Ambrosia Salad with Cool Whip

Name: Ambrosia Salad with Cool Whip
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 255 min
Ingredients: 8 ounces Cool Whip (thawed); 8 ounces plain greek yogurt or sour cream; 20 ounces pineapple tidbits or chunks (can, drained); 15 ounces can mandarin oranges (can, drained); 10 ounces mini fruit flavored marshmallows (1 bag); 10 ounces maraschino cherries ( jar, drained); 1 ¼ cup shredded coconut

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5 from 1 vote

Prep: 15 minutes

Cool Time: 4 hours

Total: 4 hours 15 minutes

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Ambrosia Salad with Cool Whip is creamy, flavorful, and loaded with fruit and marshmallows. This is a vintage classic that is perfect for any party.

A white dish of Ambrosia Salad with Cool Whip.

Ambrosia Salad with Cool Whip is a creamy and delicious sweet treat or side dish for any holiday or gathering. If you have never tried this old fashioned ambrosia recipe, you will not be disappointed. Who created this fun salad find out the history here.

For more fresh fruit salads you’ll, check out this recipe collection.

MORE FRUIT RECIPES YOU MIGHT LIKE

Fresh Fruit Salsa with Cinnamon Chips | Cherry Jello Salad with Fruit | Cranberry Raspberry Jello Salad

What We Love About This Ambrosia Fruit Salad Recipe

15 Minute Dessert: This creamy and delicious Ambrosia fruit salad can be throw together in less than 15 minutes.
Easy Ingredients: All you need is a total of 7 simple ingredients for the marshmallow fruit salad .
Family Friendly: This old fashioned ambrosia recipe is great to bring to family gathering, potluck, or summer barbecues or Christmas or Thanksgiving dinner.

A bowl of the Ambrosia Salad with Cool Whip with a cherry on top.

Ingredient Notes

Greek Yogurt: Greek yogurt or sour cream will work. You can even use a flavored yogurt.
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.
Shredded Coconut: You can use sweetened or unsweetened coconut shreds.

Marshmallows, fruit and Greek yogurt for the salad.

Variations and Substitutions for the Ambrosia Salad Recipe

Yogurt – Sour cream or Greek yogurt will work just as well. For a more flavorful salad, you can try using a flavored Greek yogurt like coconut, vanilla, or strawberry.
Different Fruit – Switch it up and add some fresh fruits such as grapes that are in season where you live.
Add Nuts – For an added crunch add chopped pecans, walnuts or pistachios to this marshmallow fruit salad.

How to Make Ambrosia Salad with Cool Whip

These are the basic steps for making Old Fashioned Ambrosia Recipe. Please refer to the recipe card below for more detailed instructions and for Prep time and total time. Check Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook for more.

Placing the yogurt in a bowl, adding the fruit and marshmallows and blending together.

STEP 1: MAKE AMBROSIA FRUIT SALAD

Gently fold together the Cool Whip and Greek yogurt in a large bowl. Once incorporate, mix in the remaining ingredients. Chill for at least 4 hours in the fridge. Serve chilled.

Prep and Storage Tips

HOW TO MAKE THIS RECIPE AHEAD OF TIME

Make this recipe ahead of time, follow the instructions as usual. It is recommended to make this 1-2 ahead of time max as the marshmallows will become soggy.

HOW TO STORE THIS RECIPE

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. The juice from the fruit will continue to come out. Any longer and the marshmallows will become soggy and mushy from sitting in the cream and fruit juices.

HOW TO FREEZE THIS RECIPE

Freezing is not recommended as it will cause the sour cream or yogurt to separate as it thaws.

Frequently Asked Questions about Simple Ambrosia Fruit Salad Recipe

CAN I SUBSTITUTE COTTAGE CHEESE IN PLACE OF GREEK YOGURT?

Cottage cheese will actually work just as well as Greek yogurt or sour cream in this recipe. Substitute with 1:1 ratio.

CAN THIS RECIPE BE DOUBLED OR HALVED?

Easily double or half this recipe by decreasing or increasing the ingredients. It is easy to estimate the amount you will need.

WHERE DOES AMBROSIA ORIGINATE FROM?

The where “ambrosia” is a Greek that can be transferred to something with a delicious taste or foods of the Greek gods. Despite the origin of the word “Ambrosia” it can be traced back to originating form Vermont.

HOW CAN I LIGHTEN UP THIS SALAD?

For a healthier Ambrosia Salad with Cool Whip, use a sugar free cool whip, try a fat free Greek yogurt, use fruit that was packed in it’s own juices.

A close up of the Ambrosia Salad with Cool Whip.

Expert Tips for Making This Recipe

Chill Time: It is important to allow the southern ambrosia recipe to chill in the fridge for at least 4 hours. This helps the flavors to blend together and the marshmallows have time to soften and soak in the flavors.
Drain Cherries: Drain the canned fruit and jar of cherries well as not doing so will make the the salad will be watery.
Make Whipped Topping: You make this as instructed with cool whip, but to go the extra step you can also make your own whipped cream using this recipe.

What to Serve with Ambrosia Salad with Cool Whip

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5 from 1 vote