🍍🍊 Grandma’s Holiday Ambrosia Salad – A Classic Creamy Fruit Dessert Everyone Loves

If you’re looking for a simple, refreshing, and crowd-pleasing dessert, this Grandma’s Holiday Ambrosia Salad is the perfect choice. Made with juicy pineapple, sweet mandarin oranges, cherries, fluffy mini marshmallows, and a creamy dressing, this timeless recipe has been a favorite at family gatherings and holiday celebrations for generations.

Best of all, it requires no baking and comes together in just minutes, making it an ideal make-ahead dessert for any occasion.

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📋 Recipe Information

* Prep Time: 10 minutes

* Chill Time: 2 hours

* Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes

* Servings: 8

* Difficulty Level: Easy

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🛒 Ingredients

* 1 (16 oz / 450 g) container sour cream

* 1 (20 oz / 560 g) can pineapple chunks, drained

* 1 (15 oz / 425 g) can mandarin oranges, drained

* 1 cup maraschino cherries, drained

* 4 cups mini marshmallows

* 1 cup shredded coconut (optional)

* ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)

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👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. Prepare the Creamy Base

In a large mixing bowl, combine the sour cream and mini marshmallows. Stir until evenly mixed.

2. Add the Fruit

Gently fold in the pineapple chunks, mandarin oranges, and maraschino cherries. Mix carefully to keep the fruit intact.

3. Add Optional Ingredients

For extra flavor and texture, stir in the shredded coconut and chopped nuts.

4. Chill

Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. This allows the flavors to blend and the marshmallows to soften slightly.

5. Serve

Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with extra cherries or mandarin orange segments before serving.

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💡 Tips for the Best Ambrosia Salad

* Drain all canned fruit thoroughly to prevent excess liquid.

* For a lighter texture, replace half of the sour cream with whipped topping.

* Make it a day ahead for even better flavor.

* Add grapes or diced apples for extra freshness.

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🥘 Approximate Nutritional Information (Per Serving)

* Calories: 280

* Protein: 3 g

* Carbohydrates: 38 g

* Fat: 12 g

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🎉 Perfect Occasions

* Holiday dinners

* Family gatherings

* Potluck parties

* Summer celebrations

* Birthday parties

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❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This classic Ambrosia Salad is creamy, fruity, sweet, and incredibly easy to prepare. It’s the perfect balance of refreshing fruit and fluffy marshmallows, creating a nostalgic dessert that never goes out of style.