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Ambrosia Salad

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  • Prep 20 min
  • Total 20 min
  • Servings 9
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A heavenly delight, Ambrosia Salad teems with flavorful fruit and cloud-like marshmallows . The word Ambrosia comes from Greek and Roman mythology and refers to a sweet and aromatic food fit for the gods. It’s no wonder this make-ahead delight is a go-to side at holiday events.

Our Ambrosia Salad is simply the best! With easy instructions and approachable ingredients, making Ambrosia is as effortless as it is delicious. Our recipe is flexible, allowing you to innovate and create a personalized dish that suits your palate.

What is the difference between Ambrosia and Watergate salad? They are very similar, but while Watergate salad contains nuts, ambrosia does not. Ambrosia usually contains more types of fruit than Watergate salad and also often contains coconut.

With a history as rich as its flavors, Ambrosia truly is a dessert for the gods — and you too!

By Betty Crocker Kitchens
Updated Jun 26, 2024
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Ambrosia Salad Ingredients

Ambrosia ingredients come together for a dish so fresh and creamy you’ll want to serve it at all of your get-togethers:

Pudding: Prepared refrigerated vanilla pudding is an easy and decadent ingredient that requires no prep but provides a smooth base for this dish.

Frozen Whipped Topping: Keeping whipped topping on hand in the freezer makes it easy to have an ambrosia dessert any day!

Green Grapes: Cutting the grapes in half makes them easier to blend with other ingredients, and they’re also easier to eat.

Miniature Marshmallows: A little unexpected, but always a good surprise, mini marshmallows bulk up the salad while adding a fluffy, fun texture.

Mandarin Orange Segments: Canned orange segments are great to keep in your pantry for this recipe, other salads, or a snack.

Pineapple: Using the canned pineapple tidbits in juice adds another pantry ingredient that’s easy to keep on hand.

Strawberries: Sliced strawberries add excellent fresh flavor and color to this delicious recipe.

How to Make Ambrosia Salad

Looking to make Ambrosia Salad for the first time? We have an easy primer for this classic Ambrosia Salad recipe and it's a perfectly simple make-ahead recipe. Find the entire recipe below, but here are the basics:

Mix the Pudding and Whipped Topping

Mix the creamy base components of this recipe first to completely meld the two ingredients.

Stir in Grapes, Marshmallows, Oranges, and Pineapple

Stirring in all of the sturdier ingredients at once makes this recipe quick and easy.

Stir in the Strawberries

Tender strawberries should be gently stirred in, or “folded” in to keep them intact.

Chilling isn’t absolutely necessary, but it allows the flavors to come together and makes this a perfect make-ahead dish for big holiday meals and celebrations.

How to Store Ambrosia Salad

This leftover fruit and marshmallow salad can be stored in an airtight container or tightly covered with plastic wrap in the fridge for one day. However, it is best to enjoy it within 8 hours of preparing. The fruit releases juice as it sits, which can make the pudding mixture thin and soupy.

If refrigerating, stir the mixture thoroughly before serving. This ambrosia fruit salad recipe shouldn’t be frozen, as the fruit would become watery after thawing and the mixture would separate.

Ingredients

  • 1 container (4 oz) refrigerated vanilla pudding
  • 1/2 cup Cool Whip frozen whipped topping, thawed
  • 1 cup seedless green grapes, halved
  • 1 cup miniature marshmallows
  • 1 can (11 oz) mandarin orange segments, drained
  • 1 can (8 oz) pineapple tidbits in juice, drained
  • 1 cup fresh strawberries, sliced

Steps

  • 1
    In medium bowl, mix pudding and whipped topping.
  • 2
    Gently stir in grapes, marshmallows, oranges and pineapple.
  • 3
    Add strawberries; toss gently to coat.
  • 4
    Serve immediately or store in refrigerator up to 8 hours.

Tips from the Betty Crocker Kitchens

  • tip 1
    For an optional garnish, top each serving of Pudding Fruit Salad with additional strawberries.
  • tip 2
    When serving at parties, keep your fruit salad bowl cold by placing it in a larger bowl filled with ice.
  • tip 3
    Take this fruit salad from summer to fall by trading the berries for chunks of apple and vanilla pudding for butterscotch.
  • tip 4
    A fruit salad made with vanilla pudding is a good counterpoint to a buffet of vegetables or green salads. The combination of fresh grapes and berries with sweet canned mandarin oranges and pineapple tidbits is a great way to liven up any spread.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are There Ambrosia Salad Recipe Variations?

Whether you call it Ambrosia Salad or ambrosia dessert, this base recipe can be edited to suit your preferences.

Coconut: Stirring in shredded coconut or topping with toasted, flaked coconut adds tropical flair to this fluffy dessert salad.

Cherries: Whether you top the salad with maraschino cherries or halve and stir them in, this sweet, colorful fruit brings flavor and fun to the original version of the recipe.

Want more ideas for fun fruit salads? Try our Ambrosia Yogurt Parfaits or check out our collection of Fruit Salad Recipes.

Nutrition

80 Calories, 1 1/2g Total Fat, 0g Protein, 17g Total Carbohydrate, 13g Sugars

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1/2 Cup
Calories
80
Calories from Fat
10
Total Fat
1 1/2g
2%
Saturated Fat
1g
4%
Trans Fat
0g
Cholesterol
0mg
0%
Sodium
30mg
1%
Potassium
120mg
3%
Total Carbohydrate
17g
6%
Dietary Fiber
1g
4%
Sugars
13g
Protein
0g
% Daily Value*:
Vitamin A
6%
6%
Vitamin C
35%
35%
Calcium
6%
6%
Iron
0%
0%
Exchanges:
0 Starch; 1/2 Fruit; 1/2 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Skim Milk; 0 Low-Fat Milk; 0 Milk; 0 Vegetable; 0 Very Lean Meat; 0 Lean Meat; 0 High-Fat Meat; 1/2 Fat;
Carbohydrate Choice
1
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

More About This Recipe

  • Make your next potluck or picnic stress-free! Pudding Fruit Salad is a sweet and super simple twist on a traditional fruit salad recipe. The rainbow of delicious fruit always looks lovely–and no one needs to know how easy it was to make!
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