This cherry, pineapple and mandarin orange ambrosia fruit salad is a crowd pleaser every time.

Ambrosia fruit salad in bowl

One of the fun things I like about being a grown up is doing things my own way.

When I was a kid, we always had ambrosia salad with our holiday meals.

I’d pick thru my serving to find the little treasures like the cherries, mandarin oranges, and pieces of pineapple.

But they were far and few between.

So now that I’m a grown up, I load up my ambrosia salad with my favorites (extra cherries, mandarin oranges, and pineapple chunks).

And because I don’t want to break too much tradition, I add a can of fruit cocktail for good measure.

But I just can’t help myself from using the triple cherry kind of fruit cocktail.

Ambrosia Fruit Salad

About this Recipe

My biggest pet peeve when I’m making ambrosia is when the fruit isn’t thoroughly drained.

It makes the marshmallows soggy, and the Cool Whip gets kind of runny.

So, the very first thing I do in the morning when I start my recipes for Thanksgiving is to drain the cans of fruit, and then put the fruit in a strainer for as long as possible (about 4 hours).

Then the ambrosia turns out light and fluffy.

About Serving

This ambrosia with cherry, pineapple and mandarin oranges is quick to make and is best when the marshmallows and Cool Whip are mixed in just before serving.

Serve as a side dish or dessert.

Let’s check out the ingredients.

Pineapple Cherry Ambrosia Ingredients

Canned pineapple chunks, mandarin oranges, triple cherry fruit cocktail, maraschino cherries, mini marshmallows, and Cool Whip topping

HOW TO MAKE THIS RECIPE

A printable recipe with the measurements and instructions is located at the bottom of this post.

Colander sitting on plate

Set a large strainer on top of a plate or large flat bowl and set aside for a moment.

Drain out the juice from the cans of fruit.

Cut pieces of pineapple in colander

Add the pineapple…

Fruit cocktail in colander

…fruit cocktail, and

Fruit cocktail in colander

…mandarin oranges to the strainer.

Fruit cocktail in colander

Cut the cherries in half and add them to the strainer.

Spread the fruit out in the strainer so it’s not lumped together.

Let the fruit sit in the strainer for 2 to 3 hours (or more if you have time) to drain the liquid from the fruit.

Fruit cocktail in colander

Transfer the fruit to a large bowl.

Add marshmallows to bowl

Add the marshmallows, and

Add Cool Whip to bowl

the Cool Whip.

Cool Whip and fruit cocktail in bowl

Next,

Ambrosia fruit salad in bowl

gently blend in the Cool Whip and…

Pineapple Cherry Ambrosia Salad in bowl

…serve right away…

Ambrosia fruit salad in bowl

…or serve chilled.

Pineapple Cherry Ambrosia Salad in bowl

Garnish with maraschino cherries (with stems).

Ambrosia Cherry Fruit Salad

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Ambrosia fruit salad in bowl

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Cherry Pineapple Ambrosia Salad

Cherry, Pineapple and Mandarin Orange Ambrosia

This cherry, pineapple and mandarin orange ambrosia salad is a crowd pleaser every time.
5 from 2 votes

Ingredients

  • 15 whole maraschino cherries no stems (for the ambrosia salad)
  • 1 can (20 ounces) pineapple chunks
  • 1 can (11 ounces) mandarin orange slices
  • 1 can (15 ounces) triple cherry or regular fruit cocktail
  • 2 cups mini marshmallows
  • 2 cups Cool Whip Topping
  • 3 maraschino cherries with stems (for garnish)

Instructions

  • Set a large strainer on top of a plate or large flat bowl. Set aside for just a moment. Drain out the juice from the cans of fruit.
    Add the pineapple, fruit cocktail, and mandarin oranges to the strainer.
  • Cut the cherries in half and add them to the strainer. Using a spoon, spread the fruit out in the strainer so it’s not lumped together.
    Let the fruit sit in the strainer for 2 to 3 hours (or more) if you have time, so that all of the juice is completely drained from the fruit.
  • Transfer the fruit to a large bowl and add the marshmallows, and Cool Whip. Gently blend in the Cool Whip.
    Garnish with maraschino cherries with stems. 
    Serve chilled.

Video

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