Every Southerner knows that Ambrosia Salad is a wonderful creamy fruit salad that usually makes an appearance at family reunions and holiday parties either as a side dish or dessert. No matter when you serve it though it’s always a crowd pleaser.
The holidays are almost here and for my family that means spending time together sharing making special memories. It also means one other very important thing… food. If you haven’t caught on by now around here we like to eat.
I know you’re thinking who cares about food. I’ve got a house to clean and decorate. Then I need to buy a ton of presents. I’ll worry about the menu later.
I know that’s what I keep thinking too. But, take just a minute to remember those holidays of your childhood. You might remember a few presents if they were particularly good or really bad. Maybe that crazy aunt that came every year with the green jello?
Probably next thing you thought that special dish that you only had at Thanksgiving or Christmas. Maybe it was dressing or green bean casserole? Maybe it was a special cake or pie? Every family has at least one dish that they look forward to every year. For us that’s this Ambrosia.
My grandmother made Ambrosia every Thanksgiving and Christmas. It was as certain as the turkey. For a few years after she passed away no one made it. I’m not really sure that anyone noticed or if they did no one mentioned it. It just wasn’t on the table.
Then a few years ago I started hosting Thanksgiving in our home. So when it came time to plan the menu Ambrosia was at the top of the list. One of the most precious moments of that first Thanksgiving was my Daddy telling me he’d like me to it again for Christmas. I still smile thinking thinking about that memory.
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Happy Cooking Y’all!
Susanne
Holiday Ambrosia Salad
Ambrosia Salad is a creamy fruit salad that's perfect for feeding a crowd at Thanksgiving or Christmas.
Ingredients
- 1 15 oz. can fruit cocktail in juice drained
- 1 11 oz. can Mandarin oranges drained
- 1 8 oz. can pineapple tidbits drained
- 1 cup Maraschino cherries drained
- 1 cup white seedless grapes
- 1/2 cup coconut flakes
- 1 cup marshmallows
- 1-2 cups cool whip
Instructions
- In a large bowl stir together fruit cocktail, Mandarin oranges, and pineapple using a rubber spatula
- Add in whipped cream a spoon full at a time until it us well combined
- Chill in the refrigerator over night
- (Sometimes a broken cherry will turn the salad pink in places. So yours might not look exactly like mine. But it will still taste great!)
Susanne, your ambrosia salad is a blast from the past for me too! YUMMY! Thanks for the recipe
Oh, what a pretty salad! My name is Katie and I host Fall Into the Holidays, now open. All entries get pinned. I would love to have you link up!
Yummy! We have something similar to this every year & I love it. Can’t wait to try this recipe. Visiting from Someday Crafts 🙂
Yum! I remember eating similar salads when I was a child, such wonderful memories this brings back! Visiting from What’d You Do This Weekend?
Thank you for posting on Motivation Monday!
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful creativity on The Inspiration Board at homework. I loved your project and featured you today!
Have a wonderful weekend!
carolyn ~ homework
I had forgotten about Ambrosia – we used to have it at family dinners as well! It was lovely to read about your family traditions and your memories of your MeeMaw. Thank you for sharing this delicious recipe with us at the Hearth and Soul hop. Pinning!
This looks so good! Is this the recipe she used as well? We may have to add that one into our holiday meal as well 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing the recipe, it will be featured in tonight’s What’d You Do This Weekend! Pinned 🙂
Ashley @ PioneerMomma.com
Just wanted to let you know that I will be featuring your Holiday Ambrosia Salad in my Hearth and Soul post later today. Thank you again for sharing it!
It’s amazing how food can bring a flood over memories and give you a hug from the past. Sweet potato casserole does the same thing to me. (and hug from me too, MeeMaw would be proud)
The picture clearly shows coconut. My mom used to make this and it had coconut. Always an easy dessert and a family favorite!
OH MY GOODNESS THIS LOOKS SO GOOD! Thank you for posting it in the MPM roundup! I’m adding it to my Christmas menu.
I like this stuff Thanks for posting it
I’ve been making this salad which I just called ( Fruit Salad s ) sense 1960 and I make it for Thanksgiving every year, I didn’t make it one year and they were not happy campers. I have to it when I make a Ham also it is a tradition this salad. I also made different Fruit Salads but but no they want this Fruit Salad, So yes this is a great Fruit Salad