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This 5 Cup Salad 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.

A pink bowl brimming with 5 Cup Salad features a fruity mix of marshmallows, mandarin oranges, and red cherries in a creamy sauce. A spoon rests inside the bowl, which is set on a floral-patterned cloth surrounded by extra spoons and a glass.
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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 and one of our favorite Thanksgiving Salad Recipes.

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.

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!

Let’s learn how to make 5 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.

Top-down view of ingredients for a 5 Cup Salad: a bowl of red cherries, a cup of whipped cream, and measuring cups with orange segments, diced pineapples, and mini marshmallows on a speckled countertop.

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!

How to make 5 cup salad

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

A glass bowl brimming with 5 Cup Salad, featuring marshmallows, cream, and pineapple chunks. Nearby are small bowls of red cherries and mandarin oranges. A cherry-patterned towel and a white spatula rest on the speckled countertop.

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.

A glass bowl with creamy 5 Cup Salad mixture and a spatula inside. Nearby are small bowls of red cherries and orange mandarin slices. The setting includes a cherry-patterned white cloth on a speckled countertop, adding charm to this delightful scene.

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

A glass bowl holds a 5 Cup Salad, a creamy dessert mixture of mini marshmallows and mandarin oranges, on a speckled countertop. Nearby, a small bowl of red maraschino cherries rests beside cherry-patterned cloth.

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

A glass bowl on a gray countertop holds a delightful 5 Cup Salad, featuring whipped cream, juicy oranges, and small marshmallows, all crowned with red cherries. A white spatula rests in the bowl, with a cherry-patterned cloth peeking out from beneath.

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.

A delightful 5 Cup Salad featuring a creamy fruit blend with marshmallows, cherries, and mandarin segments. The dish is elegantly presented amid empty glass bowls, spoons, and a cherry-patterned cloth on a light surface.

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. This ambrosia with sour cream will not disappoint your family or holiday guests.

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.

A bowl of creamy 5 Cup Salad with marshmallows, cherries, and mandarin orange slices. A spoon lifts a portion of the salad, showcasing its colorful and textured ingredients. The bowl rests on a light gray surface.

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 cocktail 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!

This 5 cups salad does not disappoint! 

This ambrosia 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.

A close-up of a bowl filled with 5 Cup Salad showcases a creamy fruit medley, featuring mini marshmallows, orange segments, and red cherries. A spoon lifts a portion, highlighting the delightful mix of marshmallows and fruit in the smooth mixture.

5 Cup Salad

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
Chill 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings 6
Cuisine American
Course Side Dish
Calories 189

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
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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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About the Author

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!

4.84 from 31 votes (29 ratings without comment)

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Comments

  1. Sue says:

    5 stars
    I always make my 5 cup salad into a 6 cup salad because i always put a cup of green grapes into the mix…my mother-in-law didn’t like coconut so she put in the green grapes instead but my family likes both so i use both…i think it needs the sweeten coconut. My son loves those cherries so next time might use those instead of the grapes.

  2. Christa says:

    5 stars
    Thank you for posting this recipe. It’s just like my Nana, and great grandmother used to make. Just wondered if, I put the cherries AND coconut, how much do I put of each? I’m gonna try it with 1/2 cup each. Thanks again, n have a Happy Thanksgiving!