The recipe prices will vary based on fluctuating grocery costs. Please use what is posted as a guide.
This recipe for Ambrosia Salad, made by our family for over 40 years, comes with the magic touch – a foolproof ingredient ratio for hassle-free success. Impress your loved ones with ease!
Our recipe serves eight and costs approximately $7.74 to make, or about $0.96 per serving.
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Ambrosia Recipe
Are you craving a simple yet stunning side dish for your next potluck, holiday feast, or family picnic? Look no further than this tropical fruit medley – an oldie but goodie sure to steal the show!
Ditch the last-minute scramble and unleash your inner culinary rockstar with this quick-and-easy tropical fruit medley. You’ll whip up a crowd-pleasing comfort food in 10 minutes and just one bowl.
Forget fuss, ditch fancy, and embrace the magic of simple ingredients that combine into a sweet and refreshing side dish – perfect for pairing with savory delights or standing alone as a light and breezy treat.
This Ambrosia Salad is a potluck MVP, picnic hero, and family gathering champion. Its cheerful blend of textures and flavors pleases kids and adults, making it the perfect anytime crowd-pleaser. So ditch the stress and grab your spoon – Ambrosia awaits!
What is Ambrosia?
In Greek mytology it is the name given for the “food of the Gods.” In the American South, it’s a popular side dish consisting of fruits, whipped cream, and other ingredients like coconut and marshmallows.
You’ll love this refreshing Ambrosia Salad.
- Time-saving hack: Store-bought Cool Whip means no fussing with homemade whipped cream!
- Nostalgic bliss: One bite, and you’ll be whisked back to Grandma’s kitchen and those unforgettable family gatherings.
- Creamy, dreamy goodness: The perfect blend of fluffy Cool Whip and sweet, juicy fruits is a match made in dessert heaven.
- 10-minute magic: Simple prep means more time to relax and savor every delicious moment.
Ambrosia Ingredients & Estimated Cost
- 8 oz container Cool Whip – $0.82
- ½ cup sour cream – $0.44
- 10 oz can mandarin oranges – $0.95
- 15 oz can pineapple tidbits – $1.99
- 16 oz jar maraschino cherries – $2.54
- 1 cup mini marshmallows – $0.22
- 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut – $0.78
To learn more about how we price our recipes, check out Budget Recipes Explained.
Recipe For Ambrosia Salad Variations
- Instead of canned mandarin oranges, swap in 1 cup of juicy segments from Cutie oranges, Clementines, or their Mandarin cousins. Peel, separate the sections, and give them ½-inch dice.
- Swap the canned pineapple for fresh. Dice it up half-inch thick, aiming for about 1 ¼ cup.
How To Make Ambrosia
***For complete recipe instructions, see the recipe card below.
- Fold Cool Whip and sour cream in a large bowl.
- Gently fold in oranges, pineapple, cherries, marshmallows, and coconut.
- Cover tightly and chill for at least 1 hour.
- Before serving, garnish with mini marshmallows, shredded coconut, and maraschino cherries.
What to serve with Ambrosia Fruit Salad
This dessert salad is the perfect complement to most entrees. Serve it with chicken, ham, beef, or turkey. Add another side dish, such as rolls, corn on the cob, or asparagus, and you have a complete meal.
Get Kids Involved in making Fruit Salad with Cool Whip
Ages 2-3: Let your little one practice counting by filling a measuring cup with mini marshmallows. How many does it take to reach the top?
Ages 4-5: Get creative with the garnish! Provide bowls of mini marshmallows, chopped oranges, cherries, and shredded coconut. Encourage your child to arrange them on top of the salad in fun patterns, like stripes, swirls, or smiley faces.
Ages 6-8: This is an excellent opportunity for your child to practice their measuring skills. Ask them to help pre-measure the ingredients before mixing them. They’ll feel a sense of accomplishment and ownership over the dish.
Ages 9-11: Let your child take the lead! With your guidance, they can read the recipe twice, gather the ingredients, and mix everything. Be there to answer questions and offer a helping hand when needed.
Ages 12+: Time for your child to shine! Step back and watch as they confidently prepare the entire recipe from start to finish.
Remember, the most important thing is to have fun and create lasting memories in the kitchen. So grab your ingredients and your little helpers, and get ready to whip up some delicious Ambrosia Salad together!
Bonus Tip: For an extra special touch, let everyone choose their favorite toppings to add to their individual servings. Enjoy!
How To Store Ambrosia Salad
SERVE: Enjoy your salad fresh and fluffy right away.
MAKE AHEAD: Prepare up to two days in advance, but skip the marshmallows and garnishes until serving to avoid sogginess.
STORE: Leftovers stay delicious for 3-5 days in an airtight container.
FREEZE: We recommend skipping the freezer, as the thawed salad loses its creamy texture.
Ambrosia Recipe Tips
- Cool Whip and coconut flakes are kitchen staples that are the stars of this recipe. One option is to select store brands or buy them in bulk for extra savings.
- Embrace canned fruits! They’re budget-friendly and add vibrant sweetness.
- Leftovers become breakfast heroes! One fun idea is to whip up individual parfaits with leftover salad and a dollop of Greek yogurt. No waste, all deliciousness!
More From Easy Budget Recipes
Ambrosia Recipe
Equipment
- large bowl
- rubber spatula
- measuring cups
Ingredients
- 8 oz container Cool Whip thawed
- ½ cup sour cream
- 10 oz can mandarin oranges drained
- 15 oz can pineapple tidbits drained
- 16 oz jar maraschino cherries drained, patted dry, and cut in half
- 1 cup mini marshmallows multi-colored or regular
- 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
GARNISHES: (all optional)
- Mini marshmallows multi-colored or regular
- Sweetened shredded coconut
- Maraschino cherries
Instructions
MAKE SALAD:
- In a large bowl, fold together the Cool Whip and sour cream.
- Fold in oranges, pineapple, cherries, marshmallows, and coconut.
CHILL, GARNISH, AND SERVE:
- Cover with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving.
- Garnish the ambrosia salad with mini marshmallow, shredded coconut, and maraschino cherries before serving (all optional, but they sure make the salad pretty!).
- Serve and enjoy.
Amanda Wren-Grimwood says
What a great idea for a quick dessert that is so easy. Perfect for summer days.
Ieva says
Fun! Perfect when you don’t have any fresh fruit and can just use tins from the cupboard! I bet my nieces would love this!
Kate says
Salad for dessert? Wow, I’m a convert! What an epic combination of ingredients, this is incredible!
Wanda says
this is a great start to Thanksgiving dinner with a dollop of sherbert on top. Also, when I was in Italy, I learned that green salad is the last course of a meal, not the first. Spaghetti is considered an appetizer before a full on meat & potatoes meal.
Jess Jankowski says
We’ve never tried this with a dollop of sherbert on top! Will have to try.
Savita says
The salad looks so gorgeous and delicious, perfect for Easter dessert too.
Mahy says
I don’t think that I have ever cooked with ambrosia before. This is definitely the recipe to try some time soon!
Donna says
I hope you make it and like it I love that it is so easy to make and I don’t have to cok it just mix everything together and put un the fridge
James S says
We’ve had ambrosia salad on thanksgiving for as long as I can remember. I got tasked with making it this year and came across your recipe.
I would like to know where you shop for ingredients. The prices listed do not reflect Biden’s economy. Here’s what I paid for the ingredients today at Target San Diego, CA.
Cool Whip – $1.49
sour cream – $2.49
10 oz can mandarin oranges – $1.29
15 oz can of pineapple chunks – $2.39
16 oz jar maraschino cherries – $2.79
mini marshmallows – $1.29
sweetened shredded coconut – $4.29
TOTAL = $ 16.44
Now granted, I did not use all of some products like shredded coconut, marshmallows, and sour cream, but I still had to pay for the entire package.
Jess Jankowski says
Hi James. Hope you enjoyed the recipe! We price our recipes off of Walmart pricing. However, the ingredients are priced out based on the amount that is needed for the recipe. As inflation occurs and grocery prices change, we update the recipes as quickly as possible. It is a manual process so it takes us a while! But if there is ever a recipe, you would like for us to update before we have gotten to it please reach out and let us know. Hope you had a great holiday!
Frankie says
I love this salad. It’s always been a recipe passed down through the family and enjoyed by all. I sprinkle a box of jello in mine. Gives it extra flavor.
Cheryl says
James, a very good recipe, and the gals are doing their very best to keep up with the prices that continue to change in our grocery stores!! A very good recipe, I’m making it for Christmas Eve, all loves it, from us grandparents, Parents, children, and onto our grandchildren! Focus on the joy of serving a fun salad/dessert, and not on making it an unhappy expense from the grocery store! Happy Holidays to all!
Jess Jankowski says
Thanks so much for your kind words Cheryl. So happy your whole family loves this recipe as much as we do. Merry Christmas!
Doreen King says
Do you think adding chopped walnuts would be good?
Jess Jankowski says
Yes!
Veronica says
I use slivered almonds. Is it ok to use cream cheese instead of sour cream?
Jess Jankowski says
Hi Veronica, Love slivered almonds! We haven’t tested the recipe with cream cheese. We imagine it would work but will not be as light and fluffy as sour cream and will therefore alter the taste and texture.
Lynne Bauch says
my grand ma made it with a dry box of colored jello to add color, flavor, and a bit of stiffness very helpful when using canned fruit.
Jess Jankowski says
That’s great! Thanks for letting us know!
Linda says
Making this today to take to a garden club luncheon. Looked good and we are having a heat wave so it will be nice an cool for lunch at the pot luck.
Rene says
THIS is the Ambrosia recipe I’ve been searching for. My copy is glued to the back of another recipe card that I can’t find. Thanksgiving is 2 days away, I’ll be making this as a delicious side dish.
Jess Jankowski says
So glad you found it!!!
Moroo says
So easy, delicious and heathy recipe. Thanks for sharing.
Jess Jankowski says
Thank you for letting us know!