Holiday Ambrosia Salad
Holiday Ambrosia Salad is a delightful and classic dessert that's perfect for special occasions. It typically includes a combination of sweet, tropical fruits, marshmallows, and coconut. Here's a simple recipe for making this delicious treat:
Prep Time5 minutes mins
Active Time14 minutes mins
Course: Salad
Cuisine: American, European, French
Yield: 2
Cost: $3
- 2 cups of canned pineapple chunks, drained
- 2 cups of mandarin orange segments, drained
- 2 cups of sweetened shredded coconut
- 2 cups of mini marshmallows
- 1 cup of sour cream
- 1 cup of whipped cream or whipped topping (such as Cool Whip)
- 1/2 cup of maraschino cherries, drained and halved
- 1/2 cup of chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
- 2 tablespoons of powdered sugar (optional, for a sweeter salad)
- A pinch of salt
1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the drained pineapple chunks, mandarin orange segments, sweetened shredded coconut, and mini marshmallows. If you're using nuts, add them at this stage.
2. In a separate bowl, mix the sour cream and whipped cream until well combined. If you want a sweeter salad, you can add 2 tablespoons of powdered sugar to this mixture. The sweetness of the fruits and marshmallows will also affect the overall sweetness of the salad.
3. Gently fold the sour cream and whipped cream mixture into the fruit and marshmallow mixture. Use a gentle, circular motion to incorporate the cream without smashing the fruits or deflating the marshmallows.
4. Add a pinch of salt to enhance the flavors. This might sound unusual for a sweet salad, but it can help balance the sweetness and make the flavors pop.
5. Gently fold in the maraschino cherries. You can also reserve some cherries to decorate the top of the salad.
6. Cover the bowl and refrigerate the Ambrosia Salad for at least 2 hours or until it's chilled. This allows the flavors to meld and the salad to set.
7. Before serving, garnish the top with a few extra maraschino cherries and a sprinkle of shredded coconut for an attractive presentation.