Mrs. Lacy’s Old-Fashioned Southern Ambrosia Salad Recipe 🍒🍍❤️
Y’all, if there’s one dish that brings back memories of Sunday dinners, church gatherings, and family holidays, it’s a good old-fashioned Southern Ambrosia Salad!
And today, Faye from Mrs. Lacy’s Magnolia House in Sanford, North Carolina, is showing you how to make this delicious, creamy fruit salad that’s been a Southern favorite for generations!
Our ambrosia is loaded with mandarin oranges, pineapple, cherries, miniature marshmallows, whipped topping, and crunchy nuts.
And if you love coconut, you can add that, too!
The best part? There’s no baking required! Just mix everything together, chill, and enjoy.
This is the perfect recipe for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, family reunions, church potlucks, or anytime you need an easy dish to share!
🎥 Watch Faye Make Mrs. Lacy’s Ambrosia Salad!
Want to see how easy this old-fashioned Southern favorite is to make?
Faye is showing you exactly how she puts together Mrs. Lacy’s delicious ambrosia salad!
❤️ Watch Mrs. Lacy’s Ambrosia Salad Recipe on YouTube
🍒 Mrs. Lacy’s Old-Fashioned Ambrosia Salad Recipe
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Chill Time: 1–2 hours recommended
Servings: Approximately 10–12
Ingredients
- 3 cups miniature marshmallows
- 2½ cups shredded coconut (optional)
- 1 can (11 oz.) mandarin oranges, thoroughly drained
- 1 jar (10 oz.) maraschino cherries, thoroughly drained
- 1 container (8 oz.) frozen whipped topping, such as Cool Whip, thawed
- 1 can (8 oz.) pineapple chunks, thoroughly drained
- 1 can (8 oz.) fruit cocktail, thoroughly drained
- ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
That’s it! A few simple ingredients for a wonderful Southern classic!
👩🍳 Easy Step-by-Step Instructions
- Drain your fruit. Thoroughly drain the mandarin oranges, maraschino cherries, pineapple chunks, and fruit cocktail. This is important because too much juice can make your ambrosia watery.
- Combine your ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, add the miniature marshmallows, drained fruit, shredded coconut (if using), and chopped walnuts or pecans.
- Add the whipped topping. Gently fold in the thawed whipped topping until everything is evenly coated and creamy.
- Add your spices if desired. If you like a little extra flavor, gently stir in the cinnamon and nutmeg. Both are optional!
- Chill your ambrosia. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1–2 hours before serving. This allows the flavors to come together and helps the salad become nice and cold.
- Serve and enjoy! Give everything a gentle stir before serving, and enjoy this delicious Southern favorite!
Y’all, it doesn’t get much easier than that! ❤️
❤️ Faye’s Tips for Making the Best Ambrosia Salad
Drain your fruit really well! This is one of the most important steps. Too much liquid can make your ambrosia runny.
Don’t like coconut? Leave it out! Coconut is completely optional. Make this recipe the way your family likes it!
Walnuts or pecans? You choose! Both work wonderfully. If you love pecans, they’re a delicious Southern addition.
Make it ahead of time! Ambrosia is a great dish to prepare before a family gathering. Keep it refrigerated until you’re ready to serve.
Double the recipe for a crowd! Having a big Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner? Just double all the ingredients.
Need a smaller batch? Cut the ingredients in half for a smaller family gathering.
Make it your own! Some families add extra cherries, more pineapple, or additional marshmallows. That’s part of the fun of an old-fashioned recipe!
🍍 Is Ambrosia a Salad or a Dessert?
Now, here’s a question that might start a little friendly debate! 😂
Is ambrosia a fruit salad, a side dish, or a dessert?
Well, here in the South, it can be all three!
Some families serve ambrosia alongside their holiday dinner, while others put it right on the dessert table.
With its sweet fruit, fluffy marshmallows, and creamy whipped topping, it’s certainly sweet enough to be a dessert.
But no matter where you serve it, it’s always a wonderful addition to the table!
🍒 When Should You Serve Ambrosia Salad?
This old-fashioned Southern recipe is perfect for all kinds of occasions!
- Thanksgiving dinner
- Christmas celebrations
- Easter lunch
- Church homecomings and potlucks
- Family reunions
- Birthday parties
- Sunday dinners
- Summer cookouts
And since there’s no oven required, it’s especially convenient when you’re already busy preparing a big meal!
❤️ Why We Love Old-Fashioned Southern Recipes
At Mrs. Lacy’s Magnolia House, we believe some of the best recipes are the ones that have been passed down through generations.
They’re the dishes that remind us of our mothers, grandmothers, family gatherings, and holidays spent around the dinner table.
Ambrosia is one of those recipes.
It’s simple, delicious, and easy to customize for your family.
And we hope you’ll give Faye’s version a try!
📚 Bring a Little Mrs. Lacy’s Home With You!
Love cooking with Faye? Then you’ll love Mrs. Lacy’s Magnolia House Cookbook!
Filled with 500 cherished family recipes, it’s a wonderful way to bring a little Southern hospitality into your own kitchen.
❤️ Shop Mrs. Lacy’s Cookbooks Online
Cookbooks are also available at Mrs. Lacy’s Magnolia House in Sanford, North Carolina.
They make wonderful gifts for Christmas, birthdays, weddings, and anyone who loves Southern cooking!
❤️ More Cooking With Faye!
At Mrs. Lacy’s Magnolia House, we love sharing family recipes, easy cooking tips, and a little Southern hospitality with all of you!
Be sure to follow our YouTube channel for more recipes, kitchen tips, and fun with Faye.
And if you’re ever in Sanford, North Carolina, we’d love for you to stop by Mrs. Lacy’s Magnolia House for lunch and something sweet!
Now we want to know! 🍒❤️ Did your mother or grandmother make ambrosia salad when you were growing up? And here’s the big question — do you like coconut in your ambrosia, or do you leave it out?
Tell us in the comments! We love hearing about your family recipes and traditions!
