Our easy ambrosia recipe with sour cream, mandarin oranges and mini marshmallows is a family favorite. You can serve as a dessert or holiday side dish next to this pistachio pudding ambrosia for a creamy treat everyone will love.
This is a yummy sweet side dish that was always at our Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. I thought everyone made this until I got married. Then I went to my in laws house for the holidays the first year and asked “where is the ambrosia?”
Why is it Called Ambrosia?
The word “ambrosia” actually means delicious or fragrant. The word also was used to describe the magical fruit of the gods in ancient Greek mythology. The Gods on Mount Olympus ate ambrosia to maintain immortality and without it they became weak. It is also said that the gods bathed in ambrosia and used it as perfume. Who knew??
I quickly realized after the first year I brought it to an event, it wasn’t something that everyone made. I brought it the every year after that, it was a HIT! If you’ve been looking for how to make this sweet pineapple mandarin oranges with mini marshmallows dish, we’ve got it.
There are seriously only 5 ingredients to this classic ambrosia salad recipe. Throw it all together in a serving bowl, let it chill and you can even serve it with a dollop of cool whip on top. Now that’s an easy dessert for the holidays. The fruit cocktail, marshmallows and coconut soak up the “juice” and thicken it up which makes this ambrosia even more amazing!
Variations
You could add a handful of chopped walnuts and/or maraschino cherries and coconut together are great too. Whipped cream can be added to top of each serving. Some like to cut a pear or peach to add some fresh produce in the mix.
You can use less or more coconut. Or leave it out if it isn’t your favorite, I’m kinda’ obsessed though. I have used light sour cream and regular and there isn’t too much of a difference so if you want to save a few calories just use the light version.
Can you use fresh pineapple?
If you want to cut a pineapple with a fresh one you could, into small pieces though. Yes canned works but during the summertime it is better to cut it from fresh. Mandarin oranges is the second main one. You really could mix it up though if you wanted to swap out one for something like fruit cocktail.
Can you make Ambrosia with Cool Whip?
You could, it would just be sweeter like our Fruit Salad with Cool Whip. The “sauce” would not be as rich and thick either. Believe me as it sits with the sugars in the fruit juice and marshmallows it becomes just perfect.
Ambrosia Recipe with Sour Cream
Equipment
- 1 Bowl
Ingredients
- 1 can mandarin oranges, drained, 15 oz.
- 1 can pineapple, tidbits size, 15 oz, drained, but keep 1/4 c. juice aside to add into recipe at the end to thin out
- 8 oz sour cream, can use light
- 1 cup marshmallows, small, mini size
- 1/2 cup coconut, sweetened, shreded
Instructions
- Add all ingredients together except marshmallows.
- Stir until coated
- Gently fold in marshmallows and make sure everything is creamy and coated. Slowly add in the pineapple juice you set aside until it is the consistency you want.
- Cover bowl and refrigerate for the best results, at least an hour.
- Serve!
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
What does Ambrosia taste like?
If you think sour cream would taste weird with fruit, it isn’t what you’d think. With all the sweet juices it just makes this thick but isn’t the traditional taste straight out of the container. Tastes more like heavy cream in this dish. You can omit the marshmallows too but quite frankly that is the kids’ favorite part and you can call it dessert if you want.
It is sweet enough and my kids have opted for an ambrosia dessert rather than ice cream before. A great side dish for any BBQ or occasion. If you love our easy ambrosia recipe you should try our creamy fruit salad with Cool Whip too. A bit different but a similar idea though using fresh fruit and the dressing is a bit different.
Can I make ambrosia the night before?
Since ambrosia doesn’t contain fresh berries that can smash, or apples that can brown you can. I personally prefer to make this first thing in the morning, cover it, and leave it in the fridge all day. It gets sweeter that way. If you want to thin it out before serving just add a bit of pineapple juice.
- For fresh salads, you could cut and slice pieces the day/night before. Bananas are best left out of fruit salads, as they get “slickery”.
- Once cut, rinse white fruits in an acid liquid such as orange or pineapple juice or fresh squeezed lemonade to reduce browning.
Hi, Justine!! Please give can sizes if you can… thanks!!
done
So good! Definitely gonna be making this for a picnic soon!
I love Ambrosia and I love the name. A must for any bbq picnic. Thanks!
It was so simple to make and the addition of the sour cream gave it a tangy and creamy flavor. It was a hit at the potluck!
This was such a light and refreshing salad that does not disappoint! Quick, easy and delicious; always a hit in our home!
I love this ambrosia recipe, thank you !