Ambrosia Salad Recipe with Cool Whip
Classic ambrosia salad with with cool whip, fruit and marshmallows is perfect for your upcoming picnic. Kid friendly with just the right amount of sweet, this is the best ambrosia salad recipe that will remind you of what grandma used to make!
Servings: 6
Calories: 254kcal
Ingredients
- 15 oz. Mandarin Oranges drained well
- 20 oz. pineapple chunks drained well
- 12 oz. jar of maraschino cherries drained well
- 3/4 cup vanilla Greek yogurt 6 oz container
- 1 cup coconut
- 1 cup mini marshmallows
- 8 oz. tub Cool Whip whipped topping thawed
- crunchy pecans chopped / optional
Instructions
- Preparation of Fruits: Start by draining your Mandarin oranges, pineapple chunks, and maraschino cherries. It is important to get as much juice out of them as possible so the ambrosia salad isn't watery. Watch the cherries for unwanted stems; they sometimes show up in the jars.
- Mixing the Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the drained Mandarin oranges, pineapple chunks, and maraschino cherries.
- Add Vanilla Greek yogurt, shredded coconut, and mini marshmallows to the bowl. Mix these ingredients thoroughly until they're well combined.
- Incorporating the Whipped Topping: Gently fold in the whipped topping using a spatula. This ensures a light and airy texture in your ambrosia salad. No need to overmix.
- Optional Tip: During the fall, various flavored whipped toppings are available. Try using a flavored Cool Whip, such as the Birthday Cake flavor, for a unique twist!
- Chilling the Salad: Transfer the ambrosia salad into an airtight container. Refrigerate the salad until ready to serve. We suggest a minimum of 1 hour; however, it can be served instantly. As a side note, this dessert salad can be prepared ahead of time for convenience and parties.
- Serving the Ambrosia Salad: Before serving, give ambrosia a good stir. This prevents any fruit, juice from the fruit, or whipped topping from settling at the bottom.
- If preferred, top with chopped pecans for a bit of crunch (We recommend - but do not do this before serving, or the nuts will soften in the fridge).
Video
Notes
Perfecting Your Ambrosia Salad
Toppings for Texture: If you're a fan of crunch, sprinkle chopped pecans or walnuts on top of the salad just before serving.
Play with Yogurt Flavors: While vanilla yogurt provides the perfect taste and texture, don't be afraid to experiment! Strawberry or cherry yogurts are also great for fruit salads like this.
Preparation and Timing: For the best taste, prepare the Ambrosia Salad at least an hour beforehand. However, letting it sit in the refrigerator for up to four hours can enhance fluffiness.
Fruit Variations: Feel free to include fresh fruits or even additional of the canned fruits that we listed. Fresh halved grapes, bananas, or kiwi all work. Just remember that certain fresh fruits change colors when oxidized (like bananas), so it's best to add fresh fruits right before serving.
Presentation: Serve Ambrosia Salad in individual dessert glasses or bowls with some extra (non-mixed in) cherries on top.
Nutrition
Serving: 1Servings | Calories: 254kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 42mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 39g