Ma’ Southern Ambrosia Salad is a delicious southern fruit salad that’s the perfect side dish for any family dinner or cookout! It’s a chilled fruit salad made with pineapple, mandarin oranges, green grapes, marshmallows, coconut and walnuts.
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This amazing Southern Ambrosia Salad recipe is one that I found in one of my grandma’s recipe binders. I have quite a little collection of vintage recipes thanks to her and this is one that we’ve fallen in love with. I’m so glad to be sharing this with y’all for the 2nd recipes of this year’s #SummerDessertWeek event!
Now, I know that some recipes for Southern Ambrosia Salad have cool whip, whipping cream and sour cream mixed into them but this recipe does not! It uses vanilla yogurt to hold everything together and I love it so much more than the sour cream version!
What you’ll need to make Southern Ambrosia Salad: (amounts in recipe below)
- vanilla yogurt
- sugar
- pineapple chunks
- mandarin oranges
- green seedless grapes
- mini marshmallows
- shredded coconut (sweetened or unsweetened)
- chopped walnuts
How to make Ma’ Southern Ambrosia Salad:
This is what I like to call a mix and done recipe!
You’re pretty much just going to toss everything into a large bowl, mix it all together and then pop it into the fridge to chill before serving it! Easy Peasy!
Changes you can make:
Leave out the walnuts if you’re allergic.
Add green seedless grapes and red seedless grapes.
Add in drained maraschino cherries.
More Southern recipes to make:
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS & EXPERT TIPS
It is named after the after the food of the Greek and Roman gods because at one point the ingredients were luxurious ingreditants and you only has this dish on holidays and for special occasions.
Ambrosia salad, when stored in the fridge, is good for about 4 days.
There are lots of different variations of Ambrosia Salad, this is just one recipe that my grandmother used. If you want to add cherries, they would be great in this recipe.
I try to make sure that this salad has at least an hour to chill before servings it but I prefer to let it chill for 3-4 hours.
Of course! I think the colored marshmallows give it more of a 1960s look!
I don’t put nuts in ambrosia salad when I make it but you can certainly add them.
Southern Ambrosia Salad
Ma' Southern Ambrosia Salad
Ma’ Southern Ambrosia Salad is a delicious southern fruit salad that’s the perfect side dish for any family dinner or cookout! It’s a chilled fruit salad made with pineapple, mandarin oranges, green grapes, marshmallows, coconut and walnuts.
Ingredients
- 1 cup vanilla yogurt
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 (20 ounce) can pineapple chunks, drained
- 1 (11 ounce) can mandarin oranges, drained
- 2 cups green seedless grapes
- 1 cup mini marshmallows
- 1 cup shredded coconut (sweetened or unsweetened)
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Instructions
In a large bowl, mix together yogurt and sugar.
Add everything else to bowl and stir until combined and everything is covered in yogurt mixture.
Chill about 1 hour before serving.
Notes
This particular recipes does not include Cool Whip or Cherries. I have seen them in other ambrosia recipes and you're more than welcome to mix them in.
This is best if eaten the day of of the next day but can keep in the fridge for about 3 days.
Give this a good stir before serving!
If you make this recipe, snap a picture and share it on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter with the hashtag #bigbearswife —
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Welcome to the 4th Annual #SummerDessertWeek event hosted by Angie from Big Bear’s Wife. We’re celebrating all things summer with a week-long event that is absolutely filled with some of the best summer dessert recipes! Follow the hashtag #SummerDessertWeek on social media to find recipes and make sure to check out the bottom of this post for even more summer desserts!
Check out the amazing #SummerDessertWeek recipes from our bloggers today!
Ice Cream & Chilled Desserts:
- Southern Ambrosia Salad from Big Bear’s Wife
- No Churn Triple Berry Ice Cream from Nik Snacks
- Key Lime Pie Jell-O Shots from Sweet ReciPEAs
Sweet Summertime Cakes and Cupcakes:
- Chocolate Pound Cake from Savory Experiments
Baked Desserts:
- Brownie Batter Macarons from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
I love everything about this ambrosia salad! So simple to throw together and perfect for summer parties!
Thank you!!
This reminds me of Nana’s church luncheons. Such a nostalgic time and nostalgic recipe for me. I am adding this to the summer menu.
I love it when recipes bring back memories like that!