5 from 18 votes
Best Recipe for Ambrosia
Best Recipe for Ambrosia is a creamy fruit salad mixing whipped topping, sour cream, instant vanilla pudding, shredded coconut, nuts, and a variety of sweet fruits including mandarin oranges, pineapple, and maraschino cherries, with mini marshmallows folded in for texture. The result is a rich, sweet, and fluffy dessert salad often served chilled, combining creamy, fruity, nutty, and soft elements.
Prep Time
5 mins
Total Time
5 mins
Servings:
8
Calories:
467 kcal
Course:
Salad
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- 1 (8-oz) tub Cool Whip regular or lite (thawed)
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 (3.4-oz) box instant vanilla pudding mix goes in the salad as dry powder
- 1 cup coconut sweetened shredded
- 1 cup nuts I used walnuts. Pecans are good too, chopped
- 2 cups mini marshmallows
- 2 (15-oz) cans mandarin orange drained well
- 1 (8-oz) can pineapple slightly drained (reserve juice, crushed
- 1 (14-oz) jar maraschino cherries drained well
Instructions
- In a large bowl, add cool whip, milk, sour cream, and pudding mix.
- Add the coconut, nuts, and marshmallows. Stir well.
- Add the mandarin oranges, crushed pineapple, and cherries. Gently fold in the fruit.
- Add some of the reserved pineapple juice if it seems thick. (This is just personal preference)
- Serve immediately. Or cover and chill until you are ready to serve. You can make it up to 24 hours in advance.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- This ambrosia salad can be made up to 24 hours in advance and kept chilled for best flavor and texture.
- Adjust thickness by adding reserved pineapple juice if desired for a looser consistency.
- Consider substituting pistachio pudding mix for vanilla to create a flavor variation.
Nutrition Information
Serving
1serving
Calories
467kcal
(23%)
Carbohydrates
76g
(25%)
Protein
5g
(10%)
Fat
19g
(29%)
Saturated Fat
7g
(35%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
7g
(41%)
Monounsaturated Fat
3g
(15%)
Cholesterol
13mg
(4%)
Potassium
388mg
(8%)
Fiber
6g
(24%)
Sugar
62g
(124%)
Vitamin A
915IU
(18%)
Vitamin C
31mg
(34%)
Calcium
143mg
(14%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 8 Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 467
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1serving | |
| Calories | 467kcal | 23% |
| Carbohydrates | 76g | 25% |
| Protein | 5g | 10% |
| Fat | 19g | 29% |
| Saturated Fat | 7g | 35% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 7g | 41% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Cholesterol | 13mg | 4% |
| Potassium | 388mg | 8% |
| Fiber | 6g | 24% |
| Sugar | 62g | 124% |
| Vitamin A | 915IU | 18% |
| Vitamin C | 31mg | 34% |
| Calcium | 143mg | 14% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.