Grandma’s easy ambrosia salad filled with fresh coconut, pineapple, marshmallows and more. So creamy and absolutely delicious. This family favorite is one of my go-to easy fruit salad recipes!
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Ambrosia Salad (The Best Fruit Salad)
Easy ambrosia salad is a classic dessert that’s perfect for a summertime BBQ, picnic or holiday gathering! It’s sweet and creamy salad made with a combination of pineapple, mandarin oranges, shredded coconut, mini marshmallows, and whipped cream cheese. Refreshing and delicious dish, it’s also quick and easy to prepare, requiring only a few minutes of prep time just like my honey lime fruit salad or berry fruit salad.
This ambrosia salad is a family recipe that’s very dear to me. The recipe came from my Grandma (along with my homemade caramels and divinity candy recipe) and is a dish that my whole family loves, especially my Uncle Harold. He would make it every time I came to visit and called it his “special dish.” We all loved it and still try to make it often.
It’s now one of my kid’s favorites too! Thanks to my grandma for this delicious ambrosia salad recipe :)
Ingredients
- Cream cheese: this is the base of the fruit salad that adds a creamy texture.
- Mandarin oranges: make sure to drain them so it doesn’t water them down.
- Pineapple: I like to use a combination of pineapple tidbits and crushed pineapple (drain as much juice as you can).
- Mini marshmallows: love the sweetness these add. Feel free to use fruit-flavored marshmallows as well.
- Coconut: this could be omitted if you don’t love it, but I enjoy the flavor it adds.
How to Make Ambrosia Salad
- Mix. Whip the cream cheese in a large bowl using an electric mixer.
- Add. Then fold in the drained fruit, marshmallows and coconut.
- Chill. Cover and let chill in the fridge for at least 1 hour prior to serving.
Modifications
- For a lighter version, try mixing together 8 ounces cool whip or whipped cream with 6 ounces Greek yogurt.
- Add in more fruit like strawberries, blueberries, grapes, peaches or bananas, depending on what’s in season.
- To add a crunch, mix in some chopped nuts like pecans.
- You can substitute cream cheese with sour cream if preferred. Sometimes I’ll do half and half.
- If you love cherries, feel free to fold in as many maraschino cherries as you’d like.
Recipe FAQs
It is typically made with canned pineapple, mandarin oranges, coconut and marshmallows.
Ambrosia is a reference to the food of the gods in Greek mythology. Since so many of the ingredients were once hard-to-find and considered luxurious, the name seemed fitting.
One of the main questions I get about this recipe is if you can make it a day ahead. The answer is yes! It needs to chill in the refrigerator before serving anyways, so that the salad forms and the flavors marinate together. If making a day ahead, I would just drain some of the liquid the next day and stir very well before serving. It will taste just as yummy and delicious!
As long of you keep leftovers of this classic ambrosia in the fridge covered in an airtight container it should not go bad and will last around three days.
Other recipes we love with mandarin oranges include this salad with mandarin oranges and mandarin orange pretzel parfait!
More Fruit Salad Recipes
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Ambrosia Salad Recipe
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Ingredients
- 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese , softened
- 2 (11-ounce) can mandarin oranges , drained
- 1 (20-ounce) can pineapple tid bits , drained
- 1 (20-ounce) can crushed pineapple , drained
- 2-3 cups mini marshmallows
- 1 cup shredded coconut
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whip the cream cheese until light and fluffy with an electric mixer.
- Using a rubber spatula, fold in the oranges, pineapple, marshmallows, and coconut.
- Cover with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator at least 1 hour before serving.
Notes
- Can substitute 1 block cream cheese with sour cream if preferred.
- To add a crunch, mix in some chopped nuts.
- When in season add fresh peaches or berries.
- Add in some orange zest for an extra boost of fresh flavor.
- If you love cherries, feel free to fold in some maraschino cherries.
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: American, Desserts, Fruit Desserts, Fruit Salad, No-Bake, Salads, Vegetarian
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is also the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook. Here you will find easy family-friendly recipes for every occasion.
Oh this was delicious! Super easy to make and everyone at the party (that I took it to) raved about it!
Love this fruit salad! So easy to make and tastes amazing.
Wow, even my picky son loved this! I was shocked, he asked for seconds! We grew up eating this all the time.
Wow, even my picky son loved this! I was shocked, he asked for seconds!
This was aa staple in my family even before I was born (1969). My grandma would make this for Thanksgiving (used the white mini marshmallows) and Christmas (used colored mini marshmallows to represent the xmas lights). I still make this today. My grandma would either use cream cheese only but sometimes she used both creamcheese and cool whip (she wasn’t a fan but the kids were!). Everything else is spot on. This waa the recipe. It was the one thing I looked forward to. Even over pie! Lol. Thank you for this one. My gramms’s gone but not her love of cooking and specially this simple but beloved recipe. 💜
This recipe brings lots of memories to me as well. I’m so glad to hear it does for you!
Yummy!! This is my kind of fruit salad! :)
This recipe is a big time favorite of ours, thank you!
I forgot to add my rating. Definitely five stars!
So yummy! I took this to a Christmas party, and was told it was the best out of all of them there. This definitely will be my go-to recipe when I need to make ambrosia salad!
Loved this ambrosia salad
Love this recipe and salad!!!!!
What wouldn’t estimate the serving size to be for the given measurements? Should recipe be doubled for a pot luck setting?
Thanks for sharing.. looking forward to making!
Hi Lorena! It should serve 8-10 people!
Tried this earlier but it didn’t look as good as yours. Anyways, it tastes really great.
I always just throw a few marshmallows and coconut on the top for presentation! I’m glad you tried it! :)
Almost like yogurt, looks delicious!
Loved this with added peaches
Agree!!! We luke ours with chopped mango too.
Mmmm that sounds delicious! I’m going to have to give that a try next time!
My oldest daughter is allergic to pineapple so we have to add different fruit.
Do you drain the cans of fruit? It doesn’t appear as though you do. Thank you!
You can drain all the cans of fruit! Also, if you want to add a little bit of pineapple juice to the cream cheese, it will make it a little more smooth!