Ambrosia

This Ambrosia recipe is one of the easiest and most delicious desserts! It takes minutes to prepare and is perfect for any summer bbq or get together.

Ambrosia Recipe

Ambrosia is common on so many New Zealand dessert tables over Summer and Christmas along with Pavlova and Trifle, the flavours just scream summer! Filled with berries, chocolate, marshmallows and meringue it’s a dessert everyone loves!

This recipe takes minutes to prepare, can be made ahead of time and kept in the fridge until you’re ready to serve and is even better as leftovers!

Ambrosia Recipe NZ

The New Zealand Ambrosia or Kiwi Ambrosia is a little different to Ambrosia served other places around the world. It’s more berry focused, usually using berry flavoured yoghurt and tinned boysenberries or strawberries instead of more tropical fruit.

This is definitely a recipe or dessert where everyone has their own slightly different version and this is mine!

• I use Tim Tams instead of a cadbury flake or chopped chocolate. It gives the dessert so much more flavour and also texture which is really important here!
• I also use frozen berries as well as tinned boysenberries. The tinned berries will break apart and mix into the cream and yoghurt but the frozen berries will stay whole giving more flavour.

Why this is the BEST Ambrosia Recipe

• It only takes minutes to prepare!
• It can be made ahead of time and kept in the fridge until you are ready to serve.
• You can mix and match the fillings depending on what’s in season and what you have on hand.
• It’s filled with berries, marshmallows, Tim Tams and meringues!
• Make it in a serving bowl or halve the recipe and use individual glasses.

Ambrosia Dessert

This a truely no fail dessert that anyone can make. It’s minimal effort for such maximum results that always is a favourite with everyone.

The recipe can easily be scaled up or down depending on how many people you are serving. Serve it in a large bowl or place in individual glasses to dress it up!

Ambrosia Fillings

There are so many different fillings and flavour combinations you can use for ambrosia. As long as you keep the cream, yoghurt and tinned berries the same you can mix and match with really anything you would like!

• Desiccated Coconut – If you’re a coconut lover it works really well in this dessert!
• Chocolate Brownie – Chop brownies into small pieces and mix through the dessert.
• Fresh Fruit – Slice up fresh fruit like oranges, grapes or pineapple and add to the ambrosia.
• Nougat – This works especially well around Christmas time!
• Fresh Berries – If fresh berries are in season you can add them as well or substitute for the frozen berries. Any type of berry works here.
• Chocolate Chips – For more delicious chocolate flavour add chocolate chips or chopped chocolate.
• Maltesers, Jaffas, Pineapple Lumps

Ambrosia Ingredients

1 1/4 Cups / 300ml Whipping Cream – Make sure your cream is cold from the fridge, it will whip much faster. Don’t use light or single cream as it will not whip.

2 Cups / 500g Mixed Berry Greek Yoghurt – Greek yoghurt is thicker than other yoghurts which is why I prefer it for this recipe. You can use any other flavour of yoghurt you would prefer.

15oz / 425g Tin Boysenberries – Tinned boysenberries work really well for this recipe as they mix well into the cream and yoghurt. You can use fresh if you would prefer but I would recommend mashing them up.

1 Packet Tim Tams – Any other chocolate coated biscuit will work here too.

180g Marshmallows

1 Cup Frozen Mixed Berries – You can substitute with fresh berries if they are in season but frozen works really well.

6 Meringues – optional but delicious for a little texture.

How to Make Ambrosia

Pour the cream into a large mixing bowl or the bowl of you stand mixer. Using you stand mixer, hand mixer or a whisk, beat the cream until it forms soft peaks. This should take a few minutes.

Pour the yoghurt into the bowl with the cream and fold it through until well combined.

Drain the tinned boysenberries and add the berries to the bowl. Fold through with a spoon. Set the mixture to the side.

Use a knife to cut the marshmallows in half, the Tim Tams into small pieces and 4 of the meringues into large pieces.

Add the frozen berries to the bowl, the marshmallows, Tim Tams and meringues. Save a small amount of the Tim Tams to sprinkle over the top of the Ambrosia.

Fold the ingredients through until well combined.

Pour the Ambrosia into a serving bowl, glass works great as you can see all of the filling. Sprinkle over the Tim Tams, left over meringues and garnish with fresh berries.

Place into the fridge for at least 4 hours to set or overnight works great too.

Serving

Serve the ambrosia in bowls or glasses. You can crush extra meringue and add fresh fruit to the top.

Leftovers

Keep any leftovers in the fridge for up to 2 days.

Ambrosia FAQ

How long does Ambrosia last in the fridge?

Ambrosia will keep for about 2-3 days in the fridge (if you can make it last that long!). It’s best served the day of or the next day after you make it but leftovers will be perfect for the next few days.

Can Ambrosia be made the day before?

Yes! This is a perfect make ahead dessert for summer bbq’s, Christmas or pot lucks! Simple make your ambrosia, cover the bowl and leave it in the fridge until you’re ready to serve.

What is Ambrosia?

Ambrosia is a type of fruit salad that is common to serve for dessert. As it’s a salad there are so many different recipes, versions and flavour combinations. New Zealand Ambrosia recipes are more focused on berry flavours but it is common to use more tropical fruit.

Why is it called Ambrosia?

Ambrosia was considered luxurious as the ingredients were hard to find, this is why it was only served on special occasions and celebrations. Because of this it was nemed ambrosia after the food of the Greek and Roman gods.

Equipement for making this recipe

• Hand Mixer – you can also use a stand mixer or a whisk to whip the cream.
• Mixing Bowl
• Glass Serving Bowl

More Summer Dessert Recipes

• Pavlova
• No Bake Berry Cheesecake
• No Churn Strawberry Ice Cream