This Ambrosia Salad isn’t just a recipe; it’s a 40-year family legend, perfected with one magic ingredient that guarantees hassle-free success every single time.
Table of Contents
Classic Ambrosia Salad Recipe
Here are all the things I love about this recipe.
- Time-saving hack: Using Cool Whip keeps this classic ambrosia salad recipe easy and fuss-free—no homemade whipped cream needed!
- Nostalgic bliss: One bite of this classic recipe brings back memories of Grandma’s kitchen, family gatherings, and that beloved family favorite fruit salad tradition.
- Creamy, dreamy goodness: The mix of Cool Whip, favorite fruits, coconut, and Cool Whip creates the ultimate creamy fruit salad experience.
- 10-minute magic: Simple prep and only seven ingredients mean more time to relax and savor every delicious moment.
Top Tips for Success
Drain the fruit really well. Excess liquid can make the salad soupy instead of creamy.
Chill the salad for at least 1 hour. This allows the flavors to meld and the texture to set.
Toast the coconut first. This adds extra flavor and a subtle crunch.
Leftovers become breakfast heroes! One fun idea is to whip up individual parfaits with leftover salad and a dollop of Greek yogurt.
Ingredients & Estimated Cost
Below are the seven ingredients you need to make this salad, along with a few recipe tips and substitution recommendations.
- Cool Whip (8 oz – $1.28): You can make homemade whipped cream instead of store-bought. It may change the texture of the salad, as it may not be as stable as Cool Whip.
- Sour cream (½ cup – $0.56): Use Greek yogurt for a lighter option.
- Mandarin oranges (10 oz – $1.18): Be sure to drain the can of oranges to avoid adding excess liquid to the salad. Swap in 1 cup of juicy segments from Cutie oranges, Clementines, or Mandarin oranges. Peel, separate the sections, and dice them into ½-inch pieces.
- Pineapple tidbits (15 oz – $1.48): Swap the canned pineapple for fresh. Dice it up half-inch thick, aiming for about 1¼ cups.
- Maraschino cherries (16 oz jar – $2.97): If you’d like to slice the cherries, place them on a paper-towel-lined plate and let them sit for a few minutes to absorb excess syrup.
- Mini marshmallows (1 cup – $0.47): Regular white marshmallows will also work.
- Sweetened shredded coconut (1 cup – $1.08): Unsweetened coconut is a good alternative.
To learn more about how we price our recipes, check out Budget Recipes Explained. The pricing for this recipe was updated in December 2025.
How To Make Ambrosia Salad
Fold the ingredients together, chill, and serve. Let me show you how.
- Fold Cool Whip and sour cream in a large bowl.
- Cover tightly and chill for at least 1 hour.
- Cover tightly and chill for at least 1 hour.
- Before serving, garnish with mini marshmallows, shredded coconut, and maraschino cherries.
Ambrosia Recipe FAQs
Yes, adding chopped walnuts or slivered almonds can be a delicious addition to Ambrosia Salad. It will add a nice crunch and a nutty flavor.
We have not tested it with this recipe, but we believe it will work. It will change the texture and overall taste of the recipe. It will not be as light as it is with the sour cream.
Yes, feel free to customize this recipe with your favorite items. Some ideas include various canned fruits, coconut flakes, and maraschino cherries, or some people even like to sprinkle a box of Jell-O into the mixture.
Definitely! It actually tastes better when it has had time to chill in the fridge for a few hours. Prepare up to two days in advance, but skip the marshmallows and garnishes until serving to avoid sogginess.
Ambrosia Salad Recipe
Recipe Cost 8.61 Serving Cost 1.07Equipment
- 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.
Dawn Peavy says
Could can crushed pineapple work in this? I’m going to use fruit flavored marshmallows for extra color and fruity flavor.
Jess Jankowski says
Yes canned will work as a substitute, just be sure to drain the can thoroughly. The fruit flavored marshmallows is a great idea!
kodablu ciraulo says
I wanna make this with Greek yogurt instead of sour cream
Jess Jankowski says
Go for it! I haven’t tested the recipe with it, but I imagine it will work! Let me know how it goes.
Amanda says
An instant hit with my family. They couldn’t get enough of this Ambrosia Salad Made With Cool Whip.
Jan says
I made this for a Bible study group – it was a REAL HIT with everyone and they all wanted the recipe ! I added chopped walnuts to the top as a final garnish – THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU !!
Jess Jankowski says
Oooh I love the addition of chopped walnuts! Thanks for sharing!
Jess Jankowski says
This reminds me of exactly how my Grandma used to make ambrosia salad! A perfect replica!
Moroo says
So easy, delicious and heathy recipe. Thanks for sharing.
Jess Jankowski says
Thank you for letting us know!
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!!!
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.
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!
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.
Doreen King says
Do you think adding chopped walnuts would be good?
Jess Jankowski says
Yes!
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!
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.
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!
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
Savita says
The salad looks so gorgeous and delicious, perfect for Easter dessert too.
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.
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!
Amanda Wren-Grimwood says
What a great idea for a quick dessert that is so easy. Perfect for summer days.