If you’re looking for an easy, crowd-pleasing dish to serve at your next holiday dinner, ambrosia fruit salad is just the ticket.

This sweet, creamy concoction has been gracing holiday tables for generations and is always a hit, especially with kids who love the fruity, dessert-like taste.

Even though it’s served as a side dish, it could easily pass for dessert with its light, fluffy texture and irresistible sweetness.

Ambrosia Salad: A Sweet, Creamy Holiday Classic

When I was a kid, ambrosia salad wasn’t something I overthought—it was simply the best part of the holiday meal. The adults may have considered it a “salad,” but to me, it was a treat I couldn’t wait to dig into.

My mom mentioned once that her grandma used to make it for holiday dinners, and while it varied depending on what she had on hand, it always included grapes and walnuts. I never cared much about the specifics; I was just in it for the sweet, creamy goodness!

Now, as an adult, I’ve come to appreciate the simple beauty of ambrosia salad. One of the key ingredients that gives it that creamy texture is sour cream. It adds a slight tang that balances out the sweetness from the fruit and marshmallows, making it more than just another sugary dish.

Some variations swap the sour cream for yogurt, which brings a similar tang but a bit more smoothness. Either way, the result is a rich, creamy mixture that’s perfect for balancing out the other flavors on your holiday plate.

Ambrosia Recipe: The Easiest Dish You’ll Make, But the Hardest to Wait For!

Making ambrosia fruit salad couldn’t be simpler! Just mix your fruit, sour cream (or yogurt), and a few other ingredients together, and you’re almost done. It takes only minutes to prepare.

But here’s the catch—the hardest part is waiting 24 hours for the flavors to meld and the salad to reach its full, creamy, sweet potential. Letting it sit overnight in the fridge allows all the ingredients to combine into a delicious, cohesive dish.

The wait might be tough, but the payoff is an irresistible dessert-like side dish everyone will love!

Ambrosia Fruit Salad

Recipe by Jessie

Course: DessertDifficulty: Easy

Servings

8

servings

Prep time

10

minutes

This ambrosia fruit salad is a creamy, dreamy, and super easy dish that’s perfect for any occasion. Our ambrosia salad recipe combines tangy sour cream with marshmallows and tropical fruits for the ultimate dessert. It’s a must-try for lovers of fluff salad recipes.

Ingredients

• 1 can (15 oz) mandarin orange segments

• 1 can (15 oz) crushed pineapple or pineapple chunks

• 1 c sweetened flaked or shredded coconut

• 1/2 c maraschino cherries, halved or chopped

• 1.5 c miniature marshmallows

• 1/2 c sour cream

• 8 oz frozen dessert topping

• 1/2 chopped walnuts or pecans

Directions

• Thoroughly drain all canned fruit.
• Place all ingredients except mandarin oranges in a large bowl, and mix until well blended.
• Gently fold in mandarin orange segments (they break easily, so I leave these for last).
• Cover and refrigerate for 24 hours before serving.

Notes

• Nuts and maraschino cherries are definitely optional. I don’t particularly care for maraschino cherries, so I only use 1/2 cup – but if you like them, go crazy and add a full cup!

Perfect for Any Occasion

Whether you stick with the traditional version or customize it to your liking, ambrosia salad is always a hit. It’s simple to prepare, takes just a few minutes to toss together, and can be made ahead of time, making it perfect for busy holiday schedules. Plus, it adds a touch of nostalgia and sweetness to any meal—just the thing to bring smiles to everyone at the table.

Serve it as a side dish or dessert, and you’ll have a dish that people—especially the kids—will look forward to year after year!