Description
A delightful and creamy ambrosia salad with a touch of citrus and toasted nuts, perfect for holidays or any gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
- 16 oz Cool Whip or whipped topping
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 cans (11 oz each) mandarin oranges, drained
- 2 cans (20 oz each) pineapple chunks, drained
- 2 cups red or green grapes, halved
- 20 oz maraschino cherries, drained and halved
- 2 cups sweetened coconut flakes, toasted (optional)
- 4 cups mini marshmallows
- 1½ cups chopped pecans, toasted
- Zest of 1 orange
- 2 cups fresh strawberries, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, gently fold together the Cool Whip and sour cream until smooth and fluffy.
- Gently stir in the drained mandarin oranges, pineapple chunks, halved grapes, halved maraschino cherries, optional strawberries, and orange zest.
- Fold in the sweetened coconut flakes, mini marshmallows, and toasted chopped pecans until evenly distributed.
- Cover the bowl tightly and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or preferably overnight, to allow flavors to meld and marshmallows to soften.
- Before serving, give the salad one last gentle stir.
- Serve cold.
Notes
- For a tropical twist, add diced mango, kiwi, and passionfruit pulp.
- For a berry version, use blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries instead of strawberries and mandarin oranges.
- For a lighter option, substitute Greek yogurt for sour cream and use unsweetened coconut flakes.
- Add a splash of rum extract for a piña colada flavor.
- If you don’t like pecans, substitute with walnuts or slivered almonds, or use sunflower seeds for a nut-free option.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 minutes (for toasting nuts and coconut, if desired)
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Approximately 1/2 cup
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 50mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 5mg
Keywords: Creamy Ambrosia Salad Deluxe, ambrosia salad, fruit salad, creamy salad, holiday salad, potluck salad, southern ambrosia salad, vintage ambrosia salad, deluxe ambrosia salad