top with additional maraschino cherries and pecans.
We leave out the heavy cream and powdered sugar. It tastes better without the extra sugar. The fruit is sweet enough.
Thanks for sharing!