Classic Ambrosia Salad

Here’s a salad that’s great for potlucks, picnics, or just for fun. And who doesn’t love the idea of Cool Whip as your dressing? Classic Ambrosia Salad is a wonderful combination of flavorful fruits, throw in some pecans for a crunch, then your smooth and creamy dressing made of Cool Whip with sour cream. Oh! And definitely don’t forget the mini marshmallows.

What’s the trick?

Drain those cans. Simple, right? It’s easy, just drain the juice until you think all of the juice is gone, then drain them some more. I use a wire basket strainer that rests on top of the sink, but drains into the sink. It has a handle that makes it easy for tossing, so every once in a while I give it a toss and more juice comes out. The cherries really need to be drained, because of that beautiful red color. After dicing the cherries up, try patting them dry with a paper towel.

Aside from draining and measuring, you can mix everything up in one bowl. Did I mention this was easy?

Make this Classic Ambrosia Salad ahead of time, or wait until the last minute…it’s all good.

Just to give you a heads-up, the longer it sits, the more likely the cherry juice will stain the Cool Whip and mini marshmallows.

This is not necessarily a bad thing, just don’t be surprised the next day if you give it a stir and the dressing goes from white to pink.

If you want it pink, just don’t pat the cherries dry.

Either way it’s pretty and tastes great.

The different textures in this Classic Ambrosia Salad is part of it’s charm. You have smooth and creamy, then crunchy and fluffy (marshmallows).

In addition, you have the sweetness of the fruit and the tanginess of the sour cream.

It’s also versatile. What I mean is that you can add your favorites to it, like bananas or pears, apples are great, too. Have fun with it.

What else can I do with Classic Ambrosia Salad?

Well, I’m glad you asked. I asked myself the same question not long ago for the reason that this recipe makes a lot.

I decided to fill cupcakes with it. Oh yummy! Check out my Tropical Ambrosia Cupcakes for a fun way to use a small portion of the salad.

You’ll still have the majority of the salad just as a salad, so fill those cupcakes up!

Don’t forget to pin one of these to your Pinterest board. Here are some great sizes.

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