Pioneer Woman Ambrosia Salad

Pioneer woman ambrosia salad is an easy no-bake fruit salad made with cream cheese, mandarin oranges, pineapple and marshmallows, ready in 15 minutes. That makes it a crowd favorite for Christmas brunch, baby showers or potluck spreads, since it tastes even better after a night in the fridge.

Whipping the cream cheese until completely smooth before folding in the heavy cream is the step that decides the texture. If lumps survive that first mix, they’ll stay in the finished salad and no amount of stirring will get them out.

Fresh pink grapefruit on top sets this version apart from the standard ambrosia you see at every gathering. Its bitterness cuts through all that sweetness, so each bite tastes balanced instead of one-note sugary.

Pioneer Woman Ambrosia Salad

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Course: Side DishCuisine: American, SouthernDifficulty: Easy

Servings

8

servings

Prep time

15

minutes

Cooking timeminutes

Calories

395

kcal

A cream cheese-stabilized whipped cream folded with canned citrus, pineapple, coconut and marshmallows, then chilled overnight so the filling turns soft, cool and scoopable.

Ingredients

• 4 oz. cream cheese, softened
  

• 1/4 c. powdered sugar
  

• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  

• 1 c. heavy whipping cream
  

• 1/2 c. sour cream
  

• 1 (15-oz.) can mandarin oranges, drained
  

• 1 (20-oz.) can pineapple tidbits, drained
  

• 2 c. mini marshmallows
  

• 3/4 c. shredded sweetened coconut
  

• 8 maraschino cherries
  

• 1 pink grapefruit, peeled and cut into sections
  

• 1/3 c. toasted coconut chips

Directions

• Beat the cream cheese: Add the cream cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla to a mixing bowl, then beat on medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Once it's lump-free, transfer the mixture to a small bowl.
• Whip the cream: Once the bowl is free, add the heavy cream and beat on medium speed until soft peaks form, about 1 to 2 minutes. Then add the cream cheese mixture back and continue whipping until stiff peaks form before folding in the sour cream.
• Fold in the fruit: Add the mandarin oranges, pineapple, marshmallows and shredded coconut to the bowl, then gently fold everything together. Once combined, transfer the mixture to a 2-quart casserole dish or bowl and chill overnight or up to 24 hours.
• Top and serve: Just before serving, top with the cherries, grapefruit sections and coconut chips, because those toppings lose their crunch if added too early.

Tools for this recipe

• KitchenAid 5-speed hand mixer, OXO silicone spatula set, Pyrex 3-piece glass mixing bowl set, Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon vanilla extract, 8 oz. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

FAQs

Can I use Cool Whip instead of homemade whipped cream?

You can, but the texture will be different since Cool Whip is airier and doesn’t hold up as well overnight. By contrast, homemade stabilized whipped cream gives the salad a denser body that holds through a full day in the fridge.

Can I make ambrosia salad without cream cheese?

The cream cheese keeps the whipped cream from deflating, so leaving it out means the salad will turn thin and watery. If you need a swap, mascarpone works the same way and adds a slightly milder flavor.

Can I freeze ambrosia salad?

Freezing breaks down the whipped cream base and turns the fruit mushy once thawed, so it’s not a good option for meal prep. Instead, mix everything except the toppings up to 24 hours ahead, then add the cherries, grapefruit and coconut chips right before serving.

Do I need an electric mixer for this recipe?

An electric mixer makes the whipping faster, but a whisk works if you have patience for about 5 to 8 minutes of steady effort. Either way, make sure the cream cheese is completely smooth first, since lumps won’t come out once the cream goes in.

Why does my ambrosia salad turn runny?

The most common cause is not draining the canned fruit enough, because extra juice thins out the cream base overnight. To prevent it, pat the oranges and pineapple dry with paper towels after draining, and whip the cream to stiff peaks before folding.