Old Fashioned Ambrosia Salad with Cool Whip
This old-fashioned ambrosia salad with Cool Whip is a creamy, nostalgic dessert that’s the perfect little sweet treat to end a meal. It takes about 5 minutes to make and it’s a crowd-pleaser for holidays, potlucks, or a super fast weeknight dessert.
Need more crowd-pleasing salads? Don’t miss this patriotic fruit salad or this strawberry salad with poppyseed dressing!
Recipe Ingredients: Ambrosia Salad with Cool Whip
Ingredient Notes, Substitutions & Additions
Marshmallows: If you can find the multi-colored, pastel mini marshmallows, it makes this dish so pretty (and perfect for spring and Easter!). If not, no worries. Regular white marshmallows work just fine.
Fruit: You can mix and match the fruit here! You can use fruit cocktail, chopped apples, bananas, diced peaches…sky’s the limit!
Sour Cream: You can substitute Greek yogurt.
Coconut: Totally optional, but I love the little crunch from toasted coconut. You can also add chopped nuts for crunch!
Expert Tips
- Storage: Leftovers don’t store great because the Cool Whip starts to break down and it doesn’t look as pretty. But it will be fine for 2-3 days if stored in an airtight container.
- Special occasions: If you are making this salad for a special occasion and want it to look pretty, make it the same day you serve it.
- Chill: This salad is best if it’s chilled for 2-3 hours before serving.
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Thank you! ~ Casey
Old Fashioned Ambrosia Salad with Cool Whip
Ingredients
- 1 8 oz. container of Cool Whip, thawed
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 11 oz. can Mandarin oranges, drained well
- 1 cup Maraschino cherries, drained well
- 1 20 oz. can pineapple tidbits, drained well
- 1-1 1/2 cups mini marshmallows I liked the colored ones if you can find them
- 1/2 cup coconut flakes (optional).
Instructions
- Combine: In a large bowl, combine Cool Whip and sour cream. Whisk until smooth.
- Add: Add fruit, then gently fold in the marshmallows. Chill at least 2 hours before serving.
- Optional: In a small pan over medium heat, toast the coconut flakes until golden brown. Sprinkle over the top for garnish.
This is my ASIAN (yes, ASIAN) grandmother’s recipe for Ambrosia salad lol! It’s been a staple in our family for years–everyone loves it!! XO ~ Casey