If you need a quick and easy fruit dish for your next dinner, this Ambrosia Fruit Salad is perfect. Just mix the canned fruit, marshmallows, and Cool Whip in a bowl, chill it until dinner, and get ready for a sweet, creamy dessert everyone will love.
Want more easy fruit salads? This orange fluff and this pistachio fluff are a few of our favorites.
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Ambrosia with Cool Whip
We usually bring a fruit salad to holiday dinners. Sometimes, I switch it up with this easy ambrosia fruit salad. It’s creamy, sweet, and a fun twist on the classic!
The creamy Cool Whip and soft mini marshmallows make this recipe a hit at family gatherings. Our kids love the fluffy texture and bright colors. It’s sweet and fun and feels like dessert disguised as a side dish.
So, if you’re looking for an easy way to jazz up your holiday menu, try this light dessert. It might become one of your family's favorites, too.
Why I Love This Canned Fruit Salad
I've been making this creamy dish for years, and it’s easy to see why it’s still so popular. It’s light and sweet and brings back memories. I make it for everything from Easter brunch to summer cookouts, and it always disappears fast.
- Kids and adults of all ages love this sweet side dish.
- The best part is how easy it is to make it with just a few simple ingredients.
- It’s perfect for holidays, potlucks, or even last-minute dinner parties.
- Although it is light and refreshing, it still manages to feel like a dessert!
Main Ingredients
This Cool Whip fruit salad requires only a few simple ingredients. Best of all, it only takes 15 minutes to prepare! Combine everything in a bowl and refrigerate until ready to serve. That's it!
- Canned Fruit: We like to use pineapple tidbits, sweet mandarin oranges, and maraschino cherries. Fruit cocktail is also great.
- Miniature Marshmallows: They provide a light, fluffy texture to the dessert salad. You can choose regular or fruity marshmallows. However, we like the pastel ones for the fun color they add to the fluff.
- Coconut: I like to use sweetened coconut flakes for a sweeter taste. You can leave this out if you are not a fan.
- Greek Yogurt: To balance the sweetness, add some tang to the salad. Sour cream can be used as a substitute.
- Creamy Cool Whip: We use a container of whipped topping for convenience. However, you can use 3 cups of this homemade whipped cream recipe.
How To Make Easy Ambrosia
This ambrosia fruit salad recipe can be made in minutes with canned fruit. There are no rules, so get creative and add whatever you like best!
Drain the canned fruit very well. Feel free to substitute your favorite fresh fruit instead.
Stir the fruit, shredded coconut, and mini marshmallows in a large bowl. Gently fold in the yogurt until everything is coated. Be careful not to break apart the fruit.
Add the whipped topping and gently stir it. Cover and refrigerate for a few hours so the flavors blend and the marshmallows soften.
Storage Recommendations
For best results, serve the marshmallow salad the day you make it.
The creamy fruit salad can be refrigerated in an airtight container for 1-2 days. The longer it sits, the more liquid the fruit releases, breaking down the whipped cream.
Tips and Tricks
- Drain the canned fruit very well. You do not want any liquid left in it because it will cause the whipped topping to break down and become watery.
- Rinse the maraschino cherries before cutting them to keep them from turning the fluff salad pink. I also like more cherries in ours, so I cut them in half to spread them out more.
- Fold the ingredients gently so you do not break apart the fruit and cause liquid to be released.
- Chill the ambrosia salad dessert for a few hours. This will help the marshmallows soften, absorb moisture, and mix the flavors.
- Add ½ cup of your favorite chopped nuts to give the fluff some crunch.
- Use sugar-free Cool Whip or make sugar free whipped cream to eliminate processed sugars.
FAQs
It’s best to serve ambrosia the same day it’s made. Chill it in the refrigerator for a few hours to soften the marshmallows. While you can make it a day ahead, the fruit may make it watery.
You can choose any fruit you prefer. Fresh fruit options like grapes, blueberries, and strawberries work well. Just maintain the same ratio of fruit to whipped topping and yogurt.
Yes, but you must serve it frozen because the fruits will start to get watery as they defrost. This makes a great frozen pie with a homemade graham cracker crust.
More Easy Dessert Salads
- Banana Split Fluff
- Cookies and Cream Fluff
- Strawberry Fluff
- Butterfinger Fluff
- Chocolate Fluff
- Pumpkin Fluff
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Recipe
Ambrosia Fruit Salad
If you need a quick and easy fruit dish for your next holiday gathering, this Ambrosia Fruit Salad is perfect. Just mix everything in one bowl, chill it until dinner, and get ready for a sweet, creamy dessert everyone will love.
Ingredients
- 1 - 15 ounce can mandarin oranges, drained well
- 1 - 20 ounce can pineapple tidbits, drained well
- 1 - 16 ounce jar maraschino cherries, drained and cut in half
- ½ cup shredded sweetened coconut
- 2 cups fruity miniature marshmallows
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt (or sour cream)
- 1 - 8 ounce container Cool Whip, thawed
Instructions
- Gently stir together oranges, pineapple, cherries, coconut, and marshmallows.
- Stir in the Greek yogurt very carefully.
- Add the Cool Whip and gently fold in until everything is incorporated.
- Cover and refrigerate for 2-3 hours to completely set and blend.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 208Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 29mgCarbohydrates: 39gFiber: 3gSugar: 33gProtein: 2g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.
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