Ambrosia salad, commonly referred to as 5 cup salad, is a simple side dish to prepare (or even dessert).
This sweet salad, which only requires five ingredients and one cup of each, is a Christmas staple.
My grandmother’s holiday dinner table was a regular place to serve this Ambrosia Salad recipe.
This side dish recipe (also known as 5-Cup salad) is a fluffy “salad” that isn’t a salad at all. It features a creamy base with coconut shreds, pineapple, oranges, and small marshmallows.
Ambrosia Salad: What is it?
A traditional ambrosia salad is appropriate for Easter, Thanksgiving, and potlucks.
So what is that fruit salad with marshmallows exactly? Ambrosia is a delectable side dish that means “food of the gods.” Despite being named a salad, this dish is more akin to one for dessert.
Initially, a creamy base is added, followed by:
- lemon oranges
- pineapple snacks
- little marshmallows
- coconut
Recipe Variations for Ambrosia
Countless combinations can be used in this recipe.
- Sour cream or Greek yogurt, which both get their sweetness from marshmallows, serves as the base in this recipe. Vanilla yogurt, cream cheese, or even whipped topping (like Cool Whip) or whipped cream are other options. Although some versions have cottage cheese, we like a smooth texture.
- Aside from the above, you may also try maraschino cherries or nuts like pecans or walnuts.
- Mandarin oranges and pineapple can be exchanged for peaches or a canned fruit cocktail.
- If you’d like, omit the cans and substitute fresh fruit instead, such as strawberries, blueberries, bananas, grapes, and/or bananas!
Ambrosia Salad Recipe
If you’re short on time, Ambrosia Fruit Salad is a fantastic side dish to make!
- Drain all of the oranges and pineapple (per the recipe below).
- In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients and gently fold.
- Allow chilling for at least 4 hours in the refrigerator.
Notes & Advice
- Make careful to prepare this salad in advance so it has time to set; doing so will let the flavors meld and the marshmallows soften, adding sweetness to the dish.
- To prevent the meal from being watery, thoroughly drain all fruit ingredients.
- The mandarin oranges should be added last and folded gently because they are prone to breaking.
- You can use plain or Greek yogurt in place of sour cream.
Ambrosia Salad
The finest recipe for ambrosia salad is this one. It is simple to prepare, isn’t excessively sweet, and is a staple at our holiday dinners!
five minutes to prepare
Rest period: 4 hours 4 hours 5 minutes in total portions:8 portions |
Ingredients
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup mini marshmallows white or fruit flavored
- Also, 1 cup of coconut
- 1 cup canned pineapple tidbits well drained
- 1 cup canned mandarin orange segments drained
Instructions
- In a big bowl, combine all the ingredients by folding.
- Place in the fridge for at least 4 hours or overnight.
- Offer chilled.
Notes
Make careful to prepare this salad in advance so it has time to set; doing so will let the flavors meld and the marshmallows soften, adding sweetness to the dish.
To prevent the meal from being watery, thoroughly drain all fruit ingredients.
The mandarin oranges should be added last and folded gently because they are prone to breaking.
You can use plain or Greek yogurt in place of sour cream.
Nutrition information
Calories: 150 | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 29mg | Potassium: 225mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 296IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 62mg | Iron: 1mg