This post may contain affiliate links.
Ambrosia Salad is the dreamy, fluffy fruit salad that shows up at every potluck and holiday table, with juicy pineapple, sweet mandarin oranges, cherries, coconut, and marshmallows folded into a light, creamy cloud. My grandma always made it, and now my kids beg for it *every single holiday*. If you love a fluffy fruit salad, do not miss our tropical cheesecake salad too.
A mix of whipped cream and sour cream gives this version a light, creamy texture with just the right tangy balance.
Ambrosia Salad Quick Look
- 🕒 Prep Time: 8 minutes
- 🌡️ Cook Time: No cook
- ⏳ Total Time: 1 hour 8 minutes
- 🍽️ Serving: 8 servings
- ⚡ Calories: 353kcal
- 🌶️ Flavor Profile: Sweet, creamy, fruity, and fluffy
- ✋ Difficulty: Easy, as simple as our banana pudding fluff
Quick Answer
To make ambrosia salad, whip heavy cream with powdered sugar to stiff peaks, then fold in sour cream for a light, tangy base. Gently fold in drained pineapple, mandarin oranges, maraschino cherries, and shredded coconut until everything is coated. Cover and chill for at least an hour so the flavors meld, then fold in the mini marshmallows right before serving so they stay soft and fluffy. Folding the marshmallows in last keeps them from dissolving and gives the salad its signature pillowy texture.
Jump to:
Why This Recipe Works
Click to see the technique science
- Real whipped cream. Whipping your own cream to stiff peaks gives the salad a light, fluffy texture you cannot get from a tub of whipped topping.
- Sour cream for balance. A little sour cream cuts the sweetness and adds a pleasant tang that keeps the salad from being one-note.
- Well-drained fruit. Draining the pineapple, oranges, and cherries well keeps the salad thick and creamy instead of watery.
- Marshmallows added last. Folding the marshmallows in right before serving keeps them soft and pillowy instead of dissolving into the cream.
- A chill before serving. An hour in the fridge lets the flavors meld together so every bite is creamy, fruity, and cohesive.
- Classic, crowd-pleasing flavors. Pineapple, mandarin, cherry, and coconut are the nostalgic combo everyone loves at potlucks and holidays.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It is light, fluffy, and full of sweet fruit, coconut, and marshmallows in every bite.
- It comes together in under 10 minutes of hands-on time, no cooking required.
- It is the ultimate potluck and holiday side, right alongside our tropical cheesecake salad.
Key Ingredients
A handful of pantry and fridge staples make this classic fluffy fruit salad. Here is what each one brings.
- Heavy Cream and Powdered Sugar: Whipped together, they create the light, sweet, fluffy base of the salad.
- Sour Cream: Adds a subtle tang that balances the sweetness and keeps the salad from being too rich.
- Pineapple, Mandarin Oranges, and Cherries: The sweet, juicy fruit trio that gives ambrosia its bright, classic flavor.
- Shredded Coconut: Brings that signature ambrosia flavor and a little chew to every bite.
- Mini Marshmallows: Folded in last for soft, pillowy bites that make it irresistibly fluffy.
See recipe card for exact quantities.
Variations and Substitutions
This classic is easy to make your own.
- Add more fruit: Sliced bananas, grapes, or fresh berries are all delicious stirred in.
- Add nuts: Chopped pecans or walnuts add a nice crunch.
- Use Greek yogurt: Swap the sour cream for vanilla Greek yogurt for a tangier, lighter version.
- Make it lighter: Use thawed whipped topping in place of the whipped cream and sour cream for a shortcut.
- Try another fluff: Love this style? Make our key lime pie fluff salad next.
How to Make Ambrosia Salad
- Place the heavy cream and powdered sugar in a large bowl and whip with an electric mixer to stiff peaks, being careful not to overmix.
- Gently fold in the sour cream until smooth and combined.
- Add the drained pineapple, mandarin oranges, cherries, and shredded coconut.
- Fold everything together gently until the fruit is evenly coated in the cream.
- Cover and chill for at least 1 hour. Just before serving, fold in the mini marshmallows.
- Serve immediately, garnished with a few extra cherries and a sprinkle of coconut if you like.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Drain the fruit very well and even pat it dry, so the salad stays thick and creamy instead of watery.
- Whip the cream to stiff peaks so the salad holds its light, fluffy texture.
- Add the marshmallows last, right before serving, so they stay soft and do not dissolve into the cream.
- Chill before serving for at least an hour to let the flavors come together.
- Use mini marshmallows for the best texture, they distribute evenly in every bite.
- Taste and adjust the sweetness with a little more powdered sugar if you like it sweeter.
- Make it a fruit-salad spread by serving it with our tropical fruit salad at your next potluck.
Serving Ideas and Suggestions
Ambrosia salad is a year-round favorite that shines at holidays, potlucks, and summer cookouts. Serve it chilled in a big bowl with extra cherries and coconut on top, and watch it disappear next to the ham or turkey.
It is part dessert, part side dish, and always a crowd-pleaser. Set it out alongside our banana pudding fluff and tropical fruit salad for a fun fluffy-salad bar.
Keep it cold until serving and stir it gently right before setting it out. It pairs beautifully with everything from holiday roasts to barbecue, just like our tropical cheesecake salad.
Ambrosia Salad FAQs
Classic ambrosia salad is a creamy fruit salad made with whipped cream, sour cream, pineapple, mandarin oranges, maraschino cherries, shredded coconut, and mini marshmallows. Some versions add nuts or other fruit, but this nostalgic combo is the most traditional.
Yes, you can make it a few hours ahead and keep it chilled. For the best texture, fold in the marshmallows right before serving so they stay soft and pillowy rather than dissolving into the cream over time.
Store it covered in the fridge for up to 3 days. The marshmallows will soften over time, but it still tastes great. Give it a gentle stir before serving, as a little liquid from the fruit may separate out.
Watery ambrosia usually means the canned fruit was not drained well enough. Drain the pineapple, oranges, and cherries thoroughly, and even pat them dry with paper towels, so all that extra juice does not thin out the cream.
Absolutely. For a shortcut, use about 2 cups of thawed whipped topping in place of the whipped cream and sour cream. The salad will be a little sweeter and slightly less tangy, but still light and delicious.
It is a little of both. Ambrosia is sweet enough to serve as a light dessert, but it traditionally appears as a side dish on holiday and potluck tables right alongside the savory dishes. Serve it however your family loves it best.
Love a fluffy fruit salad? Whip up our banana pudding fluff salad next for another potluck favorite.
If you love a creamy fruit salad, our make-ahead mandarin orange salad is a potluck classic.
If a retro fruit salad on the holiday table is your thing, my Christmas jello salad is the jiggly, festive cousin of this ambrosia salad.
Ambrosia Salad
Ingredients
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 4 tablespoons powdered sugar
- ½ cup sour cream
- 20 ounce can pineapple tidbits drained
- 15 ounce can mandarin oranges drained
- 10 ounces maraschino cherries without stems drained
- 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
- 1 ½ cups mini marshmallows
Instructions
- Place the heavy cream in a large bowl with the powdered sugar. Using an electric hand mixer, whip to stiff peaks, do not overmix.
- Fold in the sour cream.
- Add the pineapple, oranges, cherries, and coconut.
- Fold everything together until combined.
- Cover with plastic wrap and chill for 1 hour.
- Add the marshmallows and fold them in, and serve immediately.
Notes
- This recipe can easily be doubled.
- Other fruits can be added, see some suggestions above.
- If you want to give it more color, add the multi color mini marshmallows.
- We do not recommend freezing this recipe.
- If you are not a fan of sour cream, leave it out and add an extra 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream but no need to add additional powdered sugar.
- Nuts can be added to this recipe, it gives it a great texture contrast.
- This has to chill for at least an hour.
Nutrition
Love This Recipe?
Follow @ThisSillyGirlsKitchen on Instagram and @danadevolk on Pinterest for more!
Love this recipe; it takes me back to when I was stationed in Hawaii several years ago, where our neighbor would make this. I lost her recipe, even though I could remember most of the ingredients; I didn’t know the portions. This is very close to how I remember hers. Great find.