Simple Ambrosia Salad Recipe
This Simple Ambrosia Salad is a nostalgic, no-bake dessert featuring a creamy blend of whipped cream, Greek yogurt, tangy fruit, marshmallows, toasted coconut, and crunchy pecans. Perfect for potlucks, holiday dinners, or summer barbecues, it comes together quickly and is a sweet, light treat that kids and adults love alike.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Desserts
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
For the Cream Base
- 1 cup whipping cream (Horizon Organic preferred for stable whip)
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar (sifted to remove lumps)
- 2/3 cup Greek yogurt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
- 1 pinch fine sea salt
For the Salad
- 1 cup shredded coconut
- 11 oz mandarin oranges (drained and patted dry)
- 8 oz pineapple tidbits (Dole preferred)
- 1 cup maraschino cherries
- 1 1/4 cups mini marshmallows
- 1/2 cup pecans
Instructions
- Prepare the Whipped Cream Base: Pour the whipping cream into a medium bowl and beat on medium-high speed for 1-2 minutes until soft peaks form. Add the sifted powdered sugar and continue beating until stiff peaks form, about another 1-2 minutes. Gently fold in the Greek yogurt, vanilla bean paste, and fine sea salt with a spatula until fully combined and smooth. Avoid overmixing once incorporated to maintain stability.
- Prepare and Dry the Fruit: Drain the canned mandarin oranges and pineapple in a fine-mesh strainer, reserving no liquid. Pat both fruits dry thoroughly with paper towels to prevent watery or soggy salad.
- Toast the Coconut (Optional but Recommended): Spread the shredded coconut on a dry skillet or baking sheet and toast over medium heat for 2-3 minutes while stirring frequently, until lightly golden and fragrant. This step enhances flavor but can be skipped if preferred.
- Combine All Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the dried mandarin oranges, pineapple, maraschino cherries, mini marshmallows, and toasted coconut. Pour the whipped cream mixture over the fruit and gently fold everything together using a spatula or wooden spoon until evenly coated. Be careful not to crush the marshmallows and fruit. Finally, fold in the pecans just before chilling to keep them crunchy.
- Chill and Serve: Transfer the salad to a serving bowl or individual cups and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to meld flavors and firm up the cream. The salad can be made up to 4 hours in advance; for best texture, add marshmallows and pecans just before serving if storing longer.
Notes
- Drain canned fruit thoroughly to avoid watery salad.
- Toast coconut for enhanced flavor, but leaving it raw is acceptable.
- Add fresh fruit like bananas or apples just before serving to avoid browning.
- Do not overmix whipped cream once yogurt is added to maintain fluffiness.
- Chilling at least 30 minutes improves flavor melding and cream firmness.
- Store in an airtight container refrigerated for up to 3 days; marshmallows and pecans may soften after that.
- For crunchy nuts, add pecans just before serving if making ahead.
Keywords: ambrosia salad, no-bake dessert, fruit salad, holiday dessert, potluck recipe, marshmallow salad, creamy fruit salad
Find it online: https://lucabites.com/simple-ambrosia-salad-recipe/
