Description
Nostalgic ambrosia salad brings Southern charm to dessert tables with sweet marshmallow and creamy coconut combinations. Midwestern potlucks and family gatherings welcome this delightful treat you can enjoy chilled and share with loved ones.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 can (20 oz / 567 g) pineapple chunks (drained)
- 1 can (15 oz / 425 g) mandarin oranges (drained)
- 1 cup maraschino cherries (drained and halved)
- 1 cup sour cream (or Greek yogurt)
- 1 cup mini marshmallows
- 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
- 1 cup seedless grapes (halved, optional)
- ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
Instructions
- Fruit Preparation: Meticulously drain pineapple chunks, mandarin oranges, and maraschino cherries, eliminating excess liquid to preserve the salad’s vibrant texture and prevent dilution.
- Creamy Foundation: Whisk sour cream until silky smooth, then tenderly fold in shredded coconut, creating a luxurious and velvety base that will envelop the fruits with rich, creamy elegance.
- Ingredient Integration: Gently combine pineapple chunks, mandarin oranges, cherries, mini marshmallows, and grapes into the coconut-sour cream mixture, ensuring each morsel is delicately coated without compromising the fruit’s structural integrity.
- Flavor Melding: Refrigerate the assembled salad for a minimum of two hours, allowing the ingredients to harmonize and develop a cohesive, refreshing profile that balances sweet, tangy, and creamy notes.
- Final Flourish: Before serving, optionally sprinkle chopped pecans or walnuts across the surface to introduce a contrasting nutty crunch, elevating the salad’s textural complexity and visual appeal. Serve chilled for maximum sensory enjoyment.
Notes
- Drain Fruits Thoroughly: Remove excess liquid completely to prevent watery texture and maintain salad’s crisp, vibrant character.
- Gentle Folding Technique: Use soft, careful movements when mixing ingredients to preserve delicate fruit structure and prevent crushing or breaking.
- Chill for Flavor Fusion: Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight, allowing ingredients to blend and develop a harmonious, rich taste profile.
- Customize Texture Options: Experiment with nut variations like pecans or walnuts to add crunch, or adjust marshmallow quantity for desired sweetness and consistency.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg