The image showcases a vibrant, creamy, and festive fruit salad often known as Ambrosia Salad. It features a colorful mix of citrus, pineapple, grapes, and marshmallows, all bound by a light, sweet dressing and topped with crunchy pecans. This no-bake dessert or side dish is a staple for holidays, potlucks, and gatherings, balancing sweet tropical fruits with a cool, airy texture.
This recipe ensures a perfect balance of tart fruit, sweet creaminess, and essential nutty crunch.
✨ Ingredients for Creamy Ambrosia Fruit Salad
This salad is best made using a combination of canned and fresh fruit, ensuring uniform flavor and moisture.
1. 🍊 The Fruit Mix
- Pineapple: 1 (20 oz) can crushed or diced pineapple, drained well.
- Mandarin Oranges: 2 (11 oz) cans mandarin oranges, drained well.
- Grapes: 1 cup red and green seedless grapes, halved.
- Cherries: 1/2 cup maraschino cherries, halved (optional, for color).
- Crunch: 1/2 cup chopped Pecans or Walnuts, plus extra for garnish.
- Sweetness: 1 cup mini Marshmallows.
2. 🥣 The Creamy Dressing
- Base: 1 cup heavy whipping cream, chilled.
- Sweetener: 1/4 cup powdered (confectioners’) sugar.
- Flavor: 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract.
- Optional: 1/2 cup sour cream or plain yogurt (adds tang and stability).
👩🍳 Instructions: The No-Bake Method
The key to a successful Ambrosia salad is ensuring all the fruit is well-drained and the cream is whipped until light and fluffy.
Step 1: Prepare the Creamy Dressing
- Whip Cream: In a chilled mixing bowl, whip the heavy cream with an electric mixer until soft peaks begin to form.
- Add Sweetener: Gradually add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract. Continue whipping until stiff, fluffy peaks form.
- Fold in Tang (Optional): If using, gently fold in the sour cream or yogurt. This stabilizes the cream and adds a desirable tang that cuts through the sweetness.
Step 2: Combine the Fruit and Cream
- Ensure Dryness: Pat the canned and fresh fruit (pineapples, oranges, grapes) lightly with a paper towel to remove any residual moisture. This prevents the salad from becoming watery.
- Mix Fruit: In a large bowl, combine the drained pineapple, mandarin oranges, halved grapes, and maraschino cherries (if using).
- Fold Cream: Gently fold the whipped cream mixture into the fruit until everything is lightly coated.
- Add Marshmallows and Nuts: Carefully fold in the mini marshmallows and the chopped pecans/walnuts.
Step 3: Chill and Serve
- Chill: Cover the salad and refrigerate for a minimum of 2 to 4 hours. Chilling allows the flavors to meld and the marshmallows to soften slightly, giving the salad its signature texture.
- Garnish: Just before serving, spoon the chilled salad into a serving bowl. Top the salad generously with whole or halved pecan pieces for the final presentation and crunch.
- Serve: This salad is best served cold.
💡 Salad Master Tips
- Proper Draining: Ensuring all canned fruit is Drained Extremely Well is the most important step to prevent a soupy salad base.
- Best Chilled: Ambrosia Salad must be fully chilled before serving. This allows the creamy dressing to penetrate the fruit and stabilize the texture.
- The Crunch Element: Do not skip the nuts! The crunch of Pecans or Walnuts is a crucial textural contrast to the soft fruit and creamy dressing.
- Versatile Dessert: This No-Bake Fruit Salad is a popular alternative to traditional desserts, known for its bright flavor and ease of preparation.