Ambrosia Salad with Fresh Fruit
A fresh take on ambrosia salad with mandarins, pineapple, grapes, and cherries in a creamy dressing with coconut and mini marshmallows. No canned fruit, no Cool Whip, just real flavor.
Servings: 8 servings
Ingredients
- 2 cups Mini marshmallows
- 1½ cups sour cream
- 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
- 5 fresh mandarines purchase the seedless ones
- 1 cup fresh pineapple
- 1 cup seedless grapes halved
- 1 cup fresh cherries pitted
Instructions
Make the Dressing:
- In a small dish, add the marshmallows, sour cream and coconut, stirring to combine. Reserve while preparing the fresh fruit.
Prepare the Fruit Salad:
- Peel the mandarins and remove any membrane, then separate into segments. Dice the pineapple into small chunks. Slice the grapes in half lengthwise. Stem and pit the cherries. Add all the fruit to a large bowl.
- Give the dressing another stir, then add half of it to the fruit and gently fold to combine. If it looks like it needs more, add the rest a little at a time until it’s as creamy as you like. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to chill and let the marshmallows soften and melt.
Notes
- For best texture, keep the fruit and dressing separate until just before serving.
- “Cuties” or other seedless mandarins work great. Look for the net bags in the produce section.
- Use pre-cut pineapple if you don’t want to slice a whole one.
- Chopped toasted pecans or walnuts are a classic add-in.
- Swap sour cream with Greek yogurt or whipped cream if desired. I like how sour cream balances the sweetness.
- Sliced bananas are a popular addition. If you use them, stir them in right before serving to keep them from browning.
- If you can’t find fresh cherries, fresh strawberries or diced mango are great additions.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days. The dressing may thin out after a day or two, but the flavor still holds up.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 serving | Calories: 206kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 17mg | Sodium: 48mg | Potassium: 262mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 24g | Vitamin A: 589IU | Vitamin C: 27mg | Calcium: 58mg | Iron: 1mg
