• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Grits and Pinecones
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Easter
  • Cinco de Mayo
  • Mother’s Day
  • Memorial Day
  • All Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Grits and Pinecones » Recipes » Breakfast

    Old-Fashioned Southern Ambrosia

    December 28, 2021 by Sharon Rigsby 9 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Pinterest pin, showing a bowl of ambrosia.

    Southern Ambrosia is often called “Nectar of the Gods,” an excellent description of this famous old-fashioned, citrusy fruit salad. This recipe is made simply with fresh juicy navel oranges, a bit of shredded sweetened coconut, and garnished with ruby red maraschino cherries, Old Fashioned Southern Ambrosia has graced many holiday tables throughout the years.

    Southern Ambrosia is a traditional Christmas dish for many Southerners, and I am no exception. I can’t imagine the holidays without this Old-Fashioned Ambrosia salad. But this traditional side dish is also perfect for breakfast or brunch, and it makes an excellent light dessert or snack any time of year.

    Southern ambrosia in a cut glass serving dish.

    There are many different recipes for Southern Ambrosia, and I know many of you also like to add grapefruit, pecans, pineapple, and even sour cream or cool whip. I have tasted and enjoyed all of the combinations for this tasty fruit salad, but this simple recipe is the one I grew up eating and it is my favorite.

    Here’s what’s in it:

    Navel oranges, powdered sugar, cherries and coconut .
    • Navel oranges – are the star of this show, and for a good reason. They are juicy and full of sweet citrusy flavor, and a real bonus, they are seedless. You can substitute other types of oranges, but you may have to add more sugar.
    • Powdered sugar – adds a delicate sweetness to the navel oranges.
    • Sweetened coconut – moist and sweet, shredded coconut adds a tropical vibe and wonderful texture to this dish.
    • Maraschino cherries – with their beautiful red color, add a bright pop of color and their signature sweetness.

    Here’s how to make this recipe:

    1. Gather your ingredients and peel the oranges with a sharp paring knife. Make sure to remove all of the white pith.
    Using a paring knife to peel an orange.
    1. Next, section the oranges by placing the knife along the inside of the orange membrane for each section. Run the blade to the center of the orange and pop out the orange section with the tip of the knife. When sectioning the oranges, be sure to do this over a bowl to catch all of the juice.
    Using a paring knife to section an orange.
    1. When you have cut out all of the sections, squeeze out any remaining juice and discard the membranes.
    A bowl of orange segments on a cutting board.
    1. When you have finished sectioning the oranges, taste one to determine how sweet they are. Add a bit of the powdered sugar and mix well. Add more sugar as needed.
    A bowl of orange segments topped with powdered sugar.
    1. Place the orange mixture in a serving dish and top with the coconut.
    Shredded coconut being sprinkled over ambrosia.
    1. Before serving, top with one or more maraschino cherries.
    A glass serving bowl full of orange segments, topped with a cherry.

    Frequently asked questions:

    What is it?

    In its simplest form, old-fashioned ambrosia is a fruit salad made of fresh navel oranges and coconut. It was a treat reserved for holidays and special occasions in the early days. Over the years, it has morphed into a creamy, citrusy salad made with different kinds of canned citrus and pineapple, sour cream, cool whip, and marshmallows.

    Is ambrosia a salad or a dessert?

    There are no rules for Southern ambrosia, and whether you serve it as a fruit salad for a holiday meal, or a light dessert, it’s entirely up to you. But, no matter when you serve it or what you call it, it will make your meal memorable. 

    What to serve it with?

    I usually like to either serve ambrosia for breakfast on Christmas morning with my Easy Sausage Cheese Bread and Make-Ahead Caramel Soaked French Toast. This year, I served it with Beef Tenderloin with Gorgonzola Sauce, Broccoli Cheese Casserole, and Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes for our Christmas dinner. But, it is also excellent by itself for breakfast or a quick snack.

    What about leftovers?

    When I make this recipe for Southern ambrosia, I always make more than I think I will need. Leftovers are even better the next day, and I love having a bowl of fresh oranges already sectioned in my fridge to snack on or have as a quick breakfast.

    Do I have to section my oranges?

    The truth is it takes time to section an orange properly. I always section mine for holidays and special occasions because it makes a prettier presentation. However, if it’s just my husband and me or if I’m in a hurry, I just peel the oranges and chop them into bite-size pieces. The taste is the same.

    Sharon’s Expert Tips:

    The sweeter your oranges are, the better your ambrosia will be. Oranges vary in sweetness. If your fruit is really sweet, you might want to cut back on the amount of sugar you add. Conversely, if your oranges aren’t that sweet, you may need to add a little more sugar. 

    If you are making ambrosia ahead, cover and refrigerate for up to four days. Then, wait to add the cherries until you are ready to serve; otherwise, the cherry juice might stain the orange sections.

    I like to use navel oranges, but you can use valencias or any sweet, seedless variety you want. 

    If your family isn’t a fan of coconut, feel free to leave it out.

    If you want to change things up a bit, you can also add grapefruit or other citrus, pecans, chunks of pineapple, cool whip, sour cream and marshmallows.

    More holiday or special occasion breakfast or brunch recipes:

    Some of my other favorite holiday dishes include Eggs Benedict Breakfast Casserole, Broccoli and Mushroom Frittata, and Southern Cheese Grits Casserole. 

    You can browse all of my breakfast and brunch recipes here or check out my roundup posts, Easy Make-Ahead Christmas Breakfast, and Brunch Recipes, and 25 Best Christmas Breakfast and Brunch recipes. 

    Oh, and ambrosia isn’t just for Christmas! It’s perfect for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Easter, or any occasion you want something special!

    ★ Please leave a comment and give this recipe a star rating if you make this recipe. I would love to know how you liked it!

    Thanks so much for visiting Grits and Pinecones!

    Southern ambrosia in a clear glass serving dish.

    Old-Fashioned Southern Ambrosia Recipe

    Sharon Rigsby
    Ambrosia is often called "Nectar of the Gods" and it's an excellent description for this famous citrusy fruit salad.
    4.67 from 9 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Total Time 15 mins
    Course Breakfast/Brunch, Side Dish
    Cuisine American, Southern
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 145 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 4 navel oranges peeled and sectioned
    • 2-3 tablespoons powdered sugar or to taste
    • 2 tablespoons sweetened shredded coconut
    • maraschino cherries for garnish

    Instructions
     

    • Gather your ingredients and peel the oranges with a sharp paring knife. Make sure to remove all of the white pith.
    • Next, section the oranges by placing the knife along the inside of the orange membrane for each section. Run the blade to the center of the orange and pop out the orange section with the tip of the knife. When sectioning the oranges, be sure to do this over a bowl to catch all of the juice.
    • When you have cut out all of the sections, squeeze out any remaining juice and discard the membranes.
    • When you have finished sectioning the oranges, taste a segment to determine how sweet they are. Add a bit of the powdered sugar and mix well. Add more sugar as needed. Place the orange mixture in a serving dish and top with the coconut. Before serving, top with one or more maraschino cherries.

    Notes

    The sweeter your oranges are, the better your ambrosia will be. Oranges vary in sweetness. If your fruit is really sweet, you might want to cut back on the amount of sugar you add. Conversely, if your oranges aren’t that sweet, you may need to add a little more sugar. 
    If you are making ambrosia ahead, cover and refrigerate for up to four days. Then, wait to add the cherries until you are ready to serve; otherwise, the cherry juice might stain the orange sections.
    I like to use navel oranges, but you can use Valencias or any sweet, seedless variety you want. 
    If your family isn’t a fan of coconut, feel free to leave it out.
    If you want to change things up a bit, you can also add grapefruit or other citrus, pecans, chunks of pineapple, cool whip, sour cream and marshmallows.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 145kcalCarbohydrates: 29gProtein: 1gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.03gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.1gSodium: 19mgPotassium: 269mgFiber: 3gSugar: 24gVitamin A: 100IUVitamin C: 104.8mgCalcium: 60mgIron: 0.2mg
    Tried this recipe? Tag me today! Mention @gritspinecones or tag #gritspinecones!

    **This recipe for Southern Ambrosia was originally published on December 20, 2016. It was republished on December 28, 2021 with new photos, the addition of a FAQ section and expanded directions. There is no change to the original recipe.

    More Breakfast & Brunch Recipes recipes

    • A jar of blackberry jam with a spoon sticking out.
      Easy Blackberry Jam Recipe without Pectin
    • A collage of six Christmas breakfast dishes including eggs benedict casserole and ambrosia.
      29 Make-Ahead Christmas Breakfasts 2022
    • Sliced apple bread with pecans on a wooden butting board.
      Easy Sour Cream Apple Bread with Pecans
    • A crustless ham and cheese quiche in a white pie plate.
      Easy Crustless Ham and Cheese Quiche

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

      Recipe Rating




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Verna Linney

      December 20, 2022 at 11:26 am

      5 stars
      As a child Yankee transplant to North Carolina I met Ambrosia at friends’ home. I was smitten! This simple recipe is the one they made. All else is gilding the lily

      Reply
    2. Miriam

      April 07, 2022 at 6:15 pm

      5 stars
      I searched high and LOW for an ambrosia recipe that replicated the vague memories I had from my Great-Grandmother’s; which didn’t include any sort of dressing. Your’s is the only one I’ve found and it’s like a key unlocked in my memory! I found so many dressed up with cool whip and marshmallows ambrosia recipe that I was beginning to think that I was the one remembering wrong and then I found this recipe! Your tip about using seedless naval oranges and removing all the membranes and adding powdered sugar will surely make a much needed difference when I try once again to duplicate Granny’s. Thank you so much for sharing and publishing!

      Reply
      • Sharon Rigsby

        April 07, 2022 at 7:16 pm

        Hi Miriam, thank you for your sweet note. I hope you enjoy it!
        All the best,
        Sharon

        Reply
        • betty

          May 05, 2022 at 6:22 pm

          yes this is what I wanted to see… Just like i have always made thank you….5

          star

    3. Teri H

      December 23, 2021 at 7:53 am

      5 stars
      This is they way my grandma made it for every Christmas. Just oranges and coconut- perfection. This is REAL southern ambrosia. Thank you for sharing.

      Reply
    4. Joan Harding

      December 21, 2020 at 3:01 pm

      Thank you for remembering that ambrosia is not a gloppy over sweet mess of chemical infused mess.

      It was a yearly celebration of the sweetness of citrus and coconut that would come by train from warmer climes to help make Christmas special.
      My Great Aunt, who was born in 1883 and lived to be 100, used to make it this way.
      I remember it was always her contribution to the holiday table.

      All those other white creamed dishs are nice but don’t call them Ambrosia.

      My family likes 5 cup salad – 1 cup each , manderin oranges, pineapple, sour cream, coconut, and mini marshmallows, make ahead to allow it to meld. It’s good but not the same.

      Reply
    5. Nancy West

      December 19, 2019 at 2:11 pm

      Our family always made it with cut up apples and oranges. Cherries and coconut were added before serving. It is a Christmas tradition.

      Reply
    6. Devorah Leah Lederman

      November 28, 2019 at 4:53 pm

      My mamas made Ambrosia with no sugar and used grapefruit too. If you use Texas citrus, it’s sweet enough that the grapefruit aren’t too acidic and sugar would be just too much!

      Reply
      • Sharon Rigsby

        November 30, 2019 at 4:28 pm

        Hi Devorah, that’s a good point about some citrus not needing as much sugar and it depends on the sweetness of the fruit, to begin with.
        Thanks for sharing.
        Sharon

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Sharon Rigsby, blogger at GritsandPinecones.com

    Hello, I'm Sharon Rigsby, blogger, recipe developer, videographer, and photographer for Grits and Pinecones®. I have over 50 years of experience in the kitchen, and I like nothing better than developing and reimagining recipes for my family, friends, and you!

    More about me →

    Celebrate Easter with these easy recipes:

    • Two lamb chops cut from a rack of lamb on a cutting board.
      Roasted Rack of Lamb with Garlic and Herbs
    • Pineapple cheese casserole topped with crushed Ritz crackers in a white baking dish.
      Baked Pineapple Cheese Casserole
    • A clear glass trifle dish with layers of angel food cake, strawberries and whipped cream.
      Strawberry Trifle with Angel Food Cake
    • Baked Ham topped with pineapple rings and cherries.
      Baked Ham with Pineapple and Cherries
    • A rectangle white baking dish full of sweet potato casserole.
      Southern Bourbon Sweet Potato Casserole
    • Fresh strawberry pie topped with whipped cream on a white plate.
      Old-Fashioned Strawberry Pie with Jello

    More Easter recipes:

    Most popular recipes:

    • A white bowl full of creamy potato salad topped with paprika.
      Classic Southern Potato Salad
    • Sliced baby back ribs on a cutting board.
      Oven-Baked Baby Back Ribs and Dry Rub
    • Six hoecakes or fried cornbread on a white plate.
      Quick and Easy Hoe Cakes (Fried Cornbread)
    • Easy Baked Parmesan Grouper Fillets on a plate garnished with parsley and lemon
      Oven-Baked Parmesan Grouper Fillets Recipe – Quick and Easy
    • Fried shrimp and a bowl of cocktail sauce on a white plate.
      Easy Crispy Pan-Fried Shrimp
    • Pan Seared Red Snapper fillet covered with Mango Salsa on a white plate.
      Easy Pan-Seared Red Snapper

    More popular recipes:

    Featured in Parade, The Today Show, Better Homes & Gardens, Greatist, and more.

    Footer

    More Recipe Categories

    • Appetizer Recipes
    • Beef Recipes
    • Bread Recipes
    • Breakfast Recipes
    • Chicken Recipes
    • Cocktail Recipes
    • Condiments, Jams, Jellies, Sauces, and Salad Dressings
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Game Day and Tailgating Recipes
    • Healthy Recipes

    More…

    • Lunch Recipes
    • Main Dish Recipes
    • Pork Recipes
    • Salad Recipes
    • Seafood Recipes
    • Side Dish Recipes
    • Snack Recipes
    • Soup Recipes
    • Southern Recipes
    • Southern Peas (Cowpeas) Recipes

    Grits and Pinecones

    • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Legal Disclaimer

    Copyright © 2023 Grits and Pinecones® · Privacy Policy · Legal Disclaimer

    • 246Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
    • Yummly
    • Email
    844 shares