Ambrosia Salad
Ambrosia Salad is a refreshing, creamy dessert combining tropical fruits, whipped topping, Greek yogurt, and crunchy pecans. This easy-to-make dish is perfect for family gatherings, potlucks, or a light sweet treat.
Servings: 6 servings
Ingredients
- 8 ounce whipped topping thawed
- 0.5 cup Greek yogurt
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 cup mini marshmallows
- 2 small bananas sliced
- 8 ounce pineapple tidbits or crushed pineapple canned, drained
- 11 ounce mandarin oranges canned in light syrup, drained
- 0.5 cup pecans roughly chopped
- 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
- 0.5 cup Maraschino cherries halved
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the thawed whipped topping, Greek yogurt, and pure vanilla extract. Use a spatula or hand mixer to gently fold the ingredients together until smooth and well combined.
- Carefully fold in the mini marshmallows, sliced bananas, drained pineapple tidbits, and drained mandarin oranges, being gentle to avoid mashing the bananas and to keep fruit pieces intact.
- Add the roughly chopped pecans and sweetened shredded coconut to the mixture, mixing in the crunch and tropical flavor.
- Gently fold in the halved Maraschino cherries to add color and sweet tartness.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the Ambrosia Salad for at least 2 hours before serving to allow flavors to meld and the salad to firm up slightly.
Equipment
- Large Mixing Bowl
- Spatula
- Hand Mixer
- Plastic Wrap
Notes
Use ripe but firm bananas to prevent mushiness; drain canned fruits thoroughly; fold gently to keep fluffy texture; toasting pecans adds extra crunch; to reduce sweetness, use unsweetened shredded coconut and fewer marshmallows; add bananas last to minimize browning; coat bananas with lemon juice to prevent browning; variations include adding fresh berries, swapping nuts, using dairy-free options, or adding tropical fruits like mango or papaya.