Holiday Ambrosia Salad
This holiday ambrosia salad is a delightful blend of creamy textures and vibrant fruit, making it the best ambrosia salad for Christmas. With simple ingredients like orzo and pineapple, this easy ambrosia salad recipe is a quick no bake ambrosia salad that everyone will love.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces uncooked orzo pasta
- ¾ cup white sugar
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 (8 ounce) cans pineapple chunks, drained (juice reserved)
- 1 (11 ounce) can mandarin orange segments, drained
- 1 cup shredded coconut
- 4 cups frozen whipped topping, thawed
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook the orzo until al dente, about 5 to 7 minutes. Drain, rinse with cold water, and transfer to a large mixing bowl to cool.
- In a medium saucepan, whisk together the sugar, beaten eggs, flour, salt, and reserved pineapple juice until smooth. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens into a custard. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- Pour the custard over the cooled orzo and toss to coat evenly. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or overnight for the flavors to meld.
- Gently stir the pineapple chunks, mandarin oranges, and shredded coconut into the chilled orzo mixture.
- Fold in the whipped topping until the salad is light, fluffy, and well combined. Chill until ready to serve.
Notes
Plan ahead: The overnight refrigeration is key for the best texture and flavor. Don’t skip this step!