TL;DR
Get kitchen gear delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
The Kitchn has published a new ambrosia salad recipe that takes about 15 minutes to prepare and makes roughly eight cups, or six to eight servings. It combines canned pineapple and mandarin oranges, mini marshmallows and coconut with a whipped cream and sour cream base; the recipe recommends chilling it before serving.
The Kitchn has published a new ambrosia salad recipe that takes about 15 minutes to prepare and makes approximately eight cups, enough for six to eight servings. The recipe pairs canned fruit, mini marshmallows and shredded coconut with a freshly whipped cream and sour cream base, offering readers a make-ahead dessert or side dish for gatherings.
The recipe’s main ingredients are crushed canned pineapple, canned mandarin oranges, mini marshmallows and sweetened shredded coconut. For the creamy base, it calls for heavy cream whipped with powdered sugar and vanilla, followed by sour cream. The directions say to drain the fruit, fold the ingredients together gently, and chill the mixture so its flavors can meld.
Green grapes and chopped pecans are optional additions, included for freshness and crunch. The recipe tester, Shelley Wang, said those ingredients improved the texture. The source lists pound cake, baked ham and smoked ribs as possible accompaniments, and notes that ambrosia has traditionally been served with pound cake and coffee after a heavy meal.
The Kitchn says frozen whipped topping can replace freshly whipped cream, and suggests swaps such as peaches for mandarins or mango for pineapple. It advises draining substitute fruit well to limit excess liquid. Leftovers are recommended for no more than one day in an airtight container in the refrigerator; the recipe says freezing can damage the fruit and creamy texture.
A Make-Ahead Dish for Gatherings
The recipe gives home cooks a short-preparation option for potlucks, holiday tables and family meals. Its reliance on canned fruit and pantry ingredients keeps chopping and cooking to a minimum, while the optional grapes and pecans let cooks add texture. Since the dish can be prepared ahead and chilled, the instructions may help readers plan a dessert or side without last-minute cooking.
The guidance also sets practical limits: the salad is best served after a brief rest in the refrigerator, but the source recommends keeping leftovers only briefly. That matters because the marshmallows soften and liquid can pool over time, changing the finished dish.
Products Worth Considering
KitchenAid Artisan Mini Tilt-Head Stand Mixer, 3.5 Qt, Contour Silver
KitchenAid Artisan 5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer, Almond Cream
Ninja French Door Premier 10-in-1 Air Fry Oven, 20.3 Qt, Stainless Steel, FO101
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
A Retro Fruit Salad Returns
The Kitchn describes ambrosia salad as a retro, creamy fruit salad associated with church potlucks and holiday meals. The article traces its roots to the late 1800s, when oranges and coconut were considered luxury ingredients, and links the name to ambrosia, the food of the gods. That historical account is background supplied by the recipe article, not a new finding announced with the recipe.
The dish is presented alongside other nostalgic party foods, including deviled eggs and cheese balls, and compared with Watergate salad and frog eye salad. The new recipe keeps to a familiar combination of fruit, coconut and marshmallows, while using a whipped cream and sour cream base.
““Don’t sleep on the grapes and pecans! Adding them gave the salad better texture and a great crunch.””
— Shelley Wang, The Kitchn recipe tester
Serving and Storage Limits
The source provides a recipe and serving estimate, but it does not report independent testing beyond the recipe tester’s comments or provide nutritional information in the supplied material. The exact date of publication is also not included; the report says only that it was published about two hours earlier.
The recipe advises refrigeration and says leftovers keep for up to one day, but the supplied article does not give a specific food-safety temperature or a maximum time the salad can sit out at a gathering. Its note that frozen whipped topping holds up better at a potluck is a recipe suggestion, not a stated guarantee of safe serving time.
Chill Before Serving
The recipe’s next step for readers is to chill the assembled salad before serving, allowing the flavors to meld and the marshmallows to soften. The source does not announce a follow-up, event or additional publication tied to the recipe. Cooks can choose the listed optional ingredients and substitutions, while following the article’s advice to keep the salad refrigerated and use leftovers within one day.
Key Questions
How long does the ambrosia salad take to make?
The Kitchn lists 15 minutes of preparation time and no cooking time. It also recommends chilling the salad before serving.
How many servings does the recipe make?
The recipe makes about eight cups and is listed as serving six to eight people.
Can whipped topping replace heavy cream?
Yes. The Kitchn says frozen whipped topping, such as Cool Whip, can be used instead of freshly whipped heavy cream.
How long can leftovers be stored?
The recipe recommends storing leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one day. It says longer storage can affect the marshmallows’ texture and cause liquid to pool.
Can ambrosia salad be frozen?
The Kitchn advises against freezing it, saying that freezing can damage the texture of both the creamy base and the fruit.
Source: thekitchn.com
