4.5 from 6 votes
Ambrosia Salad Recipe
Ambrosia Salad is a unique, sweet and creamy fruit salad with pineapple, mandarin oranges, grapes and maraschino cherries with coconut, Cool whip, sour cream, and pecans!
Prep Time
10 mins
Total Time
10 mins
Servings: 8
Calories: 289 kcal
Course:
Dessert , Salad
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- 1 (8-ounce container) Cool Whip
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 cup sweetened coconut (shredded)
- 3 cups miniature marshmallows (colored is fun)
- 1 1/2 cups pineapple tidbits (well drained)
- 1 (11-ounce can) mandarin oranges (drained)
- 1 cup green grapes (halved)
- 1 cup Maraschino cherries (halved)
- 3/4 cup pecans (lightly chopped)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients and stir well.
- Refrigerate salad until ready to serve.
- You can reserve a few mandarin oranges and maraschino cherries to decorate the top of the salad.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Usually in many recipes you could get away with substituting another cream-based ingredient for the likes of sour cream or the Cool whip called for in this recipe but I strongly advise that you don’t use anything such cream cheese, cottage cheese, Greek yogurt, or heavy cream in this dessert salad - it’s going to impact on the overall taste and texture.
- While you may think that canned fruit cocktail is an easy and convenient alternative to use in this recipe, I recommend that you stick with fresh fruit prepared by yourself. It’s going to taste much better and will also last longer, having a firmer texture to the fruit than a canned fruit cocktail that has been sitting in simple syrup.
- Unsweetened Coconut. If you’d like to reduce the overall sweetness in this dessert salad, use unsweetened shredded coconut.
- Fruitful. Other fruits can be used in this dessert salad such as bananas. If you don’t enjoy grapes, simply omit them. Regular oranges can also be used instead of Mandarin oranges.
- Toasty. Toast the shredded coconut for a deeper nutty flavor in this Ambrosia salad.
- Go Nuts. While I’ve used pecans, walnuts or almonds can be used instead.
- Serving Bowl. Serve your Ambrosia salad in a large clear bowl or in single shallow glasses for special occasions such as Christmas.
Nutrition Information
Calories
289kcal
(14%)
Carbohydrates
45g
(15%)
Protein
2g
(4%)
Fat
13g
(20%)
Saturated Fat
5g
(25%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
2g
Monounsaturated Fat
5g
Cholesterol
7mg
(2%)
Sodium
59mg
(2%)
Potassium
195mg
(6%)
Fiber
4g
(16%)
Sugar
36g
(72%)
Vitamin A
144IU
(3%)
Vitamin C
5mg
(6%)
Calcium
49mg
(5%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 8Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 289
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 289kcal | 14% |
| Carbohydrates | 45g | 15% |
| Protein | 2g | 4% |
| Fat | 13g | 20% |
| Saturated Fat | 5g | 25% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2g | 12% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 5g | 25% |
| Cholesterol | 7mg | 2% |
| Sodium | 59mg | 2% |
| Potassium | 195mg | 4% |
| Fiber | 4g | 16% |
| Sugar | 36g | 72% |
| Vitamin A | 144IU | 3% |
| Vitamin C | 5mg | 6% |
| Calcium | 49mg | 5% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.