Ambrosia Salad

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Ambrosia salad is a sweet and fruity treat that’s perfect for any gathering. This classic recipe serves 8 people and takes just 15 minutes to prepare. You’ll love how easy it is to make this creamy, colorful dessert with simple ingredients like whipped cream, fruit, and marshmallows.

The best part is you can customize it to your tastes. Try adding chopped pecans or sliced bananas for extra flavor and texture. Make it ahead of time, but add the marshmallows right before serving for the best results.

Exact Ingredients List

Here’s what you’ll need to make this tasty Ambrosia Salad:

• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt (or vanilla)
• 1 cup shredded sweetened coconut
• 11 oz can mandarin oranges, drained
• 8 oz can pineapple tidbits, drained
• 1 cup maraschino cherries, drained
• 1 1/2 cups mini fruit-flavored marshmallows

You can also add some extra goodies if you like:

• Chopped pecans
• Sliced bananas
• Chopped apples

This recipe makes 8 servings and has about 236 calories per serving. It’s quick to make too – just 15 minutes to prep and 15 minutes total time.

Remember to drain your canned fruits really well. This helps keep your salad from getting too watery. You can make it ahead of time, but it’s best to add the marshmallows just before serving to keep them nice and fluffy.

Instructions

Start by whipping the cream. Pour 1 cup of heavy whipping cream into a large bowl or stand mixer. Beat it with electric beaters for 1-2 minutes.

Slowly add 1/4 cup powdered sugar while continuing to beat. Keep going until stiff peaks form. This means the cream will hold its shape when you lift the beaters.

Gently fold in 1/2 cup of plain Greek yogurt or vanilla yogurt. Be careful not to overmix.

Drain your canned fruits well. This is important to avoid a watery salad. Use 11 ounces of mandarin oranges, 8 ounces of pineapple tidbits, and 1 cup of maraschino cherries.

Add the drained fruit to a large serving bowl. Toss in 1 cup of shredded sweetened coconut and 1 1/2 cups of mini fruit-flavored marshmallows.

Fold the whipped cream mixture into the fruit. Be gentle to keep the fluffy texture.

Chill your ambrosia salad for at least 30 minutes before serving. This helps the flavors blend.

Want to mix it up? Try adding chopped pecans, sliced bananas, or chopped apples. These make tasty extras!

Possible Substitutes List

Can’t find all the ingredients for your ambrosia salad? Don’t worry! You have plenty of options to swap things out. Here are some tasty substitutes:

Fruits:

• Fresh oranges instead of canned mandarin oranges
• Fresh pineapple chunks for canned pineapple tidbits
• Grapes or strawberries in place of maraschino cherries

Creamy Base:

• Sour cream or vanilla pudding mix for Greek yogurt
• Cool Whip instead of homemade whipped cream

Sweeteners:

• Regular sugar or honey to replace powdered sugar

Add-ins:

• Chopped walnuts or almonds instead of pecans
• Mini chocolate chips for a fun twist

Other Ideas:

• Shredded unsweetened coconut + a bit more sugar
• Colored mini marshmallows for a festive look

Remember, these swaps might change the flavor a bit. But they’ll still give you a yummy ambrosia salad. Feel free to mix and match to make it your own!

How To Make It Diabetes-Friendly

To make Ambrosia Salad more suitable for people with diabetes, you can try these easy tweaks:

Use sugar-free whipped topping instead of heavy cream and powdered sugar. This cuts down on added sugars and calories.

Pick plain Greek yogurt over vanilla. It has less sugar and more protein.

Swap regular marshmallows for sugar-free ones. Or skip them entirely to reduce carbs.

Use fresh fruits instead of canned when possible. Drain canned fruits well to remove excess syrup.

Add more fiber with chopped nuts or unsweetened coconut flakes.

Try these diabetes-friendly ingredient swaps:

• 1 cup sugar-free whipped topping
• 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
• 1 cup fresh mandarin orange segments
• 1 cup fresh pineapple chunks
• 1/2 cup fresh cherries, pitted and halved
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Mix all ingredients gently in a large bowl. Chill for 30 minutes before serving. This version has fewer carbs and sugars while keeping the classic Ambrosia flavors you love.

Tips, Tricks & Storing

Drain your canned fruits well to avoid a watery salad. Use a colander and let them sit for a few minutes to remove excess liquid.

For the best texture, add marshmallows just before serving. This keeps them soft and fluffy.

Try different fruit combos! Mix in some chopped apples or sliced bananas for extra crunch and flavor.

Make your ambrosia salad ahead of time. It tastes even better after chilling in the fridge for a few hours.

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. Your salad will stay fresh for up to 3 days.

Want a lighter version? Use low-fat Greek yogurt instead of regular. You’ll still get that creamy texture.

Don’t overmix when adding the whipped cream. Gently fold it in to keep the salad light and fluffy.

For a festive touch, top your ambrosia with extra maraschino cherries before serving.

Customize your salad with nuts. Chopped pecans or slivered almonds add a nice crunch.

If you’re short on time, use store-bought whipped topping instead of making your own whipped cream.