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top view of ambrosia salad being served in a bowl with mandarin oranges, maraschino cherries, pineapple tidbits, grapes, marshmallows and coconut
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5 from 2 votes

Best Ambrosia Fruit Salad Recipe

This Ambrosia Salad is the ultimate creamy, dreamy twist on a classic! Expert techniques and a luscious piña colada dressing of homemade whipped cream, cream of coconut (GAME CHANGER), vanilla yogurt, and pineapple juice make it the light, irresistible potluck hero!
Course Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Prep Time 30 minutes
Chilling 30 minutes
Servings 6 -8 servings
Author [email protected]

Ingredients

  • 1 11-oz. can mandarin oranges, drained & patted very dry
  • 1/2 cup maraschino cherries, stems removed, quartered, rinsed, and patted very dry
  • 1 cup pineapple tidbits packed in juice (NOT syrup), drained (reserve juice) and patted very dry
  • 1 cup seedless green grapes, halved
  • 2 cups miniature marshmallows (white or rainbow)
  • 1 cup sweetened coconut flakes

Creamy Coconut Dressing

  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup cream of coconut NOT coconut cream- see Notes (may sub 1/4 cup powdered sugar)
  • 2 tablespoons pineapple juice (from above can of tidbits)
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup full fat vanilla Greek yogurt
  • 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest

Instructions

  • Dry Fruit: Drain AND PAT DRY all the canned fruits (reserve pineapple juice), then set aside.
  • Make Dressing: Add the heavy cream, cream of coconut, pineapple juice, vanilla extract, and salt to a large mixing bowl. Beat with a handheld mixer until stiff peaks form (the cream holds its shape when the whisks are removed). Gently fold in the Greek yogurt and lemon zest to avoid deflating the dressing.
  • Combine Ingredients: To the same bowl with the dressing, add all the salad ingredients except for the mandarin oranges, and fold to combine. Then, fold in the oranges.
  • Chill: Cover and refrigerate for at least 30-60 minutes before serving.
  • Serving Timeline: Ambrosia Salad is at its peak freshness after chilling for 1–4 hours, once the flavors have melded and the dressing has set into a light, creamy consistency. It’s best enjoyed the same day it’s made, especially when using homemade whipped cream, while it’s still fluffy and fresh.

Notes

Cream of coconut: Use sweetened cream of coconut, such as Coco Reàl (recommended) or Coco López, NOT coconut milk. Cream of coconut is a thick, rich, syrupy, and intensely coconut-forward.
Where can I find it? You can find it in the cocktail or mixer aisle (near piña colada mix), in the international or Latin foods section, or sometimes near the canned coconut milk. You can also purchase it on Amazon HERE.