Grandma’s Ambrosia Salad
I’m so thrilled to share my grandma’s classic ambrosia salad recipe for the iconic light and refreshing dessert that includes mandarin oranges, coconut, marshmallows, pineapple, and whipped topping. Known in some circles as “fruit salad with marshmallows”, this easy five-ingredient dessert takes only five minutes to make, is super customizable, and perfect for serving a crowd.
I can’t ever remember a time before ambrosia. We’ve been eating it in my family since I was old enough to chew, and most likely, for decades before I was even a blip on the radar. It seemed that my grandma could make ambrosia appear out of thin air, and we never ran out.
It was served up routinely for Christmas and Easter, and pretty much non-stop during the summer. Compared to things like cake and pie, ambrosia salad is a wonderfully fresh and light dessert.
What IS ambrosia salad?
If you’ve never heard of it before, you’re probably wondering what in the world this is! Ambrosia is an American version of fruit salad that dates back to the late 19th century and it seems as though everyone’s family has their own recipe or spin on it.
At its core, however, it traditionally contains pineapple and oranges (either fresh or canned), miniature marshmallows, and coconut. Keep reading for lots of variations!
Tips for Customization
My mom said my grandma used canned mandarin oranges and crushed pineapple. My sister insisted that my grandma used fruit cocktail. (Did anyone else’s grandma have can after can of fruit cocktail in the pantry? My grandma always had it, in large quantities, and I remember eating it a lot when I was a kid.)
My grandma’s original recipe is the one you will find below and included canned mandarin oranges and canned crushed pineapple, as well as coconut and miniature marshmallows, all tossed with whipped topping. However, when my grandma was in a pinch and didn’t have the oranges and pineapple, she’d simply use a big can of fruit cocktail, and we grew up eating both versions often!
That said, ambrosia is totally adaptable, and can include some combination of the following:
- Mandarin oranges
- Fresh orange segments
- Pineapple
- Coconut
- Miniature marshmallows
- Maraschino cherries
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Grapes
- Pecans
Save This Recipe
Enter your email address, and we'll send it straight to your inbox!
And How, Exactly, Do You Make Ambrosia?
Okay, we have the main ingredients above, but what holds it all together? My grandma always used a single tub of Cool Whip and called it a day, but there are many other variations that use some combination of the following:
- Cool Whip
- Pudding
- Cream cheese
- Yogurt
- Sour cream
- Jello
There is even a green ambrosia version that uses pistachio pudding! (Sometimes it’s referred to as “Watergate Salad“)
And if you opt for the combination of grapes, cream cheese, and sour cream, you’ll be close to making my easy grape salad!
Can You Make Ambrosia Salad a Day Ahead?
Yes, yes, yes! The beauty of this five-ingredient, five-minute recipe is that you can mix it together the day before you need it and pop it in the refrigerator. I think it’s even better once it has been chilled for a few hours, but you can also serve it immediately if you need to!
Can you Freeze Ambrosia?
I only recommend freezing ambrosia if you use all canned fruit and Cool Whip.
The lesson here? Ambrosia is tremendously adaptable. Use what you have on hand. Use your family’s favorite fruits. Make it your own. Sometimes the simplest of recipes become the most special. Using fresh fruit and/or homemade whipped cream can cause it to be soggy and watery when thawed.
Watch the Recipe Video:
If you make this recipe and love it, I would so appreciate it if you would take a moment to leave a rating below. Thank you so much! ❤️️
Grandma’s Ambrosia Salad
Ingredients
- 11 ounce (311.85 g) can mandarin oranges, drained
- 8 ounce (226.8 g) can crushed pineapple, drained
- 2 cups (180 g) sweetened shredded coconut
- 2 cups (150 g) miniature marshmallows
- 8 ounce (226.8 g) container Cool Whip
Instructions
- Place the oranges, pineapple, coconut and marshmallows in a large bowl. Add the Cool Whip and, using a rubber spatula, gently fold the mixture until all of the ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Ambrosia can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Notes
- Fruit Options: Fresh orange segments, maraschino cherries, bananas, strawberries, grapes, or canned fruit cocktail.
- Dressing Options: Pudding, cream cheese, yogurt, sour cream, or Jello.
- Cool Whip Alternative: Use homemade whipped cream in its place.
- Freezing Instructions: I only recommend freezing ambrosia if you use all canned fruit and Cool Whip. Using fresh fruit and/or homemade whipped cream can cause it to be soggy and watery when thawed.
- Make-Ahead: This can be mixed together and refrigerated the day before serving.
- Storage: Ambrosia can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Did you make this recipe?
Leave a review below, then snap a picture and tag @thebrowneyedbaker on Instagram so I can see it!
[Photography by Ari of Well Seasoned]
This recipe was originally published on May 30, 2012.
Is Ambrosia considered a dessert? I think it is, but my friend says that they used to have it WITH a meal. Sounds nasty to me! :)
FINALLY! The real deal for ambrosia salad. I had to sift thru tons of pages to find a website that had it correctly and also included a photo. My search is over.
That sounds interesting, will try to do this soon.
Thanks for sharing
Grandmas (grams, nanas, gommies, & g-mas) make the world go round :) My Gram just passed this May 13 @ 104!! And this just reminded me of all her fabulous recipes :) My aunt is putting together a book of them for me. It’s one of the best ways to remember someone!
Lovely story. My family had this on occasion. We also had a cranberry Waldorf salad, the recipe of which I include here. The “melted” marshmallows, combined with the whipped cream give you the texture of Coolwhip, without having said ingredient. I just noticed that several people were asking how to make the ambrosia with out so much processed food. I suppose the marshmallows would be considered processed, unless you make your own. Obviously, you’d want to switch up the fruit to make the ambrosia ;)
Cranberry Waldorf
serves 12
2 C. fresh cranberries, ground
3 C mini marshmellows
3/4 C sugar
2 C diced tart apples
1/2 C seedless grapes, halved
1/2 C broken walnut meats
1/4 tsp salt
1 C whipping cream, whipped
The night before serving, grind the cranberries and stir them and rendered juice into the marshmellows and sugar. Cover and put in fridge. The next day stir in apples, grapes, walnuts and salt. Fold in the whipped cream.
My family called it honeymoon salad made with sour cream instead of cool whip and my mom always added a cup of chopped pecans because I always remember this being made along side lime jello with shaved carrots and pecans in it.
I lost my mom in January and also thought I lost some of her recipes that I was sure she never wrote down, specifically her potato salad that I always meant to ask her for. I just stumbled upon it and was shocked that it actually tasted the same with the measured quantities because I know she never measured anything for this recipe! Just tasting it brought tears to my eyes.
I find myself wanting to call her often, and you are so right that we need to talk more and cherish everything with the time we have.
Glad you were able to share a family recipe. They’re always the best!
Such a nice post… I lost my Sicilian mom this past February, and at least once a day my hand reaches for the phone to call her until I catch myself. She always used to say that if there were no leftovers that means you didn’t cook enough in the first place. Someone may have wanted a second helping, and they didn’t get it–the ultimate Italian cook’s shame!
What a lovely post =] And the pictures are gorgeous
What a sweet post! This ambrosia salad is a perfect tribute to your grandmother!
I remember my sister and I loving this as kids. The perfect summer treat! Now I can make her some ;). Thanks!
My step-grandmother’s recipe was called Moron Salad because it was a cup of each ingredient. It called for pineapple tidbits and sour cream instead of whipped topping. Mom always made a separate dish without coconut for one of my sisters.
what I wouldn’t give for just one more day with those in my life who have passed … it’s funny how the thoughts flood in when those people are gone, all the things you wish and want to know more about but never thought anything more about.
Oh, I love ambrosia. Thanks for sharing your grandmother’s recipe. I’m pretty sure that “back in the day” she used sour cream or something else because Cool Whip wasn’t available.
Our family also had to versions, one with the mandarin oranges, pineapple and coconut and another called “Edna’s Salad” that was made with vanilla pudding cooked with the juice from a can of fruit cocktail. The cooled mixture was then combined with the fruit cocktail and whipped cream was folded in. It’s fabulous. Yes, canned fruit is a grandma thing. My 91-year-old mother-in-law gets panicky if there’s no canned fruit in the pantry. I’d never buy it myself.
Nineteen is pretty young to lose your father. The thing is, at that age you don’t even really know all the things you’d like to know.
This looks really, really good! I’v never had Ambrosia before, but I must try it soon!
I relate to your reaching for them before thinking. It´s also a natural and sweet way to keep them close.
I never had anything like your recipe. Here Ambrosia is a milk, sugar and egg mixture cooked a lot on the stove, that ends up like a cross between flan and bread pudding.
Yep, my gram also had an endless supply of fruit cocktail in her cupboard. Must be a popular item among old ladies :) This ambrosia salad looks just like the one my gram made for us, great memories!
Interesting that you would mention this story with this salad. My grandma always made a salad very similar to this every Thanksgiving. She is still alive, but a year ago she fell and has a lot of memory problems now. One thing she discovered was she forgot her recipe for this salad! She was asked to bring it recently but couldn’t even remember how to begin. She never wrote it down, since she never guessed she’d forget it. I will have to try this and see if I can tweak it to what I remember. Thanks!
Aww, I am so glad that you might be able to use the recipe to help your grandma. Best wishes to her!
Ambrosia was always at our family dinners too. It was very popular. My mom made it just about the same but she added nuts on occasion.
My mother-in-law made this all the time except she also added cottage cheese and a small box of orange jello powder. She said it was a “complete” lunch that way!
Have you ever made the dessert salad similar to this, with the pistachio pudding? that’s what we always called Ambrosia Salad. I think sometimes it’s called Watergate salad. There’s a good frozen fruit salad recipe on Pinterest from an Atlanta department store’s tea room from a long time ago. I’d like to try it, and I’d like to try yours, too. I see why it kept popping up. :)
Hi Ana, I have never had this, but saw it mentioned above as well. I’m going to have to try it!
That is so unbelievably heartbreaking about your father. I’m personally, very close to my dad and I can’t imagine ever losing him. Thanks for the beautiful reminder that we all need to make the most of our time with family.
And the ambrosia salad looks delicious!
Mahalo for posting this recipe. My Auntie J used to make this for me time to time as she knew I loved it. She’s gone now as we lost her too soon but I pinned this so I can make it one day and think of all the great memories of her.
My mom has also been making Ambrosia since before I can remember (I was a kid in the 70s). She still makes it every Christmas using a combination of Cool Whip, fruit cocktail, coconut, maraschino cherries and fresh fruite (apples, bananas, etc.). My sister and I still love it but our husbands think it’s disgusting! I guess it’s all about what you grew up with :)
I love your personal touches to your entries.
I love ambrosia. it’s so delcious and refreshing. I love it mostly though because I finally found a dessert that I could make for my Sister in-law who has Celiac Disease and can’t have any wheat products. So no cupcakes, cake, etc. The Ambrosia makes her so happy!! and me too. :)
Elisa, why don’t you just make her pumpkin pie without the crust? We do this all the time for dessert. Just mix up the filling for a pie and bake it in a buttered casserole dish. Still tastes great with a blob of whipped cream!
I always make rice krispie treats on my dessert list for holidays. Great for celiac, allergy suffers.
I think my mom used sour cream, too, and mayonnaise? All I know is that it was SO bad for you. But SO good. Thanks for a memory. :)
I love ambrosia, so much! Thanks for the recipe :) My grandmother always has cans of fruit cocktail in the pantry, it’s like a Grandma Requirement I think! Food never runs out at her house, either.
I love this recipe! Thank you for sharing it and your story. Being a Pittsburgh girl myself, we actually referred to this as ‘funeral salad.’ I never thought twice about it until I was older and asked my grandmother in front of family friends if she was going to make it. “What does she want?” Asked the family friend.
Have you ever heard it referred to as funeral salad?!
Hi Rachel, I have never heard of “funeral salad”!
Awww this post was so sweet. And I totally can relate to Italian Grandmas – You eat a huge plate of food that can feed an entire family and she says “You didn’t eat nothin’!”. Oh, and I love the cherry on top :)