Best Ambrosia Salad Recipe - Fresh April Flours (2024)

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An easy dessert salad filled with mandarin oranges, crushed pineapple, and sweet maraschino cherries, in a creamy marshmallow sauce.

If you’re anything like me, this traditional ambrosia salad immediately makes you think of potlucks, holiday gatherings, family reunion picnics, and maybe even more specifically those of your childhood.

This super simple recipe uses pre-made, canned ingredients which means it comes together in a snap. It also needs to “marinate” in the refrigerator for a few hours, so it’s perfect for preparing ahead of time. And the best part is, it’s a completely no bake dessert so it’s a great option for holidays when that oven space and time is precious.

What makes this the BEST Recipe for Ambrosia Salad

This recipe has been made for and by me dozens of times, as it’s a recipe from my dear mother-in-law. Her ambrosia, cornbread, and snowball cookies were the 3 recipes that I have adopted into my own baking collection. It’s sweet, slightly crunchy, full of flavor, and the way the marshmallows soften from the liquid makes them extra fun to eat!

Ambrosia Salad Recipe ingredients

So what makes my ambrosia dessert healthier? A few things. First off, we’re using mandarin oranges that have been canned in pear juice. Not heavy or light syrup, and not in any sort of artificial sweetener.

In fact, you’re welcome to cut your own oranges here, but part of the idea here is easy lighter sides for summer.

But you do you!

Next up, crushed pineapple. I prefer crushed because it spreads the texture and the flavor of the pineapple all over the salad. I’ve had it with chunks, and I just like how the crushed works overall in this style of ambrosia.

Lastly for the fruit: maraschino cherries.

Again, go for the real deal and use bing cherries if you’d like, because maraschino cherries are one of the last things I would call “healthy,” (especially when they’re in cookies!) but hey– we’restill going for easy here!

The last parts of this ambrosia salad are plain Greek yogurt and mini marshmallows. Many ambrosia recipes call for some sort of sweetened whipped topping (don’t even get me started on ambrosia salad with Cool Whip *BARF*), sweetened shredded coconut, and/or vanilla or other flavored yogurt.

All of that is totally unnecessary sugar.

While we can’t exactly do ambrosia without marshmallows, we can use plain Greek yogurt (OR sour cream) and allow the mixture to sit for at least 8 hours before serving it.

How to make Ambrosia Dessert

1. Place all of fruit and the yogurt into a large bowl. Stir to combine.
2. Add the mini marshmallows and stir to distribute evenly.
3. Cover bowl and chill in the refrigerator at least 8 hours.

That “soaking” for the marshmallows does wonders for distributing that sweetness without having to add anything else.

Ambrosia Recipe variations

ADD NUTS: I often see ambrosia with walnuts or pistachios, though you can really use any kind of nut you like or think would suit your tastebuds. Add about 1 cup of coarsely chopped nuts, and you can toast them before adding them if desired.

SWAP OUT OTHER FRUIT: don’t love one of the fruits suggested? It’s totally fine to swap them out or double up on what’s already there. Just try to stick to the same amount of total fruit added so the proportions stay the same.

ADD COCONUT: sweetened shredded coconut is often a traditional ingredient in ambrosia salad. Add 1 cup of shredded coconut to the salad when you add the marshmallows.

USE GREEK YOGURT INSTEAD: want a lighter version? I have made this many times with plain or vanilla Greek or regular yogurt. The taste is a little different but still delicious!

Serving this Classic Ambrosia Salad Recipe

Once your ambrosia dessert has “marinated” for 8 hours, it’s ready to serve.

This dessert salad is best served cold. While it is on the sweet side and typically served as a dessert in our house, I have seen it served as a side dish.

How to store this Recipe for Ambrosia Salad

Ambrosia salad should be stored covered tightly in the refrigerator.

How long does Ambrosia Dessert last in the refrigerator?

Since the liquid in this ambrosia will break down the marshmallows, it’s best eaten within 5 days.

Can you freeze Ambrosia Salad?

Yes, you can absolutely freeze ambrosia salad, but keep in mind that this will alter the texture of the marshmallows when thawed.

Can you make Ambrosia Salad the night before?

You can absolutely make ambrosia salad the night before you want to serve it! In fact, it needs to sit for a few hours to marinate and soak the marshmallows anyway, so it’s the perfect dish for making ahead of time.

Best Ambrosia Salad Recipe FAQs

If you’ve never had this sweet, creamy, texture-ful salad, you’re totally missing out! Plus, if you’ve got leftover fruit that you think might go well with oranges, pineapple, and cherries, add ’em to the bunch and make your ambrosia ála you!

Strawberries, pears, peaches, raspberries… Remix it up because summer is all about the fun!