Ambrosia Recipe

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My delicious southern Ambrosia Recipe 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 recipe. 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.

What is Ambrosia?

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.

Orange Ambrosia Salad Ingredients

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.

How to Make Ambrosia

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.

Using a paring knife to section an orange.

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.

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.

Place the orange mixture in a serving dish and top with the coconut.

Shredded coconut being sprinkled over ambrosia.

Before serving, top with one or more maraschino cherries.

A glass serving bowl full of orange segments, topped with a cherry.

Tips for Southern Ambrosia Salad

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.

How to Store Southern Ambrosia Salad

Ambrosia salad is a perfect make-ahead dish and stores beautifully — which is just one more reason it shows up at so many Southern holiday tables!

Refrigerator: Store ambrosia salad in an airtight container or cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap. It will stay fresh in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Make-ahead tip: You can prepare this salad a few hours in advance or even the night before. In fact, letting it chill for at least an hour helps the flavors meld together and makes it even more delicious.
Freezing: Freezing isn’t recommended for ambrosia salad. The texture of the fruit doesn’t hold up well after thawing, so it’s best enjoyed fresh from the fridge.

Pro tip: Give it a gentle stir before serving if it’s been sitting overnight to freshen it up.

Frequently asked questions

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.

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!

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Southern ambrosia in a clear glass serving dish.

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.

4.75 from 12 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15

Total Time 15

Course Breakfast/Brunch, Side Dish

Cuisine American, Southern

Servings 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

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**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.

Comments

4.75 from 12 votes (6 ratings without comment)