Classic Ambrosia Salad Recipe made with pineapple, mandarin oranges, miniature marshmallows, coconut, and sour cream. Sweet and delicious for parties and brunches!

I can’t even begin to tell you how classic this Ambrosia Salad recipe is in our family! It’s been a staple at parties and get togethers for as long as I’ve been alive, probably longer I’d bet. We always knew we were in for some company when we saw the cans of fruit, marshmallows, and coconut show up in the pantry!

I will warn you, though – this is one of those “salads” in name only! It’s truly a dessert salad, so don’t plant to bring it as a side dish to a dinner potluck. Or you could bring it and just be the hero that brought the amazing dessert everyone loved!

To watch the video recipe tutorial, scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of this post!

Can I substitute light sour cream for regular?

Absolutely! I’ve done that in this recipe and it still tastes wonderful.

Can Greek yogurt be substituted for the sour cream?

I wouldn’t recommend this exchange. The sour cream just offsets the sweetness in the fruit so well!

Can this ambrosia salad recipe be frozen?

No. Due to the sour cream, it’s not able to be frozen.

How to make this ambrosia salad recipe:

In a large mixing bowl, add in drained pineapple chunks and drained mandarin oranges.

Add in miniature marshmallows, coconut, and sour cream.

Mix all ingredients well.

Cover with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator at least 2 hours before serving.

Serve cold!

How many people does this ambrosia salad recipe serve?

This batch makes about 10 cups of salad, so around 8 – 10 servings total.

Can this recipe be doubled?

Absolutely! This is a classic “one-cup salad” so you can increase the recipe by 1 cup of each ingredient as needed for potlucks and parties.

How long does this ambrosia salad last in the refrigerator?

It’s best to consume this ambrosia within 3 – 5 days. Be sure to keep it tightly covered in the refrigerator between serving times.

More favorite dessert recipes for parties:

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