Southern Ambrosia Salad

With spring coming there is going to be a lot of outdoor and family events. A sweet ambrosia salad is a great option for entertainment. This is my traditional Georgia Ambrosia Salad. This recipe yields enough to serve a crowd but can be enjoyed solo too!

Ambrosia is a variant of fruit salad, with a creamy base and a hearty dose of tropical flavors like coconut and pineapple. The name is in reference to the foods of the Greek gods, and when made appropriately, you can see why!

If you want the best ambrosia, you need the freshest ingredients. I regularly see people using canned items for their salads, but if you want to take it over the top, try and find the freshest ingredients you can. Of course, canned is still good if you can't find fresh produce.

- 1/2 Cup Heavy Cream

- 1/2 Cup Sour Cream

- 1 Tbsp Sugar

- 5 Clementines/Mandarins, Broken into Segments

- 1/2 Bag Mini Marshmallows, If you can make these fresh or find somebody who does, that would be fantastic, but making marshmallows can be a huge mess so I don't blame you if you buy a bag

- 1.2 Cup Fresh Pineapple

- 1 Cup Fresh Grated Coconut

- 1 Cup Toasted Pecans

- 2/3 Cup Marashino Cherries

You will also need:

- An electric mixer, preferably a stand mixer

- A large bowl

- A silicone spatula

Whip your cream with your sugar, in a stand mixer or with a powerful hand mixer, until a stiff whipped cream is produced. Add your sour cream and gently fold with your silicone spatula till combined.

Peel and separate your clementines/mandarins, finely chop your pineapple, shave your coconut.

Combine all of your fruit and remaining ingredients in a serving bowl, fold it all together with your spatula.

Add your cream to your fruit and marshmallow mix. Cover, and place in the fridge for at least an hour, but I would recommend around four hours so all the flavors start to combine. You can also make this the day before an event and store it overnight.

Serve it by the spoonful, and enjoy!

I hope you enjoyed this recipe and hopefully, you can share it with someone special this season!