With a variety of fresh fruit, whipped cream, walnuts, and marshmallows, Ambrosia Fruit Salad is ready in minutes. The perfect summer dessert to bring to your next potluck!
Easy Ambrosia Fruit Salad Recipe
This ambrosia recipe is my twist on the classic creamy fruit salad. Instead of fruit cocktail and heavy cream, my version uses a variety of fresh fruits, canned oranges, coconut, and nuts tossed with Cool Whip. It’s light, it’s easy, and it makes a wonderful dessert.
I make ambrosia fruit salad pretty regularly in the summer – it’s a great way to take advantage of the abundance of fresh berries. It also makes a lovely addition to summer gatherings.
For more fun ways to serve fruit, try my Tropical Fruit Salad, Fruit Pizza, and Rainbow Fruit Skewers with Yogurt Fruit Dip.
Why You’ll Love This Ambrosia Fruit Salad
- Quick and easy. Ambrosia takes just minutes to prepare, as it’s literally just as easy as combining all ingredients in a bowl.
- Perfect for summer. I love to serve this during the summer as not only is it a light and refreshing dessert, but there’s no baking required. Plus it’s easy to make it for a crowd!
- Customizable. Perhaps the best thing about this ambrosia fruit salad dessert is that there are endless ways to customize it. I’ve included several suggestions below!
Recipe Ingredients
This ambrosia recipe is made with a variety of fresh fruits plus a few add-ins. See the printable recipe card below for measurements.
- Fresh fruit – I used a combination of pineapple, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, and bananas in my ambrosia fruit salad.
- Nuts – Walnuts or pecans, your choice!
- Canned mandarin oranges – Drain before adding to the soup.
- Shredded coconut flakes & marshmallows – Add flavor and texture to the fruit salad.
- Tru Whip – Light cool whip works too!
How to Make Ambrosia Salad
It couldn’t be any easier to make Ambrosia! Here’s how to do it:
- Mix ingredients together. Combine fruit with cream, coconut, and marshmallows.
- Chill. Place in the fridge to chill for 2 hours.
- Serve. Portion into single serving containers and top with nuts.
Ambrosia Variations
There are many different ways to customize ambrosia fruit salad to your preferences and what you have on hand. Here are a few ideas.
- Add or swap in fruit. If there’s a fruit that you don’t have or like, feel free to omit it and add in more of one of your favorites. You can also add other fruits like grapes or peaches.
- Switch up the nuts. Pistachios are a great alternative to pecans or walnuts.
- Use fresh citrus. I used canned mandarin oranges for ease but you can absolutely use fresh oranges in this recipe.
- Add maraschino cherries. For a pop of color, add a few maraschino cherries to the top of the salad before serving. I do not recommend mixing them in, as it will turn the cool whip pink.
- Try using my Yogurt Whipped Cream instead of Cool Whip. It adds a different flavor and texture but tastes just as good!
Can I Make This In Advance?
Ambrosia fruit salad can be made several hours in advance. In fact, I think it tastes best when it’s add some time to chill. However, I would not make this more than a few hours or a day in advance, as it can become runny and fresh fruit does not have a long shelf life.
More Fruit Dessert Recipes You’ll Love
- Flaugnarde of Mixed Berries
- 3-Ingredient Baked Bananas
- Red, White and Blueberry Trifle
- Raspberry Yogurt Ice Pops
- Strawberry Romanoff
Ambrosia Salad
Ingredients
- 1 cup mandarin oranges
- 1 cup fresh pineapple, diced
- 1 cup blueberries
- 1 cup blackberries
- 1 1/2 cup strawberries, sliced
- 2 medium bananas, sliced
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
- 4 tbsp sweetened shredded coconut flakes
- 1 cup mini marshmallows
- 8 oz Tru Whip Skinny, or Coco Whip Light
Instructions
- Combine fruit with cream, coconut, and marshmallows.
- Chill for 2 hours and serve.
- Top with nuts.
Beautiful twist on old ideas
I love this salad! But the true whip melts and turns into a soupy mess (albeit tasty). Am I doing something wrong?
Yum,can not wait to make.
You have to eat it within 8 hours, right?
Yes
Do you use plain yogurt or vanilla?
Oh my stars, this sounds so cool, light and refreshing for a summer dessert eaten under the stars. Heading to the grocery for the ingredients this week.
Made with 1/2 Cool Whip and 1/2 nonfat Greek yogurt – was delicious, cut sweetness and just a little gentler on points! Skinnytaste recipes are real game-changers… thank you!
I have a question: to make 4 servings how do I measuire 0.36 cup; 0.55 cup; 0.73 cup; 0.18 cup; 1.45 tbsp; 2.91 oz; Thank you.
.3 is 1/3, .5 is 1/2, .73 is 3/4, .18 is 2 tbsp, 1.5 tbsp is 1 1/2 tbsp.
Ambrosia holds a special place in my heart, just like “rolled sandwiches “. Yes, I’m dating myself. In my community, these treats are saved for special occasions like bridal and baby showers. I know I never really felt like I was getting married until I walked into my Grandmothers home, long after she passed on and my Aunts and neighbor ladies had thrown me a surprise shower. When I walked into the kitchen to get lunch I burst into tears when I saw her old farmhouse table once again Kaiden with all these doe ail treats I had treasured from my childhood. Thank you so much for recognizing the value in recipes such as these and keeping them alive in a healthier way. ❤️ And for reminding me of some very happy and treasured memories.
Aww that is really special, thanks for sharing your memories!
Cool Whip? Seriously? Cream is healthier!
It’s trup whip. Non GMO, No high-fructose corn syrup. No preservatives. No hydrogenated oils.
Ambrosia in Brazil is a sweet made of curdled milk boiled in a lot of sugar. I think this version might be tastier.
I am sure it’s very different but that sounds yummy
This hit the spot for a sweet tooth! I omitted the banana ( health reasons) but this was so good. Another winner!
Amazing!
I will try this, you can get kosher marshallows at a health food store near you, or leave them out. I like to use greek yogurt in fruit salads. It is good and healthy for you. I joined WW in Feb. 2014 and I have lost 30 lbs. thanks for the good recipes. I will share them at my WW meetings.
This was wonderful! Great as breakfast too!
ok, I feel like an idiot asking this one… I see that the berries and pineapple are fresh… does that mean the mandarin oranges are canned?? And if so, do I drain them first? I couldn't find fresh in my local market so I'm confused. Thanks.
Shari
yes, the mandarin oranges are canned and drained.
Never tried it with Greek yogurt, let me know how it turns out if you do.
It was great with Greek yogurt
oh and also just wondering do you have any recipes for fourth of july coming up? I would really love to bring something delicious yet healthy to our family get together? Thanks!
Points plus is updated!
Hey, just wondering if you could post the new points + for this recipe, looks fantastic but can't figure out the new point + value. Thanks Gina!
K
Hi Gina! Can you update the points plus on this recipe? I can't wait to try it 🙂
I love ambrosia!! I've been craving it this month, thanks for leaving a comment. I think I'll treat myself again!
Tried this last night and really liked it! Had leftovers today and drizzled a little bit of honey on top which tasted yummy too.
I love ambrosia! Glad the kids liked it, this has always been a favorite of mine, even as a kid. Great for the summer!
This was grea!!! I made small changes…not a walnut fan but the kids loved and it was just what I was looking for when searching for a light version of ambrosia salad!!! I love your site and come to it often to get ideas when I need to shake up my daily menus…I have lost 63 lbs so far and you help keep it interesting.
That's great, glad you found me! I've never had a Weight Watchers cook book, but others have mentioned the same thing. What kind of ingredients are you talking about?
Wow! I just came upon this site and I'm so happy. You have recipes that look great and are easy to make. I belong to weight watchers and I think their cook books have recipes I wouldn't try because they call for off the wall ingredients. Not true with yours these are awesome! Thanks and keep up the great work.
What a compliment!!
Thank you so much for all the wonderful recipes. This is the very first time I have seen recipes that made me want to get to goal. Can't thank you enough for all the hard work you have put into this site. I subscribed only three days ago and I'm so addicted.
I CAME UPON YOUR WEB SITE WHILE LOOKING FOR WEIGHT WATCHER DESSERT RECIPES.
I HAVE BEEN BROWSING THESE PAGES FOR OVER AN HOUR.
WHAT A WONDER SITE.
THANK YOU AND KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.
@NewWW – Good for you!! Hope to see you back!
I just started WW today and I am so grateful for your site. Thank you for posting all of these amazing recipes; it makes me very positive that I can succeed on WW.
@Steve, thanks for letting me know that! I had no idea.
A friend just hipped me to your great site. I’m a vegan and I’m always looking for interesting recipes. Just one thing I must point out–the Skinny Ambrosia Salad is not vegan (not even vegetarian, in fact). Marshmallows are made with gelatin, which is an animal product. Vegan marshmallows are out there, but they are not widely available, so I’d caution your vegan and veggie readers they will have to seek them out if they want to try this dish.
GREAT VERSION!!!! this is perfect for me: for some odd reason, ambrosias are part of our traditional holiday menu, so I know I’ll be putting this bad boy tot he test soon!
Thanks Gina!
oohh I wish I had some of this right NOW! YUM!
Great way to end any meal!