Pioneer Woman Ambrosia Salad Recipe

Pioneer Woman Ambrosia Salad Recipe - Pioneer Woman Ambrosia Salad is the perfect dish to satisfy and delight a crowd during late summer potlucks or family gatherings, thanks to its irresistible blend of sweet and savory flavors.

This fruit salad has deep roots in the Southern United States and is a beloved traditional dish. It was originally created in the 1950s by home economist Anne Church as a budget-friendly way to provide a nourishing meal for families. Since then, it has consistently been a favorite at any social gathering, never failing to please the attendees.

Today, we are excited to share the authentic recipe for Pioneer Woman Ambrosia Salad, guaranteed to be a hit with your guests and leave them wanting more.

How to Make Pioneer Woman Ambrosia Salad

Ambrosia Salad is a highly delectable and adaptable fruit salad that can be prepared effortlessly in under 20 minutes, making it a convenient option to serve.

This salad brings together a variety of fruits, allowing for customization to match your personal taste preferences, resulting in a harmonious and flavorful creation.

Not only is Ambrosia Salad a delightful and refreshing choice, but it also boasts a healthy profile, being fresh and low in carbohydrates. You can enjoy it guilt-free, whether as a refreshing side dish, appetizer, dessert, or even as a satisfying main course.

Now, let's explore the ingredients required to craft a truly tantalizing Ambrosia Salad, as presented by Pioneer Woman.

Ingredients

(2 servings)

• 1 ½ cups diced pineapple
• 1 (11-ounce) can of mandarin oranges
• 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
• ½ cup pecans
• 1 (10-ounce) jar of maraschino (without cherry stems)
• 3 cups mini marshmallows
• ¾ cup heavy cream
• ⅓ cup sour cream

Instructions

The popularity of Pioneer Woman Ambrosia Salad stems from its quick and easy preparation, allowing for easy scalability as needed.

This delightful salad features layers of canned pineapple, mandarin oranges, coconut, cream, and marshmallows, making it a healthy and satisfying choice.

The process primarily involves mixing the fruits together and allowing them to chill for approximately 2-3 hours, or preferably overnight, to enhance the deliciousness when served cold.

To make the salad even healthier, fresh fruits can be used as alternatives to canned ones, and a touch of ground ginger (about ¼ tablespoon) can be added for an extra kick of flavor. The possibilities are endless.

However, let's stick to the original Pioneer Woman Ambrosia Salad Recipe before venturing into any experimental variations.

Step 1

Begin by toasting the pecans. Preheat the oven to 350 °F and place a rack in the center.

Spread the pecans on a small baking sheet and toast them for approximately 6-8 minutes, stirring halfway through, until they become fragrant and golden. Transfer the toasted pecans to a medium bowl and allow them to cool completely.

Step 2

Prepare the perfect whipped cream. Use an electric mixer to whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Then, add the sour cream and whisk until the mixture is well combined.

Step 3

Combine the pineapple, coconut, and marshmallows in the bowl with the whipped cream mixture. Stir gently until everything is well combined. Next, add the mandarin oranges.

Step 4

Cover the bowl of Ambrosia Salad with plastic wrap and refrigerate it for 2-3 hours before serving.

Step 5

When ready to serve, coarsely chop the toasted pecans and add them to the Ambrosia Salad along with the maraschino cherries. Stir everything together to combine.

Transfer the salad to a serving bowl and garnish it with fresh mint leaves.

Prepare to indulge in this irresistibly delicious dish!

Ingredient Substitution

Pioneer Woman Ambrosia Salad is a versatile salad that allows for plenty of experimentation.

There are various ways to customize the salad to your liking, such as using different nuts, adding more fruits for vibrant colors, opting for low-fat ingredients to make it healthier, or even infusing tropical flavors with a touch of rum.

It is suitable for both casual and elegant dinners, and it's hard to go wrong with it.

Now, let's explore some substitutions you can make in the Ambrosia Salad to enhance its taste.

Butter + Milk

A reliable alternative to heavy cream is a combination of butter and milk, which can be used in any recipe calling for heavy cream.

By adding butter to milk, you increase its fat content, closely resembling the fat percentage of heavy cream.

Although this substitution is not dairy-free, it can be used when heavy cream is unavailable.

To replace 1 cup of heavy cream, mix ¾ cup of milk with ⅓ cup of softened butter.

Note: Keep in mind that this mixture may not whip in the same way as heavy cream does.

Greek Yogurt

If you don't have sour cream on hand, whole-milk Greek yogurt is an excellent option. Its thick and tangy nature provides a creamy texture that complements the Ambrosia Salad perfectly.

Full-fat Greek yogurt works best for this substitution, but plain regular yogurt can also be used.

Remember to strain some of the liquid from the yogurt before incorporating it into the salad.

Greek yogurt can be substituted in a 1:1 ratio, meaning you can replace ⅓ cup of sour cream with ⅓ cup of Greek yogurt.

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