Ambrosia Salad

Ambrosia Salad is a traditional American fruit salad. The word “ambrosia” is found in Greek mythology and refers to a food the gods eat. According to authors like Homer, ambrosia is what gave the gods longevity and immortality. Now, I can’t make those kind of promises about this recipe, but it is a delicious salad that kids and adults will love! It is one of those “salads” that is really more like a dessert. It is creamy, sweet, and bursting with flavor! Depending on where you are from it might be one of your Thanksgiving, Easter, or Christmas classics. You might have also seen it pop up at potlucks as a side dish.

Ingredients

Ambrosia Salad has a unique list of ingredients, but they all come together to create a sweet treat!

Fruit: Mandarin Oranges, Pineapple Tidbits, Maraschino Cherries – These three fruits create the base of the Ambrosia fruit salad. Fruit-flavored Mini Marshmallows – You’ll definitely want to use the colorful, fruit-flavored mini marshmallows for this recipe. Not only does it add flavor, but it add such fun color as well! Chopped Pecans – The nuts add a nice crunch to an otherwise soft and creamy dish. Sour Cream – Some people may be tempted to use something sweeter like Cool Whip or homemade whipped topping, but the sour cream gives it a tangy flavor that compliments the sweetness of the fruit. If you are just dying for some more sweetness, you can stir in some vanilla extract as well. Optional: Sweetened Coconut Shreds – Almost every Ambrosia salad recipe you will find has coconut, but we have some coconut haters in the family so I usually have to leave it out.

Preparing the Fruit

The most important step in this recipe is to drain the fruit. If you leave too much liquid in, the sour cream won’t stick to the fruit and you’ll have a mess on your hands. Pour the fruit into a strainer and really let the liquid run off. If using fresh fruit, let it sit in a bowl for about 10 minutes and then drain off any excess liquid.

Possible Variations for Ambrosia Salad

Since Ambrosia Salad is such a simple recipe, but there are many ways to make it your own! Below are some ideas, but if you have any of your own, let us know in the comments below! 

Fruits: Add banana, strawberries, or peeled grapes. You can also use fresh fruit as opposed to canned. Use sliced tangerines and sliced fresh pineapple. Nuts: Instead of pecans, you can use walnuts or pistachios. Sour Cream: If the sour cream just isn’t working for you, you can try Greek yogurt or whipped cream.

More Sweet Salad Recipes

These recipes, like Ambrosia Salad, are more of a dessert than a salad, but we don’t care! They are delicious and both adults and kids love them!

Waldorf SaladWatergate SaladSnickers Apple SaladBlueberry Jello SaladStrawberry Pretzel SaladGrape Salad with Coconut ToppingEasy Fruit Salad

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