Need a quick little dessert gift that doesn’t require baking, frosting, or a second mortgage? This Ambrosia Pudding Mix in a Mug keeps it simple. You layer a pineapple cup with a small dry mix packet and marshmallows, then the whole thing turns into a creamy, fruity single-serving treat after a short chill.
It has all the familiar ambrosia flavors in a tidy mug-sized portion: banana cream pudding, coconut, vanilla wafers, pecans, cherry gelatin, pineapple, and marshmallows. If you like easy pantry desserts, you might also want to try Pineapple Pudding Mix in a Mug or browse the Mug Mix Index for more one-serving ideas.
Ingredients for Ambrosia Pudding Mix in a Mug
You only need a handful of dry ingredients plus a pineapple snack cup and mini marshmallows. The pudding mix gives the dessert its creamy base, the crushed wafers thicken it a bit and add texture, and the cherry gelatin adds that little pop of color and fruit flavor that makes it feel like ambrosia instead of plain pudding.
- 2 tablespoons banana cream instant pudding
- 4 vanilla wafers, broken into small pieces
- 2 tablespoons flaked coconut
- 2 teaspoons very finely chopped pecans
- 1/4 teaspoon cherry gelatin
- 1/4 cup mini marshmallows
- 1 snack-size 4 ounce cup pineapple tidbits
How to Assemble the Mix
This is packaged like a giftable mug mix, but it works just as well when you make it for yourself and stash it in the pantry for later. Keep the pineapple separate until serving time so the dry mix stays dry and the wafers don’t go soft too soon.
- Measure the banana cream instant pudding, broken vanilla wafers, flaked coconut, finely chopped pecans, and cherry gelatin into a small zip-top bag.
- Seal the bag and shake well to combine.
- Measure the mini marshmallows into a second small zip-top bag and seal it.
- Place the unopened pineapple snack cup in a mug lined with tissue paper, then set the ambrosia mix packet and marshmallow packet on top if you’re giving it as a gift.
- To prepare, empty the pineapple tidbits and juice into the mug.
- Add the ambrosia mix and stir well until the pudding and gelatin are evenly moistened.
- Refrigerate for 10 minutes to let it set.
- Top with the mini marshmallows, stir, and serve immediately.
If you’re making several at once, label the marshmallow packet instead of tossing everything into one bag. That way the marshmallows stay soft instead of melting into the mix like they’ve given up on life.
Helpful Tips for the Best Texture
Break the wafers into small pieces, not powder. Tiny chunks soften as the dessert chills and give you a better spoonful than fine crumbs, which can turn pasty.
Chop the pecans very fine so they distribute evenly through the mug. With only a couple teaspoons in the whole serving, larger pieces tend to sink to the bottom and make the texture uneven.
Stir the pineapple and dry mix thoroughly, especially around the bottom edges of the mug. The pudding and gelatin need moisture from the fruit and juice to set properly. For general leftover safety once the dessert is mixed, follow the USDA leftover storage guidance and refrigerate promptly.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this straight from the mug for the full mix-in-a-mug effect, or spoon it into a dessert cup if you want it to look a little fancier than a Tuesday night pantry raid.
It pairs well with simple butter cookies, extra vanilla wafers, or a few toasted coconut flakes on top. If you like these easy chilled desserts, Banana Pudding Mix in a Mug makes a good follow-up for the same crowd.
Storage and Shelf Life
Dry mix storage: Keep the dry ambrosia mix packet tightly sealed in an airtight bag or jar in a cool, dry cupboard. A conservative estimate is up to 6 months for best quality, since the chopped pecans are the shortest-lived ingredient and can go stale faster than the pudding mix or coconut. Store the marshmallows in a separate sealed bag until needed.
Prepared dessert storage: After mixing the pineapple with the dry ingredients, refrigerate it promptly and use it within 3 to 4 days. For the best texture, add the marshmallows right before serving, because they soften and shrink if they sit in the moist pudding too long.
Make-ahead note: You can assemble the dry packet and marshmallow packet ahead of time, but do not open the pineapple cup until you’re ready to mix and chill the dessert.
💸 Budget101® Price Breakdown: Ambrosia Pudding Mix in a Mug
Ingredient |
Walmart Item |
Pkg Price |
Amount Used |
Cost Used |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Banana cream instant pudding |
$0.78 |
2 T. |
$0.16 |
|
Vanilla wafers |
$4.24 |
4 ≈ package ≈ 3.669 cup(s) |
$0.33 |
|
Flaked coconut |
$2.24 |
2 T. |
$0.07 |
|
Very finely chopped pecans |
$4.48 |
2 t. |
$0.09 |
|
Cherry gelatin |
$2.44 |
1/4 t. ≈ 1 count ≈ 0.047 cup(s) |
$0.07 |
|
Mini marshmallows |
$1.24 |
1/4 C. |
$0.05 |
|
Snack-size cup pineapple tidbits |
$1.44 |
1 4- ounce |
$0.36 |
💸 |
Cost |
|---|---|
🧾 Total Batch Cost |
$1.13 |
👨👩👧👦 Cost Per Serving |
$1.13 |
📅 Walmart prices last verified August 26, 2026. Prices may vary by location and are subject to change. Learn how to calculate the cost of a recipe on your own!
🛒 Walmart Grocery List
- Banana Cream Instant Pudding, 3.4 oz
- Vanilla Wafer Cookies, 11 oz
- Sweetened Coconut Flakes, 14 oz
- Chopped Pecans, 8 oz
- Cherry Gelatin Dessert, 3 oz
- Mini Marshmallows, 10 oz
- Pineapple Tidbits Cups, 4 oz 4 count
Not sure exactly what this batch costs you per serving? Here’s how to break down the real cost of any recipe so you know before you shop.
Frequently Asked Questions about Ambrosia Pudding Mix in a Mug
You can prep the dry mix and marshmallow packet well ahead, but wait to combine everything with the pineapple until you plan to serve it. Once the fruit is stirred in, the wafers soften, the marshmallows can turn tacky, and the texture is best within the first day even though it will keep safely in the refrigerator for a few days.
Give it another 5 minutes in the refrigerator and stir once more. Pineapple cups can vary a bit in juice, and the pudding mix needs that moisture plus a little time to thicken, especially since this version uses a small amount of dry mix instead of a full box prepared the usual way.
Yes, as long as you keep the amount close to one 4 ounce snack cup with its juice. Crushed pineapple gives you a softer, more spoonable texture, while tidbits leave small fruit pieces in the dessert, so it’s really a texture choice more than a recipe emergency.
No, but changing it will change the flavor profile quite a bit. Vanilla pudding is the easiest swap if you want the pineapple, coconut, and marshmallow flavors to stand out more, while banana cream gives it that classic ambrosia-style dessert feel.
Absolutely. Just leave them out and keep the rest of the mix the same. You’ll lose a little crunch, so if texture matters more than strict tradition, add one extra crushed vanilla wafer or a pinch more coconut to make up for it.
Because they don’t behave once moisture gets involved. Keeping them in a separate bag stops them from hardening in storage or dissolving into the pudding before serving, and you get that soft, fluffy bite instead of a sticky mystery layer.
Yes, double every ingredient and use two 4 ounce pineapple cups or one 8 ounce portion of pineapple with juice. Chill it in two mugs or one small bowl, and give it a good stir before portioning so the coconut, wafers, and pecans don’t all settle in one corner.
Cold is the right call here. The short refrigerator time helps the pudding and gelatin set, and warming it would make the marshmallows melt and the whole dessert slump into sweet soup, which sounds dramatic because it is.
Use a mug that holds at least 10 to 12 ounces so you have room to stir without flinging pineapple across the counter. A wider mug is easier than a tall narrow one because the dry mix can reach the juice faster and combine more evenly.
You can, but I wouldn’t call it the best use of your freezer space. It will stay safe if frozen promptly, yet the pudding texture can turn grainy and the marshmallows go odd after thawing, so this one is better eaten fresh from the refrigerator.
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🖨️ Print-Friendly Ambrosia Pudding Mix in a Mug
Ambrosia Pudding Mix in a Mug
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons banana cream instant pudding
- 4 vanilla wafers broken into small pieces
- 2 tablespoons flaked coconut
- 2 teaspoons very finely chopped pecans
- ¼ teaspoon cherry gelatin
- ¼ cup mini marshmallows
- 1 4- ounce snack-size cup pineapple tidbits
Equipment
Instructions
- Measure the banana cream instant pudding, broken vanilla wafers, flaked coconut, finely chopped pecans, and cherry gelatin into a small zip-top bag.
- Seal the bag and shake to combine.
- Measure the mini marshmallows into a second small zip-top bag and seal.
- Place the pineapple cup in a mug lined with tissue paper and add the ambrosia mix bag and marshmallow bag on top for gifting, if desired.
- To prepare the dessert, empty the pineapple tidbits and juice into the mug.
- Add the ambrosia mix and stir well.
- Refrigerate for 10 minutes to set.
- Top with the marshmallows, stir, and serve immediately.
Recipe Size Alteration
💡 If you altered the ingredients above by doubling or tripling the recipe, you may also need to change the pan/dish size and adjust the cook time.
Notes
Store the dry mix sealed in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to 6 months for best quality. This is an estimate based on the pecans being the shortest-lived ingredient.
After preparing the dessert with pineapple, refrigerate promptly and use within 3 to 4 days.
# For the best texture, add the marshmallows just before serving.
This comment is for your entire collection of mug recipes. It is possibly the most amazing web page I’ve ever seen! Can’t wait to try em all. You should write a cookbook of these, especially aimed at singles or maybe a diet mug meal recipe book.
U must have to add some liquid to this???
To make it you must use a 4 oz container of pineapple tidbits, the pineapple juice is the liquid.