Easy Ambrosia Salad – Spend With Pennies

Looking for a sweet and refreshing side dish or dessert?

This Ambrosia Salad recipe is just the thing, it combines pineapple, coconut, mandarin oranges, and mini marshmallows in a creamy base.

ambrosia salad in a bowl topped with a cherry

Ambrosia Salad

This is a family favorite and one I always looked forward to as a kid!

  • Despite its name, ambrosia salad is a a sweet fluff salad – almost a dessert that is often served as a side for Easter, Thanksgiving or at potlucks.
  • This salad, aka 5-cup salad needs just 5 ingredients and 5 minutes of prep.
  • It’s perfect for holidays and potlucks since it’s best made ahead of time.
ingredients for ambrosia salad on the counter

Ingredients for Ambrosia Salad

  • Yogurt/Sour Cream – The creamy base starts with either sour cream or Greek yogurt. Our family has always used sour cream, which is sweetened by the marshmallows. Feel free to try vanilla yogurt or whipped topping (such as Cool Whip) in place.
  • Fruit – Our family’s recipe for Ambrosia Salad has coconut shreds, mandarin oranges, and pineapple, but you can mix things up with fruit cocktail or canned peaches. For a fresh flavor, stir in fresh fruit like grapes, bananas, blueberries, or strawberries.
  • Additions – While this recipe is delicious on its own, you can add other ingredients. Try adding maraschino cherries or nuts like walnuts or pecans to give it a bit of extra crunch and flavor.
ingredients for ambrosia salad in a glass bowl

How to Make Ambrosia Salad

Ambrosia Fruit Salad is a great side to whip up if you are short on time!

  1. Drain the pineapple and oranges (per the recipe below).
  2. Add all ingredients except oranges and mix well. Gently fold in oranges.
  3. Let chill in the fridge for at least 4 hours.

Tips for Ambrosia Salad

  • Be sure to make this salad ahead of time to blend the flavors and soften the marshmallows.
  • Drain the canned fruit so the dish isn’t watery.
  • Gently fold in the mandarin oranges last, as they can be fragile and break apart.
Mixed ingredients for ambrosia salad in a bowl

More Dessert Salads

plated Ambrosia Salad in a bowl

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Easy Ambrosia Salad

This ambrosia salad recipe is so easy to make, perfectly fluffy and a great holiday side dish!

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes

Chill Time 4 hours

Total Time 4 hours 10 minutes

Author Holly Nilsson

  • In a medium bowl, mix sour cream, marshmallows, coconut, and pineapple tidbits.

  • Gently fold in mandarin oranges.

  • Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight. Serve chilled.

  • Make this salad ahead and store in the fridge to blend the flavors and soften the marshmallows.
  • Drain all fruit well so the dish isn’t watery.
  • Gently fold in the mandarin oranges last, they can be fragile and break apart.
  • Use Greek yogurt or plain yogurt, or sour cream for the base. I prefer sour cream.

Calories: 150 | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 29mg | Potassium: 225mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 296IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 62mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Dessert, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine American
plated Ambrosia Salad with a title
bowl of Ambrosia Salad with writing
plated Ambrosia Salad with a title
ingredients to make Ambrosia Salad in a bowl and plated dish with a title

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