Description
Ambrosia Salad is a classic, creamy fruit salad featuring a delightful mix of mandarin oranges, fresh pineapple, coconut, maraschino cherries, mini marshmallows, and toasted pecans blended with Cool Whip and sour cream. This no-cook, chilled dessert is perfect for potlucks, holiday gatherings, or a refreshing treat any time of year.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups Cool Whip
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 3 cups mini marshmallows
- 1 (15-ounce) can mandarin oranges, drained
- 1 cup chopped fresh pineapple
- 1 cup shredded coconut
- 3/4 cup halved maraschino cherries (stems removed), drained
- 3/4 cup toasted pecans
Instructions
- Mix the base: In a large bowl, combine the Cool Whip and sour cream. Stir them together until the mixture is smooth and creamy, forming the salad’s rich dressing.
- Add fruits and extras: Gently fold in the mini marshmallows, drained mandarin oranges, chopped fresh pineapple, shredded coconut, halved maraschino cherries, and toasted pecans. Mix carefully to coat all ingredients evenly without crushing the fruit.
- Chill the salad: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow flavors to meld and the salad to chill thoroughly. It can be stored overnight for better taste and texture.
- Serve: After chilling, give the salad a gentle stir and serve cold as a sweet side dish or dessert at your gathering.
Notes
- For best texture, add toasted pecans just before serving if you prefer them extra crunchy.
- Drain canned fruits well to avoid a watery salad.
- The salad tastes even better after resting overnight in the refrigerator.
- Feel free to substitute fresh fruits according to season or preference.
- Use light or reduced-fat sour cream and Cool Whip for a lower calorie version.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Ambrosia Salad, fruit salad, creamy fruit salad, holiday salad, potluck salad
