• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Southern Discourse

Southern Discourse

Food, Faith & Southern Hospitality!

  • Recipes
    • Appetizers & Snacks
    • Beverages
    • Bread
    • Breakfast & Brunch
    • Casseroles
    • Desserts
    • Main Dishes
    • Salads
    • Sandwiches
    • Sauces & Dressings
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups
    • All Recipes
    • Recipe Collections
  • Hospitality
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Everyday
  • Shop
  • About
  • Subscribe
Home › Recipes
2 Comments

Ambrosia Fruit Salad with Whipped Cream Dressing

Stacey Pirtle

by Stacey Updated: Apr 13, 2023

Jump to Recipe Jump to Video

This post may contain affiliate links.

This heavenly fruit salad is wrapped in a light and fluffy whipped cream dressing with a secret ingredient that makes it absolutely the best! Toasted coconut, pineapples, mandarin oranges, strawberries, grapes and bananas become a “to die for” side dish or dessert in this Ambrosia Fruit Salad recipe that’s perfect for holidays, family dinners, showers, even brunch!

best ambrosia salad with secret ingredient whipped cream dressing


Ambrosia. It’s one of those classic southern recipes that has a million family versions. It’s a tradition that’s both rich and fantastic and light and fluffy all at the same time. If Heaven has clouds, they’re most likely giant bowls of sweet Ambrosia Fruit Salad ready to be spooned up and savored.

Ambrosia was created to be special. Made of fruits that weren’t always easily available, this prized dish was reserved for holidays and special occasions. It’s name even means “food of the gods.” One look and there’s no doubting it’s fabulous.

So how do you make something that’s the food of the gods even better? You look back through old handwritten recipes and discover those little secrets that made the food our grandmothers whipped up magically better than anything else.

ingredients to make ambrosia and secret whipped cream dressing

Ambrosia Salad & Secret Whipped Cream Dressing Ingredients

  • bananas
  • pineapple
  • mandarin oranges
  • strawberry
  • green grapes
  • toasted coconut
  • heavy whipping cream
  • confectioner’s sugar
  • real mayonnaise– this recipe’s secret ingredient!

Why Mayo? Real mayonnaise is super creamy and adds a full bodied, roundness to the dressing’s flavor by adding a tiny tad of umami that’s just barely there. It’s one of those tiny tricks that makes food so good, but you can’t really tell why or what it is.

Can You Taste The Secret Ingredient. No, you cannot taste it. While a little mayonnaise certainly grounds the dressing with a bit of umami, it doesn’t make it any less sweet. On the other hand, it doesn’t make it more sweet or more dessert-like either, the way cream cheese or sour cream does.

best ambrosia salad with secret whipped cream dressing is a holiday staple

How To Make Ambrosia Fruit Salad

Prep the Fruit. Slice the bananas, strawberries and grapes. Drain the pineapple and oranges and make sure they are patted dry with paper towels. Any extra liquid will break down the whipped cream and make this salad weepy.

Whip Up The Sauce. In a large bowl, whip heavy cream with a whisk or mixer for approximately 3-5 minutes or until stiff peaks begin to form. As the cream whips, sprinkle in the confectioner’s sugar. When cream is fully whipped, gently fold in the mayonnaise until fully incorporated.

Fold it Together. In a large bowl, toss together all the fruit except the mandarin oranges (because they fall apart easily) and 1-2 tablespoons of toasted coconut (which will be a topping). To finish, gently fold oranges and whipped topping into the fruit mixture. Top with remaining coconut and serve.

Tips for making the best ambrosia
how to toast coconut for ambrosia salad

How to Toast Coconut

Aside from the secret dressing, toasted coconut also makes this the best Ambrosia salad recipe around! Toasting coconut is such an easy step, but don’t dare skip or underestimate it. It brings delicious texture along with an amazingly light & nutty flavor to the mix!

To Toast. Spread coconut in a single layer across a baking sheet. Place baking sheet under broiler for about 1 minute or until coconut begins to brown. Watch it closely! Remove from under the broiler. Stir coconut on the pan to keep it from sticking as it cools and set aside. That’s it!

How to serve the best ambrosia fruit salad

Recipe Variations

If you just can’t imagine Ambrosia without its traditional little marshmallows, just add them in! 1 cup is all it takes. You can also add 1 cup of any of the following, or maybe substitute a fruit from the ingredient list for one listed here you like better. Just remember, the more you add, the less dressing you will have.

  • red or green apples
  • maraschino cherries (drained & patted dry)
  • blueberries
  • sliced peaches (drained & patted dry)
  • blueberries
  • pecans or walnuts

Can you sub out the secret ingredient? Sure. My heart might break, and the recipe won’t be nearly as good (or technically even be the same recipe), but if you just can’t bring yourself to live that daringly, try sour cream, cream cheese or more whipping cream instead.

tips for serving the best ambrosia

Other Fruit Salad Recipes You’ll Love

  • Classic Fruit Salad with Old Fashioned Cream Sauce
  • Red & Green Fruit Salad with Cinnamon Orange Dressing
  • Layered Strawberry Jello Salad
  • Blackberry Margarita Ambrosia
  • Berry Watermelon Fruit Salad
  • Tropical Orange Jello Salad

Fruit Salad is always a welcome dish no matter where you’re going or what the occasion! And this special Ambrosia recipe is perfect for celebrating friendships and all those little moments that make life together special.

inspiration

If You Make This Recipe, I Can’t Wait To Hear About It!

Leave A Comment & Rating Below Or Snap A Photo To Share.

Tag me on Instagram at #southerndiscourse
best ambrosia salad with secret whipped cream dressing is a holiday staple

Ambrosia Fruit Salad with Secret Ingredient Dressing

This heavenly fruit salad is wrapped in a light and fluffy whipped cream dressing with a secret ingredient that makes it absolutely the best! Toasted coconut, pineapples, mandarin oranges, strawberries, grapes and bananas become a "to die for" side dish or dessert.
Print Pin Rate
Course: brunch, Dessert, Salad, Side Dish
Keyword: classic, Easy Recipe, holiday
Servings: 5 people
Author: Stacey | SouthernDiscourse.com

Ingredients

  • 2 bananas, sliced
  • 1 heaping cup pineapple chunks, drained and patted dry
  • 1 heaping cup sliced strawberries
  • 1 heaping cup sliced green grapes
  • 11 ounce can mandarin oranges, drained and patted dry
  • 1 cup toasted sweetened coconut flakes

Secret Ingredient Whipped Cream Dressing

  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 2 tablespoons confectioner's sugar
  • ¼ cup real mayonnaise
Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions

  • Spread coconut in a single layer across a baking sheet. Place baking sheet under broiler for about 1 minute or until coconut begins to brown. Remove from under broiler. Stir coconut on pan to keep it from sticking as it cools and set aside.
  • In a large bowl, whip heavy cream with a whisk or mixer for approximately 3-5 minutes or until stiff peaks begin to form. As cream whips, sprinkle in the confectioner's sugar. When cream is fully whipped, gently fold in the mayonnaise until fully incorporated.
  • In a large bowl, toss together all fruit except mandarin oranges and 1-2 tablespoons of toasted coconut. Gently fold oranges and whipped topping into the fruit mixture. Top with remaining coconut and serve.

Video

Notes

Bananas that are green around the stem work best for this salad because they stay firm longer when tossed in the dressing.
This salad is best when served the day it’s made and kept as cool as possible.
best ambrosia salad with secret whipped cream dressing is a holiday staple
Did you make my Ambrosia Fruit Salad with Secret Ingredient Dressing?Show me how it went! Share on Instagram, tag @southerndiscourse, and use the hashtag #SouthernDiscourse!
Tag on Insta Leave a Rating
This heavenly fruit salad is wrapped in a light and fluffy whipped cream dressing with a secret ingredient that makes it absolutely the best!  Toasted coconut, pineapples, mandarin oranges, strawberries, grapes and bananas become a "to die for" side dish or dessert with this Ambrosia Fruit Salad recipe that's perfect for holidays, family dinners, showers, even brunch!

Share this!

  • Facebook
  • Email

Filed Under: Holidays, Recipes, Salads Tagged With: easy recipe, holidays, party

Meet Stacey

Southern Discourse is a place where you can find southern family dishes, along with special recipes & table settings. Bringing connection & friendship back to the table by wrapping everything in the faith & grace from which true hospitality springs! Read More

  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Mail

Join Southern Discourse

Subscribe today to never miss a post!

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Rate & Comment Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




  1. Avatar photoCaren Zell

    November 19, 2021 at 9:25 am

    5 stars
    Hope to try all of of your recipe

    Reply
    • Stacey Pirtlestacey

      November 19, 2021 at 10:16 am

      Hi, Caren! Thanks for joining us here at Southern Discourse! I am so glad you’re going to be cooking with us. I can’t wait to hear all about!

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

Meet Stacey

Southern Discourse is a place where you can find southern family dishes, along with special recipes & table settings. Bringing connection & friendship back to the table by wrapping everything in the faith & grace from which true hospitality springs! Read More

  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Mail

Join Southern Discourse

Never miss a new post!

Reader Favorites

  • A finished skillet of Dirty Rice.Louisiana Dirty Rice
  • traditional chicken and dressing for a southern holiday mealSouthern Chicken and Dressing
  • Whipped Feta Dip with honeyWhipped Feta with Honey Dip
  • A forkful of sweet potato casserole to show the fluffy texture of the potatoes.Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping
  • pecan pie bars turn traditional pie into an easy dessertBest Ever Pecan Pie Bars
  • Spicy Italian Sub Crescent Ring TitleSpicy Italian Crescent Ring

Recipes by Category

  • Appetizers
  • Beverages
  • Bread
  • Breakfast & Brunch
  • Casseroles
  • Desserts
  • Main Dishes
  • Salads
  • Sandwiches
  • Sauces & Dessings
  • Side Dishes
  • Soups
Southern Discourse
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Mail

Join Southern Discourse

Subscribe today to never miss a post!

© 2025 · Southern Discourse · Privacy · Cookies

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required