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5 Cup Salad is a classic recipe! This creamy fruit salad features canned pineapple, mandarin oranges, coconut, mini marshmallows and tangy sour cream! Otherwise known as Ambrosia salad, it's always a crowd pleaser and a hit at any family gathering including holiday dinners, potlucks, picnics and cookouts.

5 Cup Salad

Try this easy 5 Cup Salad for a refreshing side dish or dessert! It is always a hit at any potluck, cookout or holiday dinner and a classic, old fashioned recipe. Otherwise known as Ambrosia Salad, this fruit salad with sour cream, canned pineapple, mandarin oranges, mini marshmallows and coconut can be made in just a few minutes. The tang from the sour cream complements the sweet fruit and coconut wonderfully!

Course Dessert/Side Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword 4th of July, Christmas, coconut, cookout, dessert, easter, easy recipes, fruit salad, fruit salad with marshmallows, fruit salad with sour cream, no bake dessert, old fashioned recipe, party recipes, potluck dessert, side dish, sour cream, Thanksgiving, vintage recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Chill Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 211 kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 1 cup sweetened coconut flakes
  • 1 cup mini marshmallows
  • 1 cup pineapple tidbits or chunks well drained
  • 1 cup mandarin oranges well drained
  • maraschino cherries garnish, optional

Instructions

  1. In a large mixing bowl, add all ingredients.

  2. Gently fold in sour cream until fully combined.

  3. Transfer to a serving dish. Cover and chill until ready to serve, at least one hour.

  4. Garnish with maraschino cherries, if desired before serving.

Recipe Notes

Can be stored in refrigerator in an airtight container up to 3 to 5 days. Best enjoyed for 1 to 2 days once prepared.

If you are wondering what size cans of fruit to buy for a single cup in each, it can vary depending upon brand and type.

Mandarin Oranges:

  • 11 oz can: 3/4 cup to 1 cup of fruit (well drained)
  • 15 oz can: 1 cup to 1 1/4 cup fruit (well drained)

Pineapple Tidbits or Chunks:

  • 8 oz can: 1/2 to 2/3 cup (well drained)
  • 20 oz can: 1 1/2 cups to 1 3/4 cups (well drained)

I recommend buying a 15 oz. can of mandarin oranges and 20 oz. can of pineapple tidbits or chunks and adding in a dollop of extra sour cream if you have it. (About 1/8 cup or 2 tablespoons of extra sour cream.) Alternatively, you could use a smaller can of pineapple and add maraschino cherries to make a whole cup.

Ultimately you want approximately 4 cups of fruit, mini marshmallows and coconut total to add to your 1 cup of sour cream.

Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.

Nutrition Facts
5 Cup Salad
Amount per Serving
Calories
211
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
12
g
18
%
Saturated Fat
 
8
g
50
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
0.4
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
2
g
Cholesterol
 
23
mg
8
%
Sodium
 
60
mg
3
%
Potassium
 
203
mg
6
%
Carbohydrates
 
27
g
9
%
Fiber
 
3
g
13
%
Sugar
 
21
g
23
%
Protein
 
2
g
4
%
Vitamin A
 
481
IU
10
%
Vitamin C
 
13
mg
16
%
Calcium
 
60
mg
6
%
Iron
 
0.4
mg
2
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.