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    Home » Salad

    Ambrosia Fruit Salad

    Modified: Mar 30, 2025· Published: Oct 8, 2020 by Alaine · 6 Comments

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    ↓ Jump to Recipe

    A lighter version of Ambrosia Fruit Salad made with a Greek yogurt-based dressing. This beautiful fruit salad is a must for your Holiday table!

    bowl of creamy fruit salad

    Ambrosia salad is one of my absolute favorite holiday dishes. The classic fruit salad has a very old-fashioned feel to me now. It’s the kind of dish that makes me want to break out my crystal. 

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • How to make
    • 📖 Recipe
    bowl of prepared fruit salad topped with cherry and coconut

    The family recipe that inspired this post was a classic southern ambrosia fruit salad, made with a mixture of fruit tossed in a decadent dressing consisting of heavy whipping cream and homemade mayonnaise.

    What makes this version “healthier”?

    • Swapping yogurt for some of the mayonnaise and heavy cream reduces total calories and fat.
    • Omitting mini-marshmallows and choosing unsweetened coconut flakes reduces added sugars.
    • Choosing canned pineapple and mandarin oranges in juices rather than heavy syrup reduces added sugars and total calories.
    • If you are trying to keep it lower calorie you can use light Cool Whip. 
    holiday fruit salad in parfait dishes

    Ingredients

    A combination of fresh and canned fruit, greek yogurt, whipped topping, pecans and coconut.

    • Apple - I like to choose a nice sweet pink variety of apple such as Honeycrisp, Gala or Pink Lady. 
    • Green Grapes - I prefer green seedless grapes cut in half. If there are going to be young children at your holiday meal, consider cutting the grapes into smaller pieces. 
    • Pineapple - A can of pineapple tidbits in juice, drained.
    • Mandarin Oranges 
    • Maraschino Cherries 
    • Pecans 
    • Shredded Coconut - You can use sweetened or unsweetened shredded coconut. 
    • Greek Yogurt - Two containers of Coconut Greek Yogurt. I recommend Siggi’s Icelandic Skyr Coconut or Chobani Coconut flavored yogurt. 
    • Whipped Topping - Cool whip topping or prepared whipped cream. 
    ingredient shot for fruit salad

    Recipe Notes

    • Pecans and coconut can be toasted before mixing in for added depth of flavor.
    • Vanilla greek yogurt can be substituted if coconut yogurt is not available.
    • Be sure to thoroughly drain all the canned fruit so your salad doesn't become too watery. I use a fine mesh colander for this.  
    bowl of colorful and creamy fruit salad with cherries and toasted pecans on top

    How to make

    ingredients in mixing bowl

    Combine fruit

    In a large mixing bowl combine apples, grapes, pineapple, mandarin oranges, cherries, pecans and coconut. 

    mixing bowl of fruit salad

    Add dressing

    Starting with one container of greek yogurt, toss fruit mixture with yogurt until desired consistency of dressing is reached. Gently fold in cool whip or whipped cream. 

    Chill

    Chill the fruit salad for at least one hour before serving. Garnish with extra pecan pieces, coconut and maraschino cherries if desired. 

    Tips on making the dressing

    • Start by adding one container of yogurt into the fruit. The perfect ratio is probably slightly less than two full containers. Various Greek yogurts have different consistencies. Choose a thicker yogurt for best results.
    • You can use either a prepared topping like Cool-Whip or mix in real heavy whipping cream. I think it is a personal preference, I like to add a little real whipped cream. 

    If you love Ambrosia Salad I highly encourage you to try this “lightened” holiday recipe.

    📖 Recipe

    serving bowl of prepared ambrosia salad with cherries, coconut and pecan topping

    Ambrosia Fruit Salad

    Alaine @ My TX Kitchen
    A lighter version of Ambrosia Fruit Salad made with a Greek yogurt-based dressing. This beautiful fruit salad is a must for your Holiday table!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 15 minutes mins
    Course Salad
    Cuisine American
    Servings 12

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 medium Apple diced
    • 1 cup Green Seedless Grapes halved
    • 1 - 20 oz. can Pineapple Tidbits in juice drained
    • 1 - 15 oz. can Mandarin Orange Segments drained
    • ¼ cup Maraschino Cherries drained and quartered
    • ⅓ cup Pecan pieces
    • ¼ cup Shredded Coconut
    • 2 - 5.3 oz. containers Coconut flavored Greek Yogurt
    • ½ cup prepared Whipped Cream or Whipped Topping

    Instructions
     

    • In large bowl combine apple, grapes, pineapple, mandarin oranges, cherries, pecan and coconut. Gently toss until mixed.
    • Stir in yogurt, adding one container at a time, until fruit mixture is well coated. Gently fold in whipped cream or whipped topping. If necessary, add more whipped cream to reach desired consistency.
    • Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.

    Notes

    Yogurt: I recommend Siggi’s Icelandic Skyr Coconut or Chobani Coconut flavored Greek yogurt. 
    Keyword ambrosia fruit salad recipe, healthy ambrosia salad
    Tried this recipe?Mention @mytxkitchen or tag #mytxkitchen!
    parfait of creamy ambrosia salad

    Side Dish or Dessert?

    We always served Ambrosia with the main meal. It’s refreshing to take a bite of this between turkey, dressing and mashed potatoes. But this dish can hold its own on the dessert table too. Everyone always loves a good fruit salad!

    Ambrosia Fruit Salad brings back fond memories of holidays at my Paw-Paw’s. Just barely able to see over the middle island, I distinctly remember this was the first holiday dish I ever got to help with.

    More Winter Holiday Recipes:

    • Bourbon Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
    • Cranberry Apple Pie
    • Broccoli Salad with Cranberries
    • Pineapple Cream Cheese Pie
    • Ancho Chile Fudge Pie
    • Ricotta Cheesecake Fruit Dip

    Wishing y’all a happy holiday season! 

    ~Alaine

    Lightened Ambrosia Salad was originally published in November 2015. Updated in November 2020 and October 2024 with additional photos and text.

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    Comments

    1. Serena

      November 08, 2015 at 3:08 pm

      Love the story of barely being able to see over the counter! We used to have ambrosia every once in a while growing up. And yes, it was canned fruit and lots of cream. Love this less sugar, more fresh fruit version!

      Reply
      • Alaine

        November 08, 2015 at 3:53 pm

        Yes, Ambrosia Salad can be such a decadent dish but it certainly doesn't have to be. Thanks for stopping by!

        Reply
        • Dana

          November 08, 2015 at 8:55 pm

          So proud of you Alaine!! And this recipe looks heavenly,? I love mixing things in plain organic yogurt. I'm going to pick up some skyr at whole foods.

          Reply
          • Alaine

            November 09, 2015 at 5:05 am

            Thanks Dana!!

            Reply
    2. Deanna Segrave-Daly

      November 08, 2015 at 3:22 pm

      Love the backstory to this dish - perfect colors for the holidays!

      Reply
      • Alaine

        November 08, 2015 at 3:52 pm

        Thank you!

        Reply
    5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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