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Fluffy Cranberry Marshmallow Ambrosia Salad

Fluffy Cranberry Marshmallow Ambrosia Salad - featured image
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This festive ambrosia salad combines tart cranberries, sweet marshmallows, creamy Greek yogurt, and tropical fruit for a nostalgic, crowd-pleasing treat. It’s quick to make, perfect for parties, and can be easily adapted for gluten-free or dairy-free diets.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups fresh cranberries (or canned whole cranberries, drained)
  • 1 cup mandarin orange segments (canned or fresh, drained)
  • 1 cup pineapple tidbits, drained
  • 1/2 cup maraschino cherries, halved and drained
  • 2 cups mini marshmallows
  • 1 cup Greek yogurt (plain or vanilla, or coconut yogurt for dairy-free)
  • 1 cup whipped topping (like Cool Whip or homemade, or coconut whipped topping for dairy-free)
  • 1/2 cup sour cream (optional)
  • 1/2 cup shredded sweetened coconut
  • 1/2 cup toasted pecans or walnuts, chopped (optional)
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar (reduce or skip if using canned cranberries)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Zest of 1 orange (about 1 tablespoon, optional)

Instructions

  1. Rinse cranberries and pick out any soft ones.
  2. Pulse cranberries with sugar in a food processor until finely chopped, or chop by hand.
  3. Let the cranberry-sugar mixture sit for 10 minutes to draw out juices.
  4. Drain mandarin oranges, pineapple tidbits, and maraschino cherries well. Slice cherries in half and pat all fruit dry.
  5. In a large mixing bowl, combine Greek yogurt, whipped topping, and sour cream (if using). Add vanilla extract and orange zest, whisk gently.
  6. Fold the sugared cranberries, oranges, pineapple, and cherries into the creamy base using a spatula.
  7. Gently stir in mini marshmallows and shredded coconut.
  8. Add chopped pecans or walnuts if using. Mix just until evenly distributed.
  9. Cover the bowl tightly and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight.
  10. Before serving, give the salad a gentle stir. Garnish with extra coconut, cranberries, or orange zest if desired.
  11. Serve chilled.

Notes

Drain all canned fruit and pat dry to prevent a watery salad. Chill for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight, for best texture and flavor. For dairy-free, use coconut yogurt and coconut whipped topping. For gluten-free, check marshmallow and whipped topping labels. Nuts are optional and can be replaced with seeds for allergies. Adjust sugar to taste depending on cranberry tartness.

Nutrition

Keywords: ambrosia salad, cranberry salad, marshmallow salad, holiday dessert, potluck recipe, festive salad, easy dessert, gluten-free, dairy-free, fruit salad

Find it online: https://tomyumy.com/fluffy-cranberry-marshmallow-ambrosia-salad-recipe-for-easy-festive-parties/