Easy 5 Cup Salad Recipe (2024)

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This 5 cup salad recipe is a must try at any family dinner or holiday gathering. It is simple to make but so delicious and sure to impress friends and family.

Easy 5 Cup Salad Recipe (1)

5 cup salad recipe

This is the absolute best 5 Cup Salad Recipe! I don’t know about you, but this easy fruit salad recipe is a must have at our Christmas celebration.

Growing up as a child I didn’t know what was so special about it, but now I can’t eat enough. It is such a classic recipe.

Easy 5 Cup Salad Recipe (2)

I definitely look forward to it every single Christmas dinner. Some call it ambrosia salad, but I grew up calling it 5 cup salad, so that name always stuck.

This salad is just one of those recipes that you look forward to and the holidays don’t seem the same if it is missing. Give this a try and start a yummy family tradition!

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Let’s learn how to make5 cup salad!

This is truly the easiest salad and so delicious. If you can toss a few ingredients into a bowl, you can make this easy fruit salad recipe.

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Ingredients:

  • canned pineapple chunks- drained (I used the tidbits)
  • small mini marshmallows
  • sour cream
  • mandarin oranges
  • maraschino cherries (I cut mine in half)

See… I told you this recipe was easy. You literally only need 1 cup of 5 ingredients to make this simple ambrosia salad recipe.

It can’t get any easier or simpler than this!

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How to make 5 cup salad:

First, you need a large mixing bowl. Add the marshmallows, pineapple, and sour cream.

Don’t forget to drain the pineapple juice. We used tidbits but you could also use pineapple chunks.

Stir this until it is well combined.

Then fold in the mandarin oranges. Make sure to gently fold these in.

I prefer to slice the cherries in half. Once they are all cut, carefully fold them into the fruit salad mixture.

Tip: If you mix the salad too much, it will turn pink.

Now, just cover and put in the fridge for at least a hour before serving.

Enjoy! It is best served cold.

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It’s so easy!

This is the perfect fruit salad to make for the holidays, pot lucks and any time you want something amazing but easy to make!

Once you try this, you will love to make it all the time! It is so yummy and super easy to make.

The sour cream gives this Ambrosia Salad the perfect tang!

I know it sounds weird to put sour cream in a fruit salad but trust me…. it tastes amazing. Thisambrosia with sour cream will not disappoint your family or holiday guests.

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Can you make it ahead of time?

Yes! In fact, I think this salad is best after the flavors have blended overnight. Everything just comes together perfectly. You are going to love it!

The sour cream blends with the marshmallows and delicious fruit for a sweet and delicious fruit salad. I think the sour cream gives it the best flavor and balances out the sweetness.

Plus, when you make it ahead of time, it is even better.

I also think it is so helpful during the holidays that you can make this ahead of time. I actually think it is better after it has been sitting awhile in the fridge and the flavors really blend together.

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Variations:

  • Now if you want a slightly different twist you can use 1 cup of coconut instead of cherries, but I prefer the cherries.
  • Some love the coconut but cherries give it that delicious flavor and it adds a little pop of color.
  • You can easily make this your own and add chopped pecans, whipped cream, fruit co*cktail and more to the ambrosia salad recipe. There are lots of variations and they are all so quick and easy.
  • Try adding greek yogurt or vanilla yogurt instead of sour cream and a little powdered sugar and cool whip. Yum!
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This 5 cups salad does not disappoint!

Thisambrosia with sour cream recipe is so simple!

I love this salad because it just so easy with the few simple ingredients. You can make this recipe so quickly and easily for potlucks, family dinners, special occasions and more.

It is easy to feed a crowd and everyone always loves this easy fruit salad side dish. It is so amazing and delicious.

Everyone always loves it and asks for the recipe anytime I make it. They are always surprised it is just the few simple ingredients.

This recipe is a must try!

Print this 5 cup salad recipe below:

Easy 5 Cup Salad Recipe (10)

Review

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5 Cup Salad Recipe

4.84 from 31 votes

A classic 5 Cup Salad Recipe! You are going to love this Easy Ambrosia recipe. Sour cream gives this Ambrosia Salad the perfect tang! Try it today!

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Chill 1 hour hr

Total Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Servings 6

Cuisine American

Course Side Dish

Calories 189

Author Carrie Barnard

Ingredients

  • 1 cup canned pineapple chunks drained (I used the tidbits)
  • 1 cup small mini marshmallows
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 1 cup mandarin oranges
  • 1 cup maraschino cherries I cut mine in half

Instructions

  • In a large bowl mix together place one cup of marshmallows, 1 cup of pineapple, and 1 cup of sour cream until combine.

  • Fold in 1 up of mandarin oranges.

  • Once combined slice cherries in half and carefully fold into the mixture.

  • If you mix too much the fruit salad will turn pink.

  • Place in the fridge for at least one hour before serving.Serve cold and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Calories 189kcal, Carbohydrates 31g, Protein 2g, Fat 8g, Saturated Fat 4g, Cholesterol 20mg, Sodium 42mg, Potassium 225mg, Fiber 2g, Sugar 26g, Vitamin A 507IU, Vitamin C 18mg, Calcium 69mg, Iron 1mg

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Try these easy fruit salad recipes:

  • Easy Tropical Fruit Salad Recipe
  • Cheesecake Fruit Salad Recipe
  • Red White and Blue Fruit Salad
  • 3 Ingredient Snicker Apple Salad Recipe
  • Mandarin Orange Jello Salad Recipe

More easy side dishes:

  • Baked Potatoes in the Microwave – Easy to make!
  • Easy Recipe on how to Grill Corn on the Cob
  • Foil Pack Grilled Potatoes
  • Parmesan Pasta – Easy 2 Ingredient Side Dish Recipe
  • Quick and Easy Weeknight Macaroni and Cheese Recipe
  • Grilled Green Beans Easy Side Dish Recipe
Easy 5 Cup Salad Recipe (11)

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About the Author

Easy 5 Cup Salad Recipe (20)

Hi, I’m Carrie. Welcome to Eating on a Dime!

I’m on a mission to help you cook delicious meals without busting your budget. Together we are going to cook real food… for real families!

About Carrie Page
Easy 5 Cup Salad Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is fruit salad liquid or solid? ›

A typical fruit salad contains about 90–95% solid ingredients in the form of fruit bits and other add-ins. However, about 80% the fruit by weight will be water, mostly bound up in the cellular structure.

What kind of mixture fruit salad? ›

iii) Fruit salad is a mixture of various fruits. The pieces of fruits can be easily differentiated, which means that fruit salad is a heterogeneous mixture.

What is ambrosia salad made of? ›

Most ambrosia recipes contain canned (often sweetened) or fresh pineapple, canned mandarin orange slices or fresh orange sections, miniature marshmallows, and coconut. Other ingredients might include various fruits and nuts: maraschino cherries, bananas, strawberries, peeled grapes, or crushed pecans.

What is a creamy fruit salad made of? ›

Beat cream cheese and sugar together in a large bowl with an electric mixer. Mix in whipped topping on high speed until incorporated. Fold in pineapple, fruit co*cktail, bananas, apple, coconut, pecans, raisins, and cherries. Transfer to a serving bowl, cover, and chill for at least 1 hour before serving.

Is a cup of fruit salad a mixture? ›

Fruit salads contain different fruits, like strawberries, bananas, blueberries, and grapes. These fruits can be cut into different size pieces but are easily identified as part of the salad. Fruit salads are a good representation of a mixture. In chemistry, mixtures are physically mixed substances.

Is fruit salad healthy? ›

They're healthy!

Regular intake of fruit is great for maintaining optimal blood pressure and will reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke too. Get your health in check by tucking into some fresh fruit salad and you'll be better for it. Some more health benefits can be put down to the following: High in vitamin C.

What is fruit salad dressing made of? ›

Ingredients
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour.
  • 2 cans (6 ounces each) pineapple juice.
  • 1 can (6 ounces) frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed.
  • 1/2 to 1 cup sugar.
  • 1/4 cup honey.
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice.
  • Assorted fresh fruit.
5 days ago

What fruits can go together in a bowl? ›

For the salad: Layer fruit in a large, clear glass bowl in this order: pineapple, strawberries, kiwi fruit, bananas, oranges, grapes, and blueberries. Pour cooled sauce over fruit; cover and refrigerate for 3 to 4 hours before serving.

What is Watergate salad made of? ›

Watergate salad, also referred to as Pistachio Delight or Shut the Gate salad, is a side dish salad or dessert salad made from pistachio pudding, canned pineapple, whipped topping, crushed pecans, and marshmallows. It is very quick and simple to prepare: the ingredients are combined and then often chilled.

What is Waldorf salad made of? ›

A Waldorf salad is a fruit and nut salad generally made of celery, fresh apples, walnuts, and grapes, dressed in mayonnaise, and traditionally served on a bed of lettuce as an appetizer or a light meal. The apples, celery, and grapes can all be green, which harmonizes the color palette of the dish.

What is the most popular salad in America? ›

Caesar Salad

It is a popular choice in many American restaurants and is often served as a side dish or a main course.

Why do people put sugar on fruit salad? ›

Sugar is hygroscopic, which means it attaches itself to water molecules, when you add sugar to your fruit salad, sugar will extract the juice from the fruit. This helps soften the fruit and makes it easier on the palate. The salad is juicy.

What is the salad that are usually sweet and may contain fruit? ›

Dessert salads are usually sweet and often contain fruits, sweetened gelatin, nuts, cream, and whipped cream. Waldorf salad is a popular dessert salad.

What fruit is creamy? ›

Avocado, the Rich, Creamy Fruit.

Is fruit salad a solution or suspension? ›

fog, aerosol sprays, boot polish, nail polish, air, milk, are colloids. fruit salad, oil and water, are examples of suspensions.

What is the classification of fruit salad? ›

There are many types of fruit salad, ranging from the basic (no nuts, marshmallows, or dressing) to the moderately sweet (Waldorf salad) to the sweet (ambrosia salad). Another "salad" containing fruit is a jello salad, with its many variations.

Is fruit salad an example of solution? ›

Fruit salad is an example of a heterogeneous mixture. In a heterogeneous mixture, the components are not spread out, or distributed, evenly throughout the mixture. The amount of each component in different samples of the same heterogeneous mixture may vary.

Is salad dressing a liquid or solid? ›

Salad dressing is the emulsified semisolid product prepared from ingredients such as those of mayonnaise plus cooked (or partially cooked) starch paste prepared with a food starch, tapioca, wheat or rye flour, or any two or more of these.

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