Grandma’s easy ambrosia salad is a creamy fruit salad made with whipped cream cheese, coconut, pineapple, mandarin oranges and marshmallows. It’s a family favorite!

Ambrosia salad in a bowl.

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Grandma’s Ambrosia Salad

Easy ambrosia salad is a classic dessert like pineapple upside down cake that’s perfect for holiday gatherings! It’s a sweet, creamy dessert salad made with pineapple, mandarin oranges, shredded coconut, mini marshmallows, and whipped cream cheese.

This ambrosia salad is a family recipe that’s very nostalgic to me. It came from my Grandma (along with my homemade caramels and divinity candy recipe) and now my kid’s love it too!

It’s just as refreshing as my honey lime fruit salad but like my watergate salad recipe or strawberry cheesecake salad it could pass for a side dish or fluffy dessert!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Easy to make. With only 6 ingredients and 5 minutes prep time, this salad is so simple and the pastel colors are so festive especially in spring!
  • A holiday classic. Like cranberry salad and strawberry pretzel salad it’s family favorite that has been served for years at Easter, Christmas or Mother’s Day.

Ingredient Notes

All you need are a few simple ingredients to make this delicious ambrosia salad recipe!

Ambrosia salad ingredients on counter.
  • Cream cheese: This is the base of the fruit salad that adds a creamy texture.
  • Mandarin oranges: Drain the mandarin orange slices so they doesn’t water the salad 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. Fruit-flavored marshmallows are fun and festive!
  • Coconut: This could be omitted if you don’t love it, but I enjoy the flavor and texture it adds.

How to Make Ambrosia Salad

Showing how to make ambrosia salad in a 4 step collage.
  • Mix. Whip the cream cheese in a large bowl using a handheld electric mixer or stand 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.
  • Serve. Serve as a salad, side dish or dessert.

Tips and Variations

  • Softened cream cheese. Be sure to soften your cream cheese so it whips easily without any lumps.
  • Drain fruit. Drain your canned fruit really well otherwise the 5 cup salad will be too watery and runny.
  • Combine gently. I like to use a spatula to fold in the fruit and marshmallows so they stay intact and don’t break and get mushy.
  • For a lighter version, substitute 8 ounces homemade Cool whip or whipped cream with 6 ounces Greek yogurt or sour cream. I like to use vanilla yogurt.
  • For a 7 cup fruit salad, fold in as many maraschino cherries as you’d like.
  • Don’t skip chilling the salad. Ambrosia salad with cream cheese is best made ahead so be patient while the flavors meld together for at least an hour or two.
Ambrosia salad.

Make Ahead

One of the main questions I get about this classic ambrosia 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.

Ambrosia salad in a bowl.

Other fruity recipes we love include salad with mandarin oranges and mandarin orange pretzel parfait! This fruit dip recipe is great to include on a fruit platter.

More Fruit Salad Recipes

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Ambrosia salad in a glass bowl.

Ambrosia Salad Recipe

5 from 24 votes
Recipe by: Jamielyn Nye
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Refrigerate: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 12
Grandma's easy ambrosia salad is a creamy fruit salad made with whipped cream cheese, coconut, pineapple, mandarin oranges and marshmallows. It's a family favorite!
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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

  • Whip cream cheese. In a large bowl, whip 2 – 8 ounce packages softened cream cheese until light and fluffy with an electric mixer.
  • Fold in fruit and coconut. Using a rubber spatula, fold in 2 – 11 ounce drained mandarin oranges, 1- 20 once can drained pineapple, 2-3 cups mini marshmallows, and 1 cup shredded coconut.
  • Chill. Cover with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator at least 1 hour before serving.

Last step: Please leave a comment and rating after you make the recipe.

Notes

Variations:
  • 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.
Make-ahead: Prepare as directed, then store in an airtight container in the fridge overnight. Right before serving, drain some of the liquid and stir very well. 
 

Nutrition

Calories: 162kcal, Carbohydrates: 30g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 5g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 0.3g, Cholesterol: 0.2mg, Sodium: 12mg, Potassium: 246mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 24g, Vitamin A: 403IU, Vitamin C: 23mg, Calcium: 37mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.