This easy Ambrosia fruit salad recipe with cool whip and cream cheese is super creamy and packed with tropical fruit! It’s one of our favorite side dishes because it’s so easy to make and a crowd-pleaser!
The best part? This old-fashioned Southern dessert salad is even better the next day!
Ambrosia salad is a family favorite and tradition passed down by our grandmothers! It’s the perfect side dish or light dessert for Sunday dinner, Easter, Thanksgiving, or a holiday potluck!
The fluff salad combines pineapple, mandarin oranges, cherries, and miniature marshmallows for a creamy treat!
Why is it called ambrosia salad?
The name Ambrosia means the food of the Greek and Roman gods. The tropical fruit was hard-to-find and considered luxurious in the past and saved for special occasions.
Can you make this creamy fruit salad ahead of time?
Yes, you can make this ambrosia fruit salad ahead of time. We actually prefer it the next day after it’s set in the refrigerator overnight.
How long will Ambrosia Fruit Salad keep in the fridge?
We store Ambrosia in the refrigerator for 2-3 days in an airtight container or covered with plastic wrap. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months.
What You’ll Need
- 30 oz can fruit cocktail, drained
- 20 oz can pineapple chunks, drained
- 8 oz can mandarin oranges, drained
- 10.5 oz package miniature marshmallows
- 16 oz Cool Whip
- 8 oz Cream Cheese, room temperature
How to Make Ambrosia Fruit Salad with Cool Whip and Cream Cheese
- Drain your cans of fruit thoroughly (We drain ours hours before or take a few paper towels to get the juice to a minimum)
- With a hand mixer, mix your Cool Whip and room temperature cream cheese together in a large mixing bowl until it’s smooth.
- Combine the whipped cream cheese mixture with the drained fruit.
- Fold in your mini marshmallows into the mix.
- Serve cold.
How to Customize This Delicious Fruit Salad
- Ambrosia salad also includes chopped pecans traditionally. Feel free to add them or macadamia nuts into your recipe!
- You could also use fresh fruit instead of canned.
- If your taste buds prefer a tangy flavor, you can add in 1/2 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt as well.
- You can also add in maraschino cherries or shredded coconut flakes for additional tropical flavor!
If love creamy desserts, our no bake cherry fluff salad (pictured above) is another great recipe to try!
You may also like our Kentucky Butter Bundt Cake, Strawberry Shortcake Cheesecake, or Hawaiian banana bread as well.
Ambrosia Fruit Salad Recipe with Cool Whip & Cream Cheese
This easy Ambrosia fruit salad recipe with cool whip and cream cheese is super creamy! This old-fashioned Southern dessert salad is a perfect sweet and light treat!
Ingredients
- 30 oz can fruit cocktail, drained
- 20 oz can pineapple chunks, drained
- 8 oz can mandarin oranges, drained
- 10.5 oz package miniature marshmallows
- 16 oz Cool Whip
- 8 oz Cream Cheese, room temperature
Instructions
- Drain your cans of fruit thoroughly (We drain ours hours before or take a few paper towels to get the juice to a minimum)
- With a hand mixer, mix your Cool Whip and room temperature cream cheese together in a large mixing bowl until it's smooth.
- Combine the whipped cream cheese mixture with the drained fruit.
- Fold in your mini marshmallows into the mix and serve cold.
Notes
- Ambrosia salad also includes chopped pecans traditionally. Feel free to add them into your recipe!
- You can also add in more maraschino cherries and coconut flakes for additional tropical flavor!
- If your taste buds prefer a tangy flavor, you can add in 1/2 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt as well.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
10Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 423Total Fat: 19gSaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 23mgSodium: 113mgCarbohydrates: 63gFiber: 2gSugar: 54gProtein: 3g
Nutrition is only an approximate and may not be accurate.
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