Vintage 1950s Ambrosia Salad with Whipped Cream
Retro fruit salad combining canned mandarin oranges, pineapple, maraschino cherries, and fresh grapes with marshmallows, coconut, and walnuts folded into whipped cream and sour cream. A nostalgic dessert that chills for hours to meld flavors and soften the marshmallows.
Ingredients
- 3 15 oz Dole mandarin oranges, drained
- 3 20 oz Dole pineapple tidbits, drained
- 3 16 oz Regal maraschino cherries, drained, stems removed, halved if desired
- 3 cup green grapes, washed and halved
- 4 ½ cup mini marshmallows, Jet-Puffed FunMallows alternative
- 1 ½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- 1 cup walnut tidbits, pecans alternativepecans1:1nut
similar texture and flavor
- 3 ¾ cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 ½ cup sour cream
- ¼ cup granulated sugar(optional)
Instructions
- 1
Open and drain the canned fruit well; if time permits, drain in a strainer for 30 minutes
- 2
Wash and cut grapes in half
- 3
Remove stems from maraschino cherries if attached, cut in half, and reserve a few whole cherries for topping
- 4
Whip heavy cream in a cold bowl using a hand mixer with wire whip attachment for 4 to 5 minutes until soft to medium peaks form
- 5
Fold whipped cream into sour cream
- 6
Sweeten with sugar if desired
- 7
Stir mini marshmallows, shredded coconut, and nut tidbits into the whipped cream mixture
- 8
Stir in pineapple, grapes, and cherries
- 9
Add mandarin oranges last and stir to combine
- 10
Chill at least 2 hours and up to 24 hours before serving
- 11
Serve cold topped with a reserved cherry
Tips
Drain canned fruit in a strainer for 30 minutes if time allows for better texture
Add mandarin oranges last to prevent them from breaking apart during mixing
Chilling blends flavors, chills fruit, and softens marshmallows and coconut
Good to Know
Cover and refrigerate up to 24 hours. Do not freeze due to whipped cream and canned fruit texture.
Prepare through step 6 up to 8 hours ahead. Add drained fruit, chill, and serve within 24 hours.
Serve cold directly from the refrigerator, garnished with a reserved maraschino cherry on top of each serving.
Common Mistakes
Do not skip draining fruit to avoid excess liquid making the salad watery
Do not overwhip cream to avoid breaking it; stop at soft to medium peaks
Do not add mandarin oranges early to avoid them breaking apart from stirring