Classic Ambrosia Salad Recipe: An Easy, No-Bake Vintage Dessert for Any Occasion
Growing up, certain dishes were undisputed staples at every family gathering, and Ambrosia Salad was undeniably one of them. Its vibrant colors, creamy texture, and delightful combination of sweet fruits and fluffy marshmallows made it an instant hit. This beloved no-bake dessert consistently graced holiday tables, potlucks, barbecues, and all sorts of family get-togethers. It holds a special place in many hearts, evoking cherished memories of simpler times and shared meals, truly the kind of dish that disappears quickly with everyone vying for the last scoop.
Alongside other cherished family recipes, like our Grandma’s Watergate Salad, Ambrosia Salad is a timeless creation that continues to charm generations with its simplicity and irresistible flavor. It’s more than just a dessert; it’s a slice of culinary history and a symbol of gathering.
Unlock the Charm of This Vintage Ambrosia Salad Dessert Recipe
The beauty of Ambrosia Salad lies in its versatility and ease of preparation. While many versions exist – some featuring sour cream for a tangy kick, others cream cheese for richness, and still others a blend of creamy bases – the core appeal remains the same: a delightful medley of fruits. For many, including us, a generous amount of juicy maraschino cherries is non-negotiable! This popular no-bake dessert is incredibly quick and easy to whip up, making it the perfect bring-along dish when you need something delicious in a short amount of time.
Whether you’re hosting a holiday feast, attending a casual backyard barbecue, or simply craving a refreshing and sweet treat, this Ambrosia Salad recipe is your go-to. It’s a dish that not only satisfies a sweet tooth but also brings a touch of nostalgic charm to any table. Its simple ingredients and straightforward steps ensure a foolproof dessert every time, promising smiles all around.
If you’re searching for an easy yet extremely satisfying dessert that everyone is bound to enjoy, then this Ambrosia Salad is the one for you! Our recipe is packed with the delightful sweetness of mandarin oranges, the tangy bite of pineapple tidbits, a colorful fruit cocktail, soft miniature marshmallows, and, of course, those essential maraschino cherries. All these vibrant ingredients are gently folded into a creamy, dreamy blend enhanced by a simple Jell-O pudding mix, Cool Whip, and sour cream. This dessert truly has all the flavorful punches you’re craving, offering a perfect balance of sweet, creamy, and fruity goodness.
YOU MIGHT LIKE THIS TOO: Grandma’s Cherry Fluff
Simple Ingredients for a Delightful Ambrosia Salad
One of the best aspects of Ambrosia Salad is its reliance on readily available ingredients, many of which you might already have in your pantry. The combination of canned fruits ensures consistency and makes preparation a breeze, while the creamy base adds a luscious texture that complements the fruit beautifully. Here’s what you’ll need to create this classic:
- 1 (29-ounce) can fruit cocktail, drained
- 1 (8-ounce) can pineapple tidbits, drained
- 1 (11-ounce) can mandarin oranges, drained
- 1/2 cup maraschino cherries, drained and rinsed
- 1 (1-ounce) box cheesecake flavor Sugar-Free Jell-O pudding (unprepared)
- 4 ounces sour cream
- 16-ounce container Cool Whip (thawed)
- 1 cup miniature marshmallows
These ingredients come together to form a harmonious blend that is both refreshing and indulgent. The cheesecake pudding mix, though sugar-free, adds a subtle depth of flavor and helps thicken the creamy base without needing any cooking, further simplifying this no-bake wonder.
Helpful Kitchen Tools for Easy Preparation
While this recipe is incredibly straightforward, having a few basic kitchen tools on hand can make the process even smoother and more enjoyable. You don’t need fancy equipment, but these items will ensure you’re prepared:
- Pretty Dessert Dishes: While not strictly necessary for taste, serving Ambrosia Salad in attractive dessert dishes or a beautiful glass bowl elevates the presentation, especially for special occasions. Simple bowls or cups from your cabinet will work just fine, and for casual parties, paper or plastic bowls are perfectly acceptable!
- Measuring Cups and Spoons: Every cook, whether amateur or experienced, needs a reliable set of measuring cups and spoons. They are absolutely essential for accurately portioning ingredients in both cooking and baking and are generally inexpensive.
- Mixing Bowls: It’s always helpful to have a separate set of mixing bowls for prep, distinct from your serving bowls. This prevents constant washing if you only have a couple, allowing for a more efficient cooking process. A large mixing bowl is particularly useful for combining all the ingredients for Ambrosia Salad.
- Rubber Spatula: A good rubber spatula is invaluable for scraping down the sides of bowls, folding ingredients gently, and ensuring everything is thoroughly combined without deflating the Cool Whip or crushing the delicate fruits.
Making Ambrosia Salad: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide
Preparing this Ambrosia Salad is wonderfully straightforward, requiring no cooking and minimal effort. The key to a perfect result is proper drainage of the fruits and gentle mixing to maintain the fluffy texture. Follow these simple steps for a creamy, delightful dessert:
- Prepare the Fruit: Begin by thoroughly draining all your canned fruits – the fruit cocktail, pineapple tidbits, and mandarin oranges. This step is crucial to prevent your salad from becoming watery. If your fruit was packed in heavy syrup, it’s highly recommended to rinse it in cold water and then drain it again completely. This removes excess sweetness and stickiness, allowing the natural fruit flavors to shine.
- Combine Fruits: In a large mixing bowl, gently combine the well-drained fruit cocktail, pineapple tidbits, mandarin oranges, and maraschino cherries. Ensure the cherries are also well-drained and rinsed to prevent their red color from bleeding too much into the creamy base.
- Add Pudding Mix: Evenly sprinkle the cheesecake-flavored pudding mix over the fruit mixture. Stir gently but thoroughly to coat all the fruit. The dry pudding mix will gradually dissolve and contribute to the creamy texture and flavor of the dressing.
- Incorporate Creamy Base: Next, add the sour cream and the thawed Cool Whip to the fruit mixture. Stir them in gently until everything is well combined and you have a smooth, creamy dressing coating all the fruits. Avoid overmixing, as you want to maintain the light and airy texture of the Cool Whip.
- Fold in Marshmallows and Chill: Finally, gently fold in the miniature marshmallows. These add an extra layer of sweetness and a delightful chewy texture. Once the marshmallows are incorporated, cover the bowl and chill the Ambrosia Salad in the refrigerator for at least one hour before serving. Chilling allows the flavors to meld beautifully and the salad to firm up slightly, creating that perfect cool and refreshing dessert experience.
Customizing Your Ambrosia Salad: Substitutions and Variations
One of the joys of Ambrosia Salad is how easily it can be adapted to personal preferences or whatever you have on hand. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different fruits and creamy bases to make it truly your own!
Fruit Variations for Ambrosia Salad
While our recipe calls for canned fruit cocktail, pineapple tidbits, and mandarin oranges, you have plenty of options to customize the fruit component. Each choice will bring a slightly different texture and flavor profile to your ambrosia:
Canned vs. Fresh: The convenience of canned fruit is undeniable; it’s pre-chopped, consistently soft, and ready to go. The fruit cocktail typically includes peaches, pears, grapes, pineapple, and cherries, offering a good base. However, if you prefer, you can certainly use all fresh fruit. Just ensure your fresh fruit is perfectly ripe for the best flavor and texture. For fresh pineapple, you’ll need to peel, core, and dice it. For oranges, segment them and remove all pith. Fresh grapes can be halved, and fresh cherries should be pitted.
Popular Additions: Beyond the core fruits, Ambrosia Salad is often enhanced with other delicious ingredients. Flaked coconut is a classic addition, providing a lovely chewiness and tropical flavor. Many also enjoy mixing in fresh or frozen (thawed) strawberries, sliced bananas (add just before serving to prevent browning), blueberries, or even kiwi for a tart contrast. Some recipes even include a handful of chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts for an added crunch, though this can make it less allergy-friendly for potlucks.
Exploring Different Creamy Topping Bases
Our recipe uses a simple combination of powdered cheesecake pudding mix, Cool Whip, and sour cream, creating a light, sweet, and tangy dressing. However, the creamy base is another area where you can easily experiment:
Beyond Cool Whip and Sour Cream: Many vintage ambrosia salad recipes use different creamy elements. Some popular variations include:
- Cottage Cheese: For a more savory and protein-rich version, cottage cheese can be used. It gives the salad a unique texture and a slight tang.
- Cream Cheese: Softened cream cheese, often blended with a little milk or whipped cream, creates a richer, denser, and slightly tangier dressing, leaning more towards a cheesecake-like consistency.
- Yogurt: For a lighter, tangier, and often healthier option, plain or vanilla yogurt (Greek or regular) can be used. It provides a refreshing tartness that cuts through the sweetness of the fruit.
- Mayonnaise: While less common today, some older recipes famously (or infamously, depending on your palate!) included mayonnaise, which gives the salad a distinct savory-sweet profile.
- Fresh Whipped Cream: If you prefer to avoid Cool Whip, you can easily substitute it with freshly whipped heavy cream, sweetened to taste. This offers a more luxurious and natural dairy flavor.
Each of these substitutions will alter the overall flavor and texture of your Ambrosia Salad, allowing you to tailor it to your exact liking.
The Story Behind the Name: Why is it Called Ambrosia?
The name “Ambrosia” itself adds a layer of mystique and grandeur to this humble fruit salad. We’re not entirely sure who first coined the name for this dessert, but it’s widely believed to be a playful nod to Greek mythology.
In ancient Greek myths, ambrosia was described as the “food of the Gods” – a divine substance that granted immortality to those who consumed it. It was said to be incredibly fragrant and delicious, reserved only for the deities of Mount Olympus. When Ambrosia Salad originated in the late 19th century, particularly gaining popularity in the Southern United States, it seems someone felt this vibrant, sweet, and delightful concoction was truly worthy of such a lofty title. The combination of exotic (for the time) fruits like oranges and coconuts, along with sweet cream, must have seemed like a truly heavenly treat, fit for the gods themselves.
This charming origin story only adds to the allure of Ambrosia Salad, making it not just a dessert but a taste of history and myth combined.
We hope you thoroughly enjoy preparing and sharing this yummy, colorful no-bake dessert. Its timeless appeal ensures there will be no leftovers, only happy faces and requests for the recipe! 🙂
More Vintage Recipes to Explore
If you’re a fan of classic, nostalgic dishes that bring back fond memories and delight crowds, you’ll love these other vintage recipes:
- Vintage Watergate Salad
- Wacky Cake
- Vintage Square Dance Party Cake
- June in January Cake
- 1963 Homemade White Bread
- Vintage Lazy Daisy Cake
Ambrosia Salad
IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
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Ingredients
- 29 ounces fruit cocktail drained
- 8 ounces pineapple tidbits drained
- 11 ounce mandarin oranges drained
- 1/2 cup maraschino cherries drained and rinsed
- 1 ounce cheesecake Sugar Free Jell-O pudding unprepared
- 4 ounces sour cream
- 16 ounces Cool Whip
- 1 cup miniature marshmallows
Things You’ll Need
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Dessert dishes
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Measuring cups and spoons
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Mixing bowls
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Rubber spatula
Before You Begin
- Pretty dessert dishes are a great way to elevate your presentation, but any simple bowls or cups will work just fine. For larger gatherings, feel free to use paper or plastic bowls for convenience!
Instructions
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Drain all canned fruit thoroughly. If the fruit was packed in syrup, rinse it in cold water and drain again to remove excess sweetness.
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In a large bowl, combine the drained fruit cocktail, pineapple tidbits, mandarin oranges, and maraschino cherries. Sprinkle the cheesecake-flavored pudding mix over the fruit and stir gently to coat all the pieces. Add the sour cream and thawed Cool Whip, then stir well until fully combined and creamy.
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Gently fold in the miniature marshmallows. Cover the bowl and chill the Ambrosia Salad in the refrigerator for at least one hour before serving to allow flavors to meld and the dessert to set.
Nutrition
The recipes on this blog are tested with a conventional gas oven and gas stovetop. It’s important to note that some ovens, especially as they age, can cook and bake inconsistently. Using an inexpensive oven thermometer can assure you that your oven is truly heating to the proper temperature. If you use a toaster oven or countertop oven, please keep in mind that they may not distribute heat the same as a conventional full sized oven and you may need to adjust your cooking/baking times. In the case of recipes made with a pressure cooker, air fryer, slow cooker, or other appliance, a link to the appliances we use is listed within each respective recipe. For baking recipes where measurements are given by weight, please note that results may not be the same if cups are used instead, and we can’t guarantee success with that method.
This post was originally published on this blog on May 25, 2014. It has been updated and expanded to provide more comprehensive information and tips for making this beloved vintage dessert.