There are a few dishes that simply taste like home, and this classic ambrosia salad is one of them. It's my mom's recipe and a must-have side dish at every holiday meal. We've always served it alongside the turkey and ham, not as a dessert, and I wouldn't have it any other way!
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Planning your Christmas dinner holiday menu? We love serving this strawberry and walnut brie as an appetizer, and this fancy salmon wellington as a main dish always gets a ton of compliments. Finish things off strong with this sweet apple crumble cheesecake or these festive whipped shortbread cookies!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- It is best when made in advance, the day before. Ambrosia salad needs time to set up and for the marshmallows to soften and fully hydrate.
- There is no baking or cooking required, all you have to do is stir all the ingredients together in a bowl!
- Ambrosia salad comes together in minutes using simple pantry ingredients.
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Ambrosia Salad Ingredients
- Sour Cream - Creates a tangy, creamy base. It can be substituted for plain Greek yogurt.
- Mandarin Oranges - Add a juicy burst of citrus to this delicious dish. You can use canned or fresh mandarin slices, if using fresh, chop them up so some of the juices are released.
- Crushed Pineapple - Adds a delicious flavor to the salad. You can use canned crushed pineapple or fresh crushed pineapple. To crush fresh pineapple, finely dice it and use the side of the knife to crush it into the cutting board.
- Mini Marshmallows - Marshmallows are the base of ambrosia salad, and they are responsible for the fluffy, soft, chewy texture.
- Shredded Coconut - Coconut is a must for the classic flavor of ambrosia salad. You can use sweetened or unsweetened coconut.
For exact quantities and the full list of ingredients, see the recipe card below.
Recipe Variations
- Add Nuts - top the salad with chopped pecans, walnuts or roasted almonds. Nuts add a nice crunch to an otherwise soft salad.
- Maraschino Cherries - add a handful of maraschino cherries to the ambrosia salad for a pop of color and flavor.
- Make It Dessert - top with freshly whipped cream and serve with wafer cookies.
- Vanilla Yogurt - Use vanilla yogurt if you want to serve this ambrosia salad as a dessert.
What to Serve With Ambrosia Salad
For as long as I can remember, my family has always served ambrosia salad as a side dish with our holiday meals, but it can also be served as a dessert.
For more side dishes for your holiday meal, you have to try these sweet and sour baked beans, these delicious bacon jam brussel sprouts and this crispy, buttery roasted garlic garlic bread!
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How to Make Mom's Classic Ambrosia Salad
Step 1
The day before you want to serve this ambrosia salad, in a large mixing bowl, combine all of the ingredients.
Step 2
Gently stir the salad to avoid crushing the mini marshmallows, and make sure all of the ingredients are fully incorporated.
Transfer the ambrosia salad to a serving dish, cover with a lid or plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight or at least 24 hours in advance.
Expert Tips
- Make ambrosia salad the day before you plan to serve it. This gives the flavors time to develop and lets the marshmallows hydrate with the fruit juices.
- Serve it in parfait cups or mason jars for fun potluck parties!
How To Store Ambrosia Salad
Store leftover ambrosia salad for up to 2 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator. If stored for longer, the marshmallows will start to break down and become soggy.
Do not freeze ambrosia salad, it changes the texture and is not good.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, and you should! Ambrosia salad tastes best when it is made the day before you plan to serve it. It gives the marshmallows time to soften and the flavors time to blend into that classic creamy, fluffy texture.
Store it in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Stir gently before serving.
Absolutely! In our family, this salad has always been a sweet, creamy side dish, not a dessert. It pairs perfectly with holiday dinners like turkey, ham, or prime rib and fits right in with other sides, too!
A watery ambrosia salad is usually caused by undrained fruit or mixing right before serving. To avoid this, drain the fruit really well (whether you are using fresh or canned fruit), fold the salad gently so the marshmallows stay intact, and let it chill in the refrigerator for several hours or overnight before serving.
No, do not freeze ambrosia salad. The fruit and marshmallows will break down, and the dressing will take on a grainy texture.
Traditionally, "ambrosia" referred to a sweet, fruit and coconut treat considered so delicious it was nicknamed "food for the gods". Today, it is a nostalgic, retro 90's recipe that is still loved for its creamy, fruity sweetness.
More Holiday Side Dishes
These are my favorite side dishes to serve with any holiday meal:
This sour cream ambrosia salad is a part of our 12 Days of Christmas Series - Season 3. Don't miss Day 9: Honey Roasted Cashews! ❄️
If you made this Classic Ambrosia Salad or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating, a 💬 comment and share it on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook!
📖 Recipe
Mom's Classic Ambrosia Salad
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Print Recipe Pin RecipeIngredients
- 1 ½ cups Mini Marshmallows
- 1 cup Crushed Pineapple drained
- 1 cup Shredded Coconut
- 1 cup Sour Cream
- ¾ cup Mandrin Orange Slices drained
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine all of the ingredients. Stir gently to avoid crushing the marshmallows. Stir until all of the ingredients are well combined.
- Transfer ambrosia salad to an airtight container or serving dish covered with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight, up to 24 hours before serving.
- Gently stir before serving to reincorporate any settled fruit juices.
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Notes
- Ambrosia salad is best made in advance. Make it the day before you plan to serve it to give the flavors time to incorporate and the marshmallows time to soften and fully hydrate.
- Sour cream can be substituted for plain Greek yogurt or vanilla yogurt (if you are serving it as a dessert).
- Fresh or canned fruit may be used, regardless of what you use, ensure it is well-drained.
- Add chopped nuts or maraschino cherries as fun add-ins.
- Serve it in a large serving dish, mini mason jars or parfait cups for single-serve ambrosia salads!
- Store leftover ambrosia salad in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Do not freeze.
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator and it will vary based on the ingredients that you use.
Jessica says
Ambrosia salad has always been a staple at our family holiday meals. This is my mom's recipe, straight from her recipe box, and it doesn't get much better than this! I hope you love it!
Allison says
Thanks for posting this classic. It is a great treat.