Southern Ambrosia Salad
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My recipe for ambrosia salad is a classic example of Southern comfort food. More than a simple fruit salad, it was originally made with ingredients like oranges and coconut before this recipe evolved into a festive dish popular at Southern gatherings such as potlucks and cookouts.
Over time, this fluffy dessert has combined delicious, colorful fruits with marshmallows and sweet creams. Dishes like ambrosia salad enhance the festive spirit and celebrate the unique blend of influences that make up Southern cuisine.
What is ambrosia salad?
Ambrosia is a Southern dessert highlighting the importance of preserving culinary traditions during family gatherings. It’s a staple in holiday recipes, made with tropical and citrus fruits such as mandarin oranges, pineapple, shredded coconut, walnuts, and sweet maraschino cherries.
While the mythical ambrosia was said to grant immortality to those who consumed it, the human version simply provides a delightfully refreshing taste, especially after enjoying fried chicken and potato salad!
Ingredients
The once hard-to-find ingredients were considered luxurious and exotic. As a result, this Southern dessert salad was typically reserved for holidays and special occasions.
Today, this Southern fluff salad consists of easily accessible canned fruits, such as shredded pineapple, mandarin orange slices, and maraschino cherries from the jar. Additionally, it includes dessert staple ingredients like whipped cream, cream cheese, miniature marshmallows, walnuts, and coconut flakes.
How to make Southern ambrosia salad
This is one of the easiest recipes to make because you simply combine all the ingredients in a bowl and mix!
You can swap some ingredients in this recipe, such as using pineapple tidbits in place of crushed pineapple or substituting fresh mandarin orange sections for canned mandarins.
Please don’t overlook these ingredients: While some ingredients, like shredded coconut and the miniature marshmallows, may seem understated, they actually contribute significantly to the dessert’s unique fluffiness and texture. As the talented lyricist Drake puts it, the marshmallows and coconut flakes “might be light, but we heavy, tho!”
Pro tips: For the most aesthetically pleasing results, use colored marshmallows. Reserve a few marshmallows, orange slices, and cherries to garnish the dessert’s top, and serve it in a clear bowl for a truly festive look!
How long to chill ambrosia salad
A Southern ambrosia recipe can be served immediately at room temperature or chilled in the refrigerator for a few hours before serving.
Storing leftovers
If you plan to prepare ambrosia salad in advance, store it properly in the refrigerator, using a container with a tight-fitting lid to prevent browning and softening of the ingredients. Like other fruit salads, ambrosia salad should be consumed within 3 to 5 days.
Equipment
- Hand or stand mixer (optional)
Ingredients
- 20 oz crushed pineapple 1 can drained
- 15 oz mandarin oranges 1 can drained
- 12 oz maraschino cherries 1 jar, stemless and drained
- 1 cup coconut flakes sweetened
- 1 cup miniature marshmallows
- ¼ cup chopped walnuts or chopped pecans
- 8 oz cream cheese softened or whipped
- 8 oz whipped cream thawed
Instructions
- Add the cream cheese and whipped cream to a large bowl and use a stand or hand mixer to combine, whipping on low until the cream cheese mixture is smooth.
- Add the pineapple, oranges, cherries, coconut, marshmallows, and optional walnuts and mix again on low speed.
- Serve Southern ambrosia salad immediately at room temperature, or chill in the refrigerator for later enjoyment!
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