Classic Ambrosia Salad Recipe (2024)

Is Ambrosia a side dish or dessert? Does it really matter? ... Because no matter how you choose to enjoy it, classic Ambrosia Salad is just plain good. With its creamy mix of mini marshmallows, whipped topping, coconut, and fruit it's just one of those dishes that's loved by all.
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Classic Ambrosia Salad Recipe (1)


So I'm curious - In your family, is Ambrosia Salad considered a side dish or dessert?

Because in our family we just can't quite seem to agree on that question.

Growing up in my family, we always considered Ambrosia Salad a side dish. It was served alongside the main meal, kind of like a fruit salad. In fact, I remember one of my favorite meals as a kid was Mom's Beef Stroganoff Casserole ... which was always, without fail, served up with a big bowl of 5-Cup Ambrosia Fruit Saladas a side.

But in my husband's family, it was a different story. To them, Ambrosia ... and any other form of the various fluff salads ... was decidedly a dessert. They didn't dig in to Ambrosia's fruity-sweet deliciousness until the main meal was over.

Is Ambrosia a side dish or dessert? Does it really matter? ... Because no matter how you choose to enjoy it,classic Ambrosia Saladis just plain good.

Now that I'm in charge of the meals for my own family, I don't specify what type of dish Ambrosia is or dictate when it's supposed to be eaten - I kind of leave that up to each of us to decide.

You want to eat it as a side dish alongside the main meal? - Sure, go for it! Rather save it for dessert? - No problem. That's fine, too.

But one thing's for sure ... No matter when you decide to enjoy it, Ambrosia's just plain good.

And one other thing's for sure, too ... this classic Ambrosia Salad recipe truly couldn't be much easier to make. Combine that fact with everyone's love for it, and it's a perfect dish to make for a potluck, Easter, Thanksgiving, or any everyday dinner.


Classic Ambrosia Salad Recipe (2)

The classic Ambrosia Salad recipe includes a combination of mandarin oranges, pineapple, and maraschino cherries as the traditional fruits.

To mix up a batch, drain all the fruits very well and mix them with mini marshmallows, a little bit of sour cream, and a whole lot of Cool Whip whipped topping. Then refrigerate everything for a few hours before serving, and that's all there is to it.

Super easy, right?

The classic Ambrosia Salad recipe includes a combination of mandarin oranges, pineapple, and maraschino cherries as the traditional fruits.

When preparing the ingredients, it is pretty important to make sure the fruits are very well drained. Leaving too much liquid or moisture in with the fruits will cause the finished Ambrosia to become soupy.

To get out as much moisture as possible, after I've drained the fruits I sometimes even blot them with a paper towel to absorb any liquid left on the surface.


Classic Ambrosia Salad Recipe (3)

For the pineapple, you can use any type you'd like - chunks, or crushed, or whatever.

I like to use pineapple tidbits the best because of their size. Tidbits just seem like a nice size to bite into. Pineapple chunks seem a little too big to me, and crushed pineapple seems to just disappear into Ambrosia's creamy mixture.

But any type will work just fine for the salad's flavor.

Classic Ambrosia Salad Recipe (4)


So I guess we're still left with the question, is this classic Ambrosia Salad recipe a side dish or a dessert?

And I guess I say, does it really matter?

Because no matter how you choose to enjoy it, Ambrosia isjust plain good.With its creamy mix of mini marshmallows, whipped topping, coconut, and fruit it just seems to be loved by all.And really, that's what truly matters!

Check out these other favorite fluff recipes:

  • 5-Cup Ambrosia Fruit Salad
  • Cherry Cheesecake Fluff
  • Lime Fluff (Old-Fashioned Sea Foam Salad)
  • Caramel Apple Fluff
  • Classic Orange Fluff
  • Green Fluff (Pistachio Watergate Salad)
  • Fruit co*cktail Fluff (Easy Ambrosia Salad)
  • Cherry Fluff Salad
  • Peach Fluff Salad
  • White Chocolate Cranberry Fluff
  • Pineapple Fluff
  • Moresalad recipes

Classic Ambrosia Salad Recipe (5)

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ambrosia, ambrosia salad, ambrosia recipe, fruit salad, fluff, fluff salad

Salads

Yield: 8-10 Servings

Author:Tracey | The Kitchen is My Playground

Classic Ambrosia Salad Recipe (6)

Classic Ambrosia Salad

Is Ambrosia a side dish or dessert? Does it really matter? ... Because no matter how you choose to enjoy it, classic Ambrosia Salad is just plain good. With its creamy mix of mini marshmallows, whipped topping, coconut, and fruit it's just one of those dishes that's loved by all.

prep time: 15 Mcook time: total time: 15 M

ingredients:

instructions:

How to cook Classic Ambrosia Salad

  1. Drain mandarin oranges, pineapple, and maraschino cherries very well. Pat cherries dry with a paper towel. Cut cherries in half.
  2. In a bowl, mix together pineapple, coconut, halved cherries, and mini marshmallows until combined. Gently fold in mandarin oranges (they’ll break up easily, so be gentle).
  3. In a small bowl, stir together sour cream and Cool Whip until just combined. Gently fold into fruit mixture.
  4. Chill at least 2 hours or overnight before serving.

https://www.thekitchenismyplayground.com/2019/03/classic-ambrosia-salad-recipe.html

Created using The Recipes Generator

You might also enjoy these other creamy fruit salad favorites:

Classic Ambrosia Salad Recipe (7)

5-Cup Ambrosia Fruit Salad

Classic Ambrosia Salad Recipe (8)

Cherry Fluff Salad

Classic Ambrosia Salad Recipe (9)

Peach Fluff Salad

Classic Ambrosia Salad Recipe (10)

Fruit Salad Cheesecake

Classic Ambrosia Salad Recipe (11)

Fruit co*cktail Fluff {aka: Easy Ambrosia Salad}

Classic Ambrosia Salad Recipe (12)

White Chocolate Cranberry Fluff Salad

Classic Ambrosia Salad Recipe (13)

Affiliatelinks are included in this post. I receive a small amount of compensation foranything purchased from these links,at Amazon.comClassic Ambrosia Salad Recipe (14)at no additional cost to you.

This post is linked withWeekend Potluck,Meal Plan Monday.

Classic Ambrosia Salad Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What was ambrosia made of? ›

Most ambrosia recipes contain canned (often sweetened) or fresh pineapple, canned mandarin orange slices or fresh orange sections, miniature marshmallows, and coconut. Other ingredients might include various fruits and nuts: maraschino cherries, bananas, strawberries, peeled grapes, or crushed pecans.

What country does ambrosia salad come from? ›

Ambrosia began appearing in cookbooks in the late 1800s when citrus fruit became more prevalent in markets across the United States. These early recipes were very simple, usually including only orange slices, coconut, and sugar layered in a glass dish.

What is a creamy fruit salad made of? ›

Mix pineapple juice and dry instant vanilla pudding together and set in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Mix the pineapple, fruit co*cktail, mandarin oranges, bananas & marshmallows together. Gently fold in pudding mixture. Lastly, fold in cool whip.

Why is it called ambrosia salad in the USA? ›

Ambrosia was so named for the food of the Greek and Roman gods. Its region of origin is lost to history. Its ties to the South are strong, though some believe it began in Vermont or elsewhere in New England.

What kind of fruit is an ambrosia? ›

Apple Origin. In the 1990's, a chance seedling appeared in an apple orchard in British Columbia, Canada. A few years later it bore its first fruit, now known as Ambrosia™: the food of the Gods!

What was ambrosia supposed to taste like? ›

According to Greek mythology, Ambrosia was responsible for granting the gods and goddesses immortality. Records show it tasted slightly like honey - although some ancient writers speculate that it is actually eight or nine times sweeter.

What is ancient ambrosia? ›

In the ancient Greek myths, ambrosia (/æmˈbroʊziə, -ʒə/, Ancient Greek: ἀμβροσία 'immortality') is the food or drink of the Greek gods, and is often depicted as conferring longevity or immortality upon whoever consumed it.

Why do people eat ambrosia salad? ›

The once hard-to-find ingredients were considered luxurious and exotic. The salad was a treat reserved for holidays and other special occasions, and named “ambrosia” after the food of the Greek and Roman gods.

Why is it called a Watergate salad? ›

Syndicated household advice columnists Anne Adams and Nan Nash-Cummings, in their "Anne & Nan" column of October 9, 1997, reported that name came from the similar "Watergate Cake" (which shares most of the same ingredients): "The recipes came out during the Watergate scandal.

Why is ambrosia so good? ›

Ambrosia apples have a thinner skin which means they're easy to bite into. This is great for the young and old – whether you're wearing dentures or breaking in your brand new teeth – Ambrosia apples are the better choice. For everyone else, the thinner skin just makes eating an Ambrosia apple that much more enjoyable.

What fruits should not be mixed in fruit salad? ›

What fruits should not be mixed in fruit salad? Avoid acidic fruits with sweet fruits. To have a nice balance in your fruit salad, it's best to keep acidic and sub-acidic fruits separate.

Why is my fruit salad mushy? ›

Making fruit salads is all about timing. Starting with fruit with firm (but not too firm) texture helps prevent mush. Summer fruit is phenomenal, but it also has a very short shelf life—and an even shorter window of optimal ripeness, usually one day max.

Why do people put sugar on fruit salad? ›

Sugar is hygroscopic, which means it attaches itself to water molecules, when you add sugar to your fruit salad, sugar will extract the juice from the fruit. This helps soften the fruit and makes it easier on the palate.

Is ambrosia good for you? ›

Ambrosia apples are part of a healthy diet but they also have specific properties that help to boost the immune system. For example, Ambrosia contain Quercetin. This flavanoid, like other antioxidants, supports immune efficiency by fighting off free-radicals.

How to make homemade salads taste good? ›

Do This to Make Restaurant-Quality Salads at Home
  1. Use the freshest ingredients. Pre-bagged salads may make life easier, but they taste kind of blah. ...
  2. Choose the right lettuce. ...
  3. Add some crunch. ...
  4. Add color. ...
  5. Include protein. ...
  6. Give it some bulk. ...
  7. Mix sweet with savory. ...
  8. Add herbs.
Jun 27, 2023

How to make your salads filling? ›

Add some fibre. Fruit and vegetables are great sources of fibre but if you want to 'beef' your salad up a bit try adding some chick peas, lentils, buckwheat, quinoa or other kind of bean such as butter, kidney or black.

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