Description
Creamy Ambrosia salad blends marshmallows, tropical fruits, and coconut into a classic Southern dessert. Refreshing flavors and nostalgic textures invite you to enjoy a sweet, delightful treat that connects generations of family gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup mini marshmallows
- 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
- 1 cup sour cream (or Greek yogurt for a lighter option)
- 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 seedless grapes (halved, optional)
- ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
Instructions
- Preparation: Meticulously drain tropical fruits like pineapple chunks, mandarin oranges, and maraschino cherries, eliminating excess liquid to maintain optimal salad texture.
- Base Creation: Whisk sour cream and shredded coconut in a large mixing bowl until completely smooth and well-combined.
- Fruit Integration: Delicately fold pineapple, mandarin oranges, cherries, mini marshmallows, and optional grapes into the coconut-sour cream mixture, ensuring gentle incorporation to preserve fruit integrity.
- Chilling and Flavor Melding: Cover the salad with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least two hours, allowing ingredients to harmonize and develop a sophisticated flavor profile.
- Final Flourish: Just before serving, sprinkle chopped pecans or walnuts over the top to introduce a delightful crunch and nutty dimension to the creamy dessert salad.
- Presentation: Serve thoroughly chilled, showcasing a vibrant, luscious ambrosia that balances sweet, tangy, and textural elements for a memorable culinary experience.
Notes
- Drain Fruits Thoroughly: Pat fruits completely dry after straining to prevent watery texture and maintain salad’s creamy consistency.
- Gentle Mixing Technique: Fold ingredients softly using a spatula to keep fruit pieces intact and prevent breaking delicate components.
- Chilling is Crucial: Refrigerate for at least 2 hours to allow flavors to meld and develop a richer, more harmonious taste profile.
- Customize Texture: Adjust nut quantities or swap types to create personal crunch preferences without compromising the salad’s core structure.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 28 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 33 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg