My Ambrosia Salad with Cool Whip is a true family favorite. This pineapple and coconut recipe has been in my family for generations. This classic dessert is a staple for every potluck, picnic, and holiday gathering. Why? Because this fruit and cool whip dish it is that good.
My families get togethers are full of heavy foods. Having something so light and fluffy as a side dish really makes a difference. Two more favorite party side dishes are my easy chickpeas salad and my southern baked beans recipe.
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Why this Easy Ambrosia Salad with Cool Whip Recipe is a Keeper
This is one of the easy make ahead desserts that is light and fluffy and so delicious. Plus, there are so many variations you can make depending on the fruit and the occasion. My ambrosia salad is a marshmallow fruit salad made with Cool Whip, coconut, and canned fruit. The pineapple and orange give a tropical flavor to this watergate salad.
- Ultimate Ease and Convenience: It’s incredibly simple to throw together, requiring minimal effort and no cooking skills, making it perfect for busy hosts or last-minute additions to gatherings.
- Classic Comfort: It evokes a sense of nostalgia, bringing back fond memories of family gatherings and potlucks, making it a comforting and familiar treat. That is why we love this salad.
- Crowd-Pleasing Sweetness: The combination of sweet fruit, fluffy Cool Whip, pineapple and marshmallows is universally appealing, especially to those with a sweet tooth, ensuring it’s always a hit with guests of all ages.
- Versatile Customization: It’s highly adaptable, allowing for endless variations with different fruits, nuts, and pudding flavors, making it easy to tailor to personal preferences or dietary needs. You will love ambrosia with your own homemade whipped cream too.
- Perfect for Potlucks and Picnics: Its easy preparation, transportability, and crowd-pleasing nature make it an ideal dish to bring to potlucks, picnics, and casual gatherings. Everyone will love this recipe.
- Light and Refreshing Dessert (or Side): Despite its creamy texture, it’s surprisingly light and refreshing, especially when served chilled, making this classic dessert salad a delightful way to end a meal or complement a summer barbecue.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: It can be prepared ahead of time, allowing you to focus on other aspects of your event or meal preparation, reducing stress and maximizing convenience. This dessert made with cool whip is so easy.
- Cool Whip’s Dependability: Cool Whip provides a consistent, stable texture that holds up well, even when prepped ahead, eliminating worries about separation or melting this delicious ambrosia salad.
Why is this salad called a Ambrosia Recipe?
The name “ambrosia” was chosen to convey the idea that this dessert salad is exceptionally delicious and worthy of a special occasion, drawing on the mythological connotations of the word. Which conveyed it was a dish worthy of the Gods.
Pro Tip about this Easy to Make Dessert Salad
Add a touch of fresh citrus juice (like lemon or lime) brightens the fruit’s flavor and adds a refreshing tang. You can also add fruit flavored marshmallows too.
Ingredient Notes and Salad Variation Suggestions to Make Ambrosia Salad
This easy salad made with pineapple, maraschino cherries and and oranges is refreshing and delicious. You can add nuts in the ambrosia sweet salad to give some crunch.
Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Greek Yogurt: Greek yogurt adds protein and a rich creaminess to the dessert.
- Sour Cream: If you are not a fan of greek yogurt, you can replace it with sour cream or mix the yogurt and sour cream together. You can even use a flavored yogurt. Coconut whipped topping for a vegan option.
- Marshmallows: For this southern ambrosia recipe, fruit flavored miniature marshmallows were used, but normal mini marshmallows will work too if you can’t find the flavored ones.
- Marshmallows: Use colored mini marshmallows or cut large mushrooms into smaller pieces.
- Shredded Coconut: You can use sweetened or unsweetened coconut shreds. Toast the coconut for more flavor.
- Variations: Pecans, walnuts, almonds, or toasted coconut flakes, mini chocolate chips or add some citrus zest.
How to Make Pineapple Ambrosia Salad Recipe
Ambrosia Salad is a sweet, creamy, and fruity concoction that’s both simple and satisfying. Use cool whip to make sure that the dessert has the right consistency
Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Mix: Gently fold together the Cool Whip and Greek yogurt in a large bowl. Once incorporate, mix in the pineapple, cherries and oranges and remaining ingredients. Chill for at least 4 hours in the fridge.
Prep Ahead Suggestions for this Fruit Salad with Whipped Cream
- Fruit Preparation: Chop any fresh fruits (apples, grapes, etc.) and store them in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator. Drain canned fruits (pineapple, maraschino cherries and mandarin oranges) thoroughly and store them separately.
- Dry Ingredients: Measure out mini marshmallows, nuts, and any other dry ingredients. Store them in airtight containers at room temperature.
How to Store and Use Leftover Classic Ambrosia Salad
This ambrosia salad is a classic easy recipe. It’s easy to make and always a hit.
- Storing: Generally, this easy Ambrosia salad can be stored in the refrigerator for 1-2 days. Store the ambrosia salad into an airtight container. However, the texture will change over time. The Cool Whip can become watery, and the fruit may soften.
- Using Leftovers Ambrosia Salad: Parfaits: Layer the leftover salad with vanilla yogurt, granola, or graham cracker crumbs to create a sweet parfait. Smoothie Ingredient: Add a scoop or two to a fruit smoothie for a creamy, sweet boost. It pairs well with tropical fruit smoothies and makes an easy side.
Common Questions About This Ambrosia Fruit Salad Recipe
Drain Canned Fruit Thoroughly: This is the most crucial step. Canned fruits, like pineapple and mandarin oranges, release a lot of liquid. Drain them very well before adding them to the salad. You can even pat them dry with paper towels for extra insurance.
Berries: Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries add a tangy sweetness and vibrant color.
Grapes: Red or green grapes add a juicy sweetness and a nice texture.
Apples: Diced apples, especially varieties like Honeycrisp or Fuji, add a crisp sweetness.
Pears: Diced pears add a soft, sweet flavor.
Kiwi: Diced kiwi adds a tangy, tropical flavor and a bright green color.
Mango: Diced mango adds a tropical sweetness and a smooth texture.
Cherries (other than Maraschino): Fresh sweet cherries or tart cherries can be used.
Add Just Before Ready to Serve: To maintain the crunch, add these ingredients just before serving. Try chop nuts, granola, cereal, or cookies. Use nuts such as almonds, walnuts or pistachios for this side dish.
Freezing Ambrosia salad is not recommended. The Cool Whip and fruit will become mushy and watery when thawed, significantly altering the texture and taste.
Expert Tips for Making Ambrosia Fluff Dessert Recipe with Whipped Topping
To make the best ambrosia salad, you can try these tips. Add some jello to the dessert salad, use some cream cheese or sour cream instead of cool whip in the salad. Make it your own. It is so easy to make.
- Drain Canned Fruits Well: This is crucial to prevent a watery salad. You can even use fruit cocktail for this salad.
- Fold Gently: Gently fold the ingredients into the Cool Whip to maintain its fluffiness.
- Chill the delicious Fruit Salad Before Serving: Chilling allows the flavors to meld and the salad to set.
- Add Marshmallows Last to this classic recipe: Add marshmallows right before serving to prevent them from dissolving.
- Use Quality Cool Whip: Name brand cool whip tends to hold it’s form better than generic brands. How to Th
- Serve this Classic Recipe with: Some of my other picnic favorites: Loaded Baked Potato Salad, Crock Pot Baked Beans and my Grilled Shrimp Skewers.
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Ambrosia Salad with Cool Whip
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Ingredients
- 8 ounces Cool Whip, thawed
- 8 ounces Greek yogurt , or Sour Cream
- 20 ounces Pineapple tidbits or chunks, can, drained
- 15 ounces Mandarin oranges, can, drained
- 10 ounces Mini fruit flavored marshmallows, 1 bag
- 10 ounces Maraschino cherries, jar, drained
- 1 ¼ cup Shredded coconut
Instructions
- Gently fold together the Cool Whip and greek yogurt in a large mixing bowl.
- Once incorporate, mix in the remaining ingredients until evenly combined and coated in the cream mixture.
- Refrigerate and chill for at least 4 hours for the flavors to come out, or even overnight.
- Serve chilled. Enjoy!
Christina’s Notes
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- Drain Canned Fruits Well: This is crucial to prevent a watery salad. You can even use fruit cocktail for this salad.
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- Fold Gently: Gently fold the ingredients into the Cool Whip to maintain its fluffiness.
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- Chill the delicious Fruit Salad Before Serving: Chilling allows the flavors to meld and the salad to set.
-
- Add Marshmallows Last to this classic recipe: Add marshmallows right before serving to prevent them from dissolving.
-
- Use Quality Cool Whip: Name brand cool whip tends to hold it’s form better than generic brands. How to Thaw Coolwhip
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- Serve this Classic Recipe with: Some of my other picnic favorites: Loaded Baked Potato Salad, Crock Pot Baked Beans and my Grilled Shrimp Skewers.
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.
i used vanila yogurt and cool whip. i would not use 10 ounces of minature marshmallows since it made it super sweet. i added chopped up pecans and another can of mandarin oranges. I would add grapes and apples.
Sound great. Thank you for sharing.