Ambrosia Fruit Salad: The Ultimate Creamy Vintage Dessert Recipe
Creamy Ambrosia Fruit Salad is the ultimate vintage dessert recipe that’s perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth. After making this for countless potlucks and holidays, I’ve discovered the trick to keeping it creamy and dreamy is all in the folding. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Baked Beef and Ricotta Stuffed Shells and French Onion Chicken Orzo.
Why This Ambrosia Fruit Salad: The Ultimate Creamy Vintage Dessert Recipe Is Pure Comfort
- A perfect blend of creamy and fruity flavors
- Easy to make with just 10 minutes of prep
- Always a hit at potlucks and holidays
- A taste of nostalgia that everyone will love
What You'll Need for Ambrosia Fruit Salad: The Ultimate Creamy Vintage Dessert Recipe
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- Canned pineapple
- Canned mandarin oranges
- Cream cheese
- Sweetened condensed milk
- Heavy whipping cream
- Maraschino cherries
- Vanilla extract
- Coconut flakes
- Whipped cream (optional, for topping)
- Optional: Chopped pecans
- Optional: Toasted coconut flakes
- Optional: Maraschino cherries (for garnish)
📝 Ingredient Notes
- Canned pineapple: Drain the juice before adding to the salad.
- Canned mandarin oranges: Drain the juice before adding to the salad.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Stand mixer — Makes whipping cream a breeze for a fluffy topping. → See on Amazon
- Canning jar set — Perfect for storing leftovers and making ahead. → See on Amazon
How to Make Ambrosia Fruit Salad: The Ultimate Creamy Vintage Dessert Recipe
- Prepare the fruit: Drain the juice from the canned pineapple and mandarin oranges. Combine the fruit in a large bowl.
- Make the creamy mixture: In a separate bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the sweetened condensed milk and vanilla extract, then beat until well combined.
- Fold in the creamy mixture: Gently fold the creamy mixture into the fruit until well coated. Be careful not to mash the fruit.
- Chill and serve: Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. When ready to serve, fold in the heavy whipping cream and top with your desired toppings.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Ambrosia Fruit Salad: The Ultimate Creamy Vintage Dessert Recipe
- : For a lighter version, use light cream cheese and fat-free sweetened condensed milk.
- Common mistake and fix: Avoid overmixing the fruit and creamy mixture to prevent mashing the fruit. Gently folding is key.
- : Make ahead and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- : Add your favorite nuts or dried fruits for extra crunch and flavor.
Storing & Reheating Ambrosia Fruit Salad: The Ultimate Creamy Vintage Dessert Recipe
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: Make ahead and refrigerate for up to 2 hours before serving.
Freezing Ambrosia Fruit Salad: The Ultimate Creamy Vintage Dessert Recipe
Not recommended for freezing.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Not applicable. Microwave: Not applicable.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a fun twist, try adding a layer of crushed pineapple or mandarin oranges to the bottom of the serving dish before adding the salad.
- Best substitution: Substitute the canned pineapple and mandarin oranges with fresh fruit for a lighter, healthier version.
- Make-ahead: Make ahead and refrigerate for up to 2 hours before serving.
- Scaling: Easily double or triple the recipe for larger crowds.
- Troubleshooting: If the salad is too thick, add a splash of pineapple juice or mandarin orange juice to thin it out.
Want to level up this recipe?
Maraschino cherries — Add a pop of color and a burst of flavor to every bite. → Check price on Amazon
Ambrosia Fruit Salad: The Ultimate Creamy Vintage Dessert Recipe
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- Canned pineapple
- Canned mandarin oranges
- Cream cheese
- Sweetened condensed milk
- Heavy whipping cream
- Maraschino cherries
Seasonings
- Vanilla extract
- Coconut flakes
- Whipped cream (optional, for topping)
Optional Toppings
- Chopped pecans
- Toasted coconut flakes
- Maraschino cherries (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare the fruit: Drain the juice from the canned pineapple and mandarin oranges. Combine the fruit in a large bowl.
- Make the creamy mixture: In a separate bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the sweetened condensed milk and vanilla extract, then beat until well combined.
- Fold in the creamy mixture: Gently fold the creamy mixture into the fruit until well coated. Be careful not to mash the fruit.
- Chill and serve: Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. When ready to serve, fold in the heavy whipping cream and top with your desired toppings.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a fun twist, try adding a layer of crushed pineapple or mandarin oranges to the bottom of the serving dish before adding the salad.
- Best substitution: Substitute the canned pineapple and mandarin oranges with fresh fruit for a lighter, healthier version.
- Make-ahead: Make ahead and refrigerate for up to 2 hours before serving.
- Scaling: Easily double or triple the recipe for larger crowds.
- Troubleshooting: If the salad is too thick, add a splash of pineapple juice or mandarin orange juice to thin it out.
Storage
- Fridge: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Not recommended for freezing.
- Oven reheat: Not applicable.
- Microwave reheat: Not applicable.
- Make ahead: Make ahead and refrigerate for up to 2 hours before serving.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 270
- Protein: 2g
- Fat: 14g
- Carbs: 37g
- Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 32g
- Sodium: 40mg
- Cholesterol: 45mg
- Sat. Fat: 9g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Ambrosia Fruit Salad: The Ultimate Creamy Vintage Dessert Recipe FAQs
Yes, make ahead and refrigerate for up to 2 hours before serving. Add the whipped cream and toppings just before serving.
This could be due to overmixing or not draining the juice from the canned fruit. Make sure to drain the juice and gently fold the creamy mixture into the fruit.
Not recommended for freezing. The texture of the fruit will change upon thawing.
Not applicable. This is a no-cook recipe.
Substitute with fresh pineapple for a lighter, healthier version.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Ambrosia Fruit Salad: The Ultimate Creamy Vintage Dessert Recipe and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
