ambrosia cake

Ambrosia Cake is a light, creamy dessert inspired by the classic fruit salad known as ambrosia. This cake is typically made with a light, fluffy cake base and topped with a sweet, fruit-filled cream topping, often using ingredients like whipped cream, marshmallows, coconut, and tropical fruits like pineapple and mandarin oranges. It’s a refreshing, easy-to-make dessert perfect for parties, holidays, or any special occasion.

Here’s a simple recipe for Ambrosia Cake:

Ingredients:

For the Cake:

• 1 box of white or yellow cake mix (or homemade cake mix if you prefer)
• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup water
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Ambrosia Topping:

• 1 (8 oz) container of whipped topping (such as Cool Whip)
• 1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut
• 1/2 cup miniature marshmallows
• 1 cup canned mandarin oranges, drained
• 1 cup crushed pineapple, drained well (you can also use fresh pineapple)
• 1/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Cake:

1. Preheat the oven according to the instructions on your cake mix box (usually around 350°F or 175°C).
2. In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, eggs, water, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed for about 2 minutes or until the batter is smooth.
3. Pour the batter into a greased and floured 9×13-inch baking dish.
4. Bake the cake in the preheated oven for about 25-30 minutes (or according to the cake mix instructions), or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
5. Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.

2. Prepare the Ambrosia Topping:

1. While the cake is cooling, in a large bowl, combine the whipped topping, shredded coconut, miniature marshmallows, mandarin oranges, and crushed pineapple. Stir gently until everything is well-mixed.
2. If you like, fold in chopped nuts (like pecans or walnuts) for added texture and flavor.

3. Assemble the Cake:

1. Once the cake has cooled, spread the ambrosia topping evenly over the top of the cake.
2. Refrigerate the cake for at least 1-2 hours (or overnight, if you prefer) to allow the flavors to meld together and the cake to absorb some of the creamy topping.
3. Before serving, you can garnish the cake with a few extra pieces of fruit, shredded coconut, or chopped nuts on top.

4. Serve:

• Slice and enjoy the Ambrosia Cake chilled. It’s perfect for a light dessert, especially during warmer months or at festive gatherings.

Tips:

• Make it from scratch: If you prefer to make a homemade cake, you can bake a simple vanilla or sponge cake using eggs, flour, sugar, and baking powder.
• Fruit variations: You can mix and match the fruit to your liking, such as adding cherries, grapes, or bananas.
• For a more tropical flavor: Add a bit of lime zest to the topping or swap in coconut milk for part of the whipped topping for extra tropical richness.

Ambrosia Cake is light, fluffy, and full of tropical flavors, making it a perfect dessert for any occasion.