Southern Ambrosia Salad is a must-have at any gathering! Cool Whip, pineapple, grapes, mandarin oranges, maraschino cherries and sweetened coconut flakes!
A CREAMY, SWEET AMBROSIA RECIPE
Fruit salads really signal the beginning of summer to me. I start making them a lot! Some of my favorites are this Ambrosia Salad, Orange Creamsicle Salad, Orange, Mixed Fruit Salad, or even an Orange Chicken Pasta Salad. It's the best time of year for all of these salads that are perfect to take to a cookout. Folks always love when they see a good fruit salad sitting on the table!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
The answer is no. You really don't. It does cut the overall sweetness so you don't break a tooth - ha. But you don't taste it as a separate ingredient.
No. You can leave the shredded coconut out if you absolutely can't stand coconut but it is a traditional ingredient in ambrosia.
There are natural sugars in the fruits themselves. However, if you want to cut the sugar then try to find the canned fruit that is packed in sugar-free juice. You can also buy sugar free whipped topping.
There really is no wrong answer here. You can pretty much add most of your favorite fruits. Raspberries, sliced bananas, blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, pomegranate seeds all work here.
Ambrosia is always best the day it's made or the day after. After that it starts to break down and lose its consistency as the fruits release their juices. Store covered and in the refrigerator. Eat within a day.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (FULL RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST)
- whipped topping (Cool Whip)
- sour cream
- pineapple tidbits
- mandarin oranges
- green seedless grapes
- sweetened coconut flakes
- mini marshmallows
- maraschino cherry halves
- chopped pecans
HOW TO MAKE AMBROSIA:
In a medium bowl, combine whipped topping and sour cream.
Stir in coconut flakes, marshmallows and nuts (if using.)
Gently fold in pineapple, mandarin oranges, grapes and maraschino cherries.
Once combined, put some plastic wrap on it or put it in a bowl with a lid and refrigerate for about an hour before serving.
Then serve!
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Southern Ambrosia (+Video)
Ingredients
- 8 ounce tub of whipped topping thawed
- 1 cup sour cream
- 20 ounce can pineapple tidbits, drained well
- 15 ounce can mandarin orange segments, drained well
- 1 cup red or green seedless grapes, sliced in half
- 1 ½ cups sweetened coconut flakes
- 1 ½ cups mini marshmallows
- 10 10 ounce jar of maraschino cherry halves, drained very well
- ½ cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine whipped topping and sour cream.
- Add in coconut flakes and marshmallows.
- Then gently fold in pineapple, mandarin oranges, grapes and maraschino cherries and nuts (if using).
- Once combined, put some plastic wrap on it or put it in a bowl with a lid and refrigerate for about an hour before serving.
Video
Notes
- You can easily switch out most of these ingredients for sugar-free options.
- You can leave the shredded coconut out if you absolutely can't stand coconut but it is a traditional ingredient in ambrosia.
- You can pretty much add most of your favorite fruits. Raspberries, sliced bananas, blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, pomegranate seeds all work here.
- Ambrosia is always best the day it's made or the day after. After that it starts to break down and lose its consistency as the fruits release their juices. Store covered and in the refrigerator. Eat within a day.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
Originally published: January 2012
Updated & republished: June 2021
Cindy F.
Great update on the one I have made for years
Tessa R Tilli
Best Ambrosia I have EVER tasted!!! I do leave out coconut as I hate it but everyone still loves it and always asks me to make it for family gatherings.
Jennifer
Mmmmmmmmm!!
Norma
First time making Ambrosia. So glad I found this recipe!! It's absolutely delicious
Kathleen Crescenzo
This is the best Ambrosia I've ever had and so easy to make!! This is a keeper. Really delicious!
Michelle Gallegos
I make this with vanilla yoghurt instead of whipped topping.
marian Rogansky
make this often but yours taste much better with the grapes and cherries
marian Rogansky
make this all time but yours is more tastier thanks
Loops
Made this today to eat during the football game...and oh so good! This recipe is simply delicious. It's a keeper. Thank you for sharing!
Anita
I love this recipe, thanks for sharing!
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Thank you Anita!
Laura
Love this! I made it today and cant stop eating it
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Ha!! Love hearing that! Thanks so much Laura!!
Cindy
We make this alot and it is yum yum yummy!
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Nothing like it, right? Thank you Cindy!
Meghan
I use sugar blended with heavy whipping cream. I prefer to only use mandarin oranges, pineapple, diced peaches, mini marshmallows, strawberries, and now that I saw maraschino cherries I'm gonna use those too!
My grandma used to make the same thing, but she added green apples, bananas, and halved grapes and sliced almonds on top for color and decoration:)
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Sounds so good Meghan!! Love all the variations!
Allison Goodwin
I followed the recipe it came out fabulous! Thank you for sharing
Lora
I use instant vanilla pudding, buttermilk instead of sour cream & a can of fruit cocktail in mine instead of grapes. Fresh strawberries & or banannas is tasty too..strawberry jello is also an alternative. It also gives it a pretty color.
Maria
Easy and Delicious!
Coda
I made this minus the nuts and I used fresh pineapple and mandarin oranges. It was SO delicuous! Making this for Easter too.
Vicki Szor
What do you think you could sub the coconut for? To help with the consistency, maybe a noodle?
Granny Jean
Just don’t use the coconut. Please do not use noodles. This is a fruit salad, not a pasta. You might cut back half a cup on your sour cream, since the coconut is one of the sweeteners. I am not an expert by any means, but I have been cooking for 63 years. Hope this gives you some ideas what to do.
Holly
Instead of using sour cream i use 1 pkg. softened cream cheese.
Suzy
I made this without the nuts - it was delicious!
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Thanks so much Suzy! I appreciate you coming back to let me know!
Cindy
Been making this for years .. however , we call it overnight salad ., no coconut or nuts.. and instead of cool whip and sour cream I use 1/2 cup miracle whip folded into fresh whipped heavy whipping cream .. then fold fruit and marshmallows in and refrigerate overnight ..