This Ambrosia Salad recipe is a classic old-fashioned favorite. While many versions use artificially-flavored store-bought whipped cream, today we’re improving upon the flavor by making our own homemade whipped cream and tweaking this recipe to dessert salad perfection!
A Better Ambrosia Salad Recipe
Throwback to an old-fashioned favorite today! A recent favorite for me. Growing up, I honestly always avoided Ambrosia Salad. There was something about the fact that it was called a salad but that it also had marshmallows!? in it that I just couldn’t seem to get behind.
As far as unconventional, non-lettuce-based “salads” go, potato salad and macaroni salad were about as far as I ever ventured. Dessert salads like Ambrosia salad were often on the menu, but never on my plate.
Oh, was I ever missing out.
If you’ve ever had Ambrosia Salad in the past, chances are it was made with Cool Whip. Sure, Cool Whip is easy to use and works in a pinch, but the (artificial) taste simply doesn’t compare to making our own homemade, from-scratch whipped cream. This simple switch in ingredients changed me forever from a dessert salad skeptic to an Ambrosia Salad fan(atic).
What You Need
- Heavy Cream — rather than using Cool Whip, as so many Ambrosia Salad recipes do, we are making our own homemade whipped cream. It’s going to make the flavor so much better (and only takes 5 minutes)!
- Powdered Sugar
- Vanilla Extract
- Sour Cream — This ingredient is key for adding a great depth of flavor to this Ambrosia salad recipe and keeps it from being too sweet!
- Mandarin oranges
- Maraschino cherries — remove any stems.
- Pineapple tidbits — If you can’t find “tidbits” then pineapple chunks will work, just cut each piece in half so the pineapple doesn’t overwhelm things. Alternatively you can chop up your own fresh pineapple into small bite-sized pieces!
- Sweetened shredded coconut
- Mini marshmallows — regular, white, classic mini marshmallows will work just fine in this recipe, but personally I prefer the fruit flavored marshmallows.
- Nuts — optional! I don’t care for nuts in ambrosia salad, but if you are a fan then feel free to add ¾ cup of coarsely chopped nuts in with the marshmallows.
How to Make Ambrosia Salad
- Start by making a simple homemade whipped cream by using an electric mixer to beat together heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract.
- Stir in sour cream. It might seem like an odd combination, but give it a taste test. The sour cream adds such a nice depth of flavor (just like it does with my cheesecake). Soooo good.
- Stir in fruits and marshmallows, tossing everything together until completely combined.
- Cover and allow to chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour before serving.
How Far In Advance Can I Make Ambrosia Salad
I recommend making Ambrosia Salad 1-24 hours before you intend to serve, for best flavor and texture. However, Ambrosia Salad will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days (make sure to store in an airtight container). I do not recommend freezing as the quality degrades when thawed.
Enjoy!
More Old Fashioned Favorites
I originally shared this recipe for Ambrosia Salad over on Real Housemoms!
Oh, and hey! Today’s new video was filmed in my brand new kitchen! I’m working on a post to show you everything we had done to the new space, so stay tuned, but I hope you enjoy today’s sneak-peek 🙂
Best Ambrosia Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- ¾ cups (180 ml) heavy cream
- ¼ cup (35 g) powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup (120 g) sour cream
- 11 oz (312 g) can mandarin oranges well drained
- 10 oz (¾ cup) maraschino cherries without stems
- 1 8 oz can pineapple tidbits well-drained
- 1 ½ cups (120 g) sweetened shredded coconut
- 4 cups (200 g) mini marshmallows¹
Instructions
- Combine heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract in a large bowl. Use an electric mixer to beat until mixture is thick, billowy, and the consistency of Cool Whip.¾ cups (180 ml) heavy cream, ¼ cup (35 g) powdered sugar, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Stir in sour cream.½ cup (120 g) sour cream
- In a separate bowl, stir together oranges, cherries, pineapple, coconut, and mini marshmallows.11 oz (312 g) can mandarin oranges, 10 oz (¾ cup) maraschino cherries, 1 8 oz can pineapple tidbits, 1 ½ cups (120 g) sweetened shredded coconut, 4 cups (200 g) mini marshmallows¹
- Add whipped cream/sour cream mixture and stir until completely combined.
- Cover bowl and chill in refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving.
Notes
Nuts?
Some people like to add nuts to their ambrosia salad. ¾ cup of coarsely chopped nuts such as pecans or walnuts would make a great addition.Storing Ambrosia Salad
I recommend making Ambrosia Salad 1-24 hours before you intend to serve, for best flavor and texture. However, Ambrosia Salad will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days (make sure to store in an airtight container). I do not recommend freezing.Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
Karen
This is by far the best version of Ambrosia Salad I’ve had. I have made this twice since finding your website/blog and my fiancé is forever grateful. Not using pre-mixed fruit cocktail and making the homemade whipped cream makes all of the difference. This is now my go-to fruit salad for holidays – it’s so pretty too!!!
Sam
I am so glad everyone enjoys it so much, Karen! 🙂
Mabel
How many servings does this make?
Sam
Hi Mabel! It should make about 10 servings. 🙂
Hope
Sam,
Thanks for answering so quickly! I can’t wait to make this. I promise I’ll come back & let you know how it was – but I already know it’s going to be fabulous.
Hope
Hope
I would love to make this, but I have a question: Should the cherries be drained prior to adding, as the other fruits are?
Thank you.
Sam
Hi Hope! Yes you will want to drain them. 🙂
Susan
It was very good, and you were spot on with the sour cream tip. Can you claify for me if Pineapple was to be One 8 oz. can or 18 oz. can. I used lage can and it was good, just want to know for next time. Thanks again for recipe, love your website.
Sam
Hi Susan! It’s just a single 8 oz can here. I’m glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
Carol
Made this for some friends and family and it was a big thumbs up!!!
Sam
I am so glad everyone enjoyed it so much, Carol! 🙂
Sherri Bailor
I used mango instead of the oranges because the kids are them the last time they were and I forgot. I think it’ll be a new option!:):)
Sam
Yum!
Pam
This is delicious! Just like my mother used to make. Maybe even better.
Sherri Bailor
missed a few words because of typing so fast but I hope you can read between the lines
Sherri Bailor
my grandmother also used the rice in it and stead of the cottage cheese and it was called glorified rice. or maybe she did use both I’m not sure but I know there was rice in it so it was glorified rice
Debbie in California
We loved this as kids! Thank you for reminding me about it. My Mom always made it with real whipped cream like you do.
One lesson she did finally learn was to make it while we 5 kids were not at home.
For our household this was always a special treat for special meals, but
if we saw the prescious ingredients out on the counter, we simply could not resist the temptation to wait til our Mom left the kitchen and each sneak in to help ourselves to the delicious fruit bits and marshmallows, we thought she’d never notice…we were wrong.
Very cute idea to use the coloured mini marshmallows!
Sugar Spun Run
Debbie, I am so happy that this recipe brought back so many wonderful childhood memories, Ambrosia Salad was a family favorite of mine too! I hope that you enjoy making it! 🙂
Julianne
Love this recipe! My family always called the one with cottage cheese ambrosia, while we called this fruit-marshmallow concoction ‘fruit salad’. Have you ever had the cottage cheese version?
Sugar Spun Run
Thank you so much, Julianne. I have not tried the cottage cheese version, sounds yummy! 🙂
Mary
Can you leave the coconut out without altering the taste too much?
Sugar Spun Run
Hello, Mary! The taste will vary, but I recommend trying it. Let me know how it turns out! 🙂
Leslie Stevenson
When I was child in the 60’s my mother made this and added a can of shrimp. Does anyone else remember this variation?
Sugar Spun Run
Hello, Leslie! I haven’t tried it, but sounds like a great addition. Let me know if you add it to your Ambrosia Salad and how it turns out! 🙂
Selah Howard
Hi there!
You’re finally in your new kitchen?! How awesome! Must feel so nice finally, seems like a great design! Great job handling the moving and all that while being pregnant! Can’t believe you have time and energy to keep this site going! So happy for you guys!
Sam
I love my new kitchen! It is so much bigger and has so much more room! It really makes life a lot easier. Thank you so much for your support. 🙂
Selah Howard
So great to hear that! Awesome! No problem. 😀
Traci M
This would be such a pretty salad during the Christmas season
Sugar Spun Run
The Ambrosia Salad is very pretty and is perfect for anytime of year! 🙂
sarah elisabeth
I love that you are inspiring with the real whipped cream! I can’t wait to try this. Also, not a nut fan here!
Sugar Spun Run
Thank you so much, Sarah! I hope that you love the Ambrosia Salad. Let me know how you like it once you try it! 🙂