Ingredients
1 1/2 c. Cool Whip
1/2 c. sour cream
3 c. mini marshmallows
1 (15-oz.) can mandarin oranges, drained
1 c. chopped fresh pineapple
1 c. shredded coconut
3/4 c. halved maraschino cherries (stems removed), drained
3/4 c. toasted pecans
Preparation
Step 1In a large bowl, fold together Cool Whip and sour cream. Add oranges, pineapple, cherries, coconut, pecans, and marshmallows and stir gently. Step 2Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to overnight.
Why is it called “ambrosia” salad? Although this creamy fruit salad dish has Southern roots, the name “ambrosia” comes from Greek mythology. Ambrosia meant food of the gods, or immortality—Greek gods would eat ambrosia to give them strength and power. Now we can’t promise this ambrosia salad will give you godly strength, but it sure does taste heavenly. What is ambrosia salad made up of? If you grew up with this dish, your family probably has their own preferred version, with their own “must-have” ingredients. However, most recipes for this salad combine citrus fruit (often pineapple), coconut, and marshmallows with a creamy, tangy base. Our version starts with a Cool Whip and sour cream base to really get that tangy, sweet flavor. We then throw in mini marshmallows, mandarin oranges, pineapple, coconut, maraschino cherries and chopped pecans, before tossing it all together. We love the combo of contrasting textures and sweet flavors in every bite in this recipe, but this salad is nothing if not adaptable! Chopped apples are a classic in this dish, as are sliced grapes if you prefer a different fruit. Not a Cool Whip fan? Try using only sour cream, vanilla yogurt, or Greek yogurt! Can I make this in advance? Absolutely! This salad is an ideal make-ahead dish. Simply combine all of your ingredients, cover and refrigerate overnight, then serve when you’re ready the next day. Made this throwback salad? Let us know how it went in the comments below!
