This Simple Ambrosia Fruit Salad is the perfect healthy side dish to bring to any occasion and takes only 10 minutes to prep!
Need a last-minute dish to bring to Christmas dinner? Look no further, this fruit salad is a super simple healthy side dish. And the best part is you likely have the ingredients on hand!
I love Christmas dinner. About 99 percent of the time, our family has Honey Baked Ham, which to me is the best tasting ham around.
And the funny thing is the other 364 days of the year I don’t choose to eat ham.
It’s not that I dislike ham, I just prefer turkey over ham.
Anyway, back to the fruit salad. I was first introduced to this recipe when I met my husband and he raved about his mom’s fruit salad.
She would make it annually for the holidays when he was growing up.
Well, he asked her for the recipe and I’ve been making it quite often ever since.
Of course, the one thing my husband was expecting to eat on Thanksgiving (this fruit salad), was not on the menu.
Sorry honey – I would have easily made it if I had remembered.
Considering I hosted Thanksgiving this year, made the turkey, gravy, stuffing AND we got up at 5 a.m. as a family to run the Turkey Trot downtown, I’m not surprised I forgot.
At least my husband will be getting his fruit salad for Christmas dinner.
(Just a note – my husband was not that upset, he is gracious and thankful for whatever meal I make).
How to Make This Simple Ambrosia Fruit Salad
First, begin by placing a strainer over the top of a large bowl.
Next, add canned mandarin oranges, fruit cocktail and pineapple chunks to the strainer.
Let it sit for at least an hour to drain all the liquid.
Then, chop the walnuts and apple and slice a banana.
Add the nuts and fresh fruit to the canned fruit and gently stir.
inally, add the Cool Whip to the fruit mixture and stir only until combined.
And that’s it. Pretty simple.
Need a few other healthy side dish options for Christmas dinner?
Check these out…
Roasted Carrots With Fresh Herbs
Oven Roasted Asparagus with Garlic Lemon & Asiago Cheeses
Butternut Squash Mash with Smoked Paprika {Rachel Cooks}
Simple Ambrosia Fruit Salad
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups whipped topping (like Cool Whip), thawed
- 1 (15 ounce) can mandarin oranges, in light syrup
- 1 (15 ounce) can fruit cocktail, in light syrup
- 1 (20 ounce) can pineapple chunks, in 100% pineapple juice
- 1 banana, sliced
- 1 apple, chopped
- 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
Instructions
- Place a strainer over a large bowl and add mandarin oranges, fruit cocktail and pineapple chunks to the strainer. Let this sit until all the juice drains (I let it drain for about 20-30 minutes).
- Combine the canned fruit, banana, apple and walnuts in a large bowl.
- Add whipped topping to the bowl, mixing only until combined.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Notes
Merry Christmas!
© 2014 Kristy Hegner (updated images Jan. 2, 2021) Disclaimer
Pauline
Friday 25th of March 2016
Sounds like one the family used to make,, my husband has requested it for Easter but I have sooo forgotten the recipe.. this sounds a lot like mine,, but no sizes of cans mentioned.. and they vary so much...
Kristy Hegner
Monday 30th of May 2016
I apologize, I have added the can sizes now.
Kristy Hegner
Tuesday 23rd of December 2014
Good luck!
Katie Serbinski
Tuesday 23rd of December 2014
I wasn't a fan of the "white salad" growing up but now I could eat it at every meal!! Merry Christmas to the Hegner Family!!!
Kristy Hegner
Tuesday 23rd of December 2014
LOL! My kids prefer the fruit to be "plain" as well. Hope you and your family have a Merry Christmas and a new addition any day now!