Ingredients:
– 1 cup canned pineapple chunks, drained
– 1 cup canned mandarin oranges, drained
– 1 cup maraschino cherries, stemmed and halved
– 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
– 1 cup mini marshmallows
– 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
– 1 cup sour cream or 1 cup whipped topping (like Cool Whip)
Instructions:
1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the pineapple chunks, mandarin oranges, and maraschino cherries. Gently stir to mix the fruits.
2. Add the shredded coconut and mini marshmallows to the bowl. If you’ve decided to include nuts, this is the time to fold them in as well.
3. Spoon in the sour cream or whipped topping, depending on your preference. Fold the mixture together until all the ingredients are well incorporated and the fruit is evenly coated with the creamy element.
4. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the salad for at least one hour before serving. This chilling time allows the flavors to meld together and the marshmallows to soften slightly.

5. Before serving, give the Ambrosia Salad a gentle stir to freshen up the mixture. Serve chilled and enjoy this sweet, nostalgic treat.