Ambrosia Salad

10 minutes

Ambrosia Salad… just like you remember it! Also known as 5 Cup Salad, this recipe is a holiday classic and pretty much a staple at family gatherings. Loaded with fresh and canned fruit, mini marshmallows, shredded coconut, and a sweet, creamy dressing, it makes a delicious side dish that’s sure to invoke feelings of nostalgia!

Growing up, fruit salad was pretty much a guaranteed part of any holiday menu, and Ambrosia Salad was always at the top of the list. And as a kid? I was definitely NOT complaining.

I can remember helping myself to seconds of it and feeling a little bit like I was getting away with something. Because even though it was called a “salad”… it always felt more like a dessert.

The truth is, whether you think of it as a salad or a dessert, it almost doesn’t matter. Because it’s delicious. And really… when it comes to classic recipes and family gatherings… delicious is what counts.

There are a million different ways to make Ambrosia Salad, but this is hands down our FAVORITE. Made with a combination of fresh and canned fruit, shredded coconut, mini marshmallows, vanilla Greek yogurt, and chopped pecans… it’s the perfect balance of flavors and has just the right amount of sweetness.

It’s our go to recipe… and I have the feeling it might become yours, too!

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🍒 What is Ambrosia Salad?

Ambrosia is a classic fruit salad recipe named after the food of the Greek gods. It originated in the late 19th century, and exists today in many different varieties. Most recipes contain canned pineapple, canned mandarin oranges, miniature marshmallows and coconut. Other ingredients might include chopped nuts, maraschino cherries, and additional fruits such as grapes, bananas, or strawberries, and most recipes include some type of creamy dairy-based dressing.

🍍 Ingredients

One of the best parts of this recipe is the fact that it’s made primarily with canned or packaged ingredients. Not only does that make it easy to shop for, but it also makes it incredibly easy to prepare. The ingredients for this recipe are as follows:

• 1 c. pineapple chunks (canned)
• 1 c. mandarin oranges (canned)
• 1/2 c. red grapes, halved
• 1/2 c. green grapes, halved
• 1/2 c. maraschino cherries, halved
• 1 c. mini marshmallows
• 1 c. shredded coconut
• 1 c. Vanilla Greek yogurt
• 2 Tbsp. finely chopped pecans

📋 Instructions

Ambrosia Salad could not be easier to prepare. It’s literally as simple as combining all the ingredients in a mixing bowl and gently folding them together. The one thing to be aware of is the fact that canned mandarin oranges are extremely fragile, so you’ll want to be careful when mixing so as not to crush them in the process.

1. Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
2. Gently fold ingredients together until combined.
3. Refrigerate 2 hours or overnight to allow flavors to meld.

🍌 Recipe variations

When it comes to Ambrosia Salad, this combination is our favorite. But! There are endless possibilities for this salad, and here are some ideas to get you started:

• Add 1 c. canned fruit cocktail
• Add 1 c. fresh, quartered strawberries
• Add 1 c. sliced bananas
• Omit pecans or substitute a different type of nut
• Use multi-colored mini marshmallows for a fun addition of color
• Omit the fresh grapes for a more traditional Ambrosia recipe
• Use a combination of Cool Whip and sour cream in place of the Greek yogurt

🍓 Related recipes

Ambrosia Salad is a holiday classic, and a delicious side dish for any meal. Here are some other fruit salad recipes that we also enjoy!

• Mojito Fruit Salad
• Winter Fruit Salad
• Piña Colada Fruit Salad
• Strawberry Caprese Salad
• Skinny Ambrosia Fruit Salad
• Watermelon Salad
• Caprese Peach Salad
• Strawberry Cucumber Salad

Ambrosia Salad

Yield: 10

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

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Ingredients

• 1 c. canned pineapple chunks, drained
• 1 c. canned mandarin oranges, drained
• 1/2 c. red grapes, halved
• 1/2 c. green grapes, halved
• 1/2 c. maraschino cherries, halved
• 1 c. shredded coconut
• 1 c. mini marshmallows
• 1 c. Vanilla Greek yogurt
• 2 Tbsp. finely chopped pecans

Instructions

1.  Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
2. Gently fold ingredients together until combined.
3. Refrigerate 2 hours or overnight to allow flavors to meld.