Orange Jello Fluff Salad has been around for generations! Why? Because it's cool and creamy, has a sweet citrus flavor, and super easy to make. We always had this during the holidays when I was growing up! Have you experienced this heavenly, fruity sensation?
Cool Whip blended with powdered Orange Jello, canned mandarin oranges, cottage cheese (surprise! cottage cheese is a fantastic addition), and mini marshmallows! Just mix it up, and put it in the fridge until it's nice and chilled. No cooking required!
This sweet and fluffy concoction is a delightful and easy-to-make dish that adds a burst of citrusy sweetness to your holiday table. With a few simple steps, you can create a crowd-pleasing treat that everyone will love.
Jump to:
Why You'll Love It
There are lots of reasons to love Orange Jello Fluff Salad!
Easy Prep - with only 2 steps and no cooking required, it's an incredibly easy, no-hassle side dish! Heck, there's no need to dissolve the gelatin - just use it as is!
Nostalgic - generations of families have served this salad faithfully at every holiday get together. It certainly brings back memories for a lot of people and continues to make great memories to this day.
Versatility - you can change the flavor of the salad in an instant just by adding a different flavored gelatin mix. Back in the day, my mom would sometimes use lime flavored gelatin because it was just as delicious as the orange! You can experiment with different flavors, too!
Year Round - you can literally make this for any occasion; it's suitable for summer or winter feasts!
Ingredients You'll Need
Five ingredients are all you need for Orange Jello Fluff Salad!
Cool Whip - let it thaw completely before using it. It usually takes about an hour to come to room temperature when you place it on your countertop.
Cottage Cheese - I admit that I'm not usually a huge fan of cottage cheese, but let me tell you it really adds a nice flavor and creamy texture to this salad! Use the full fat, small curd cottage cheese.
Orange Jell-O - most of the orange flavor comes from the orange Jello; it also keeps the salad creamy and slightly firm; use the small, 3-ounce box of powdered gelatin mix.
Mandarin Oranges - the mandarin oranges not only brings out the orange flavor of the salad, but also adds juicy bites of orange sections! If you're a fan of mandarin oranges, give this Asian Cabbage Salad a try!
Mini Marshmallows - 1 cup goes into the salad but I also recommend sprinkling about ¼ cup on the top of the salad for garnish.
Chopped Pecans - these are for garnish plus they also add a nutty crunch!
Ingredient Variations
This is my mom's recipe, and there are lots of variations out there. Feel free to experiment with these variations; honestly, I like this one the best 🙂
- You could use pineapple tidbits instead of mandarin oranges; or use a combination of the two for a nice tropical flavor.
- Use a different flavor gelatin to swap out the flavor, such as lime or pistachio.
- Use peach gelatin and peach slices for a creamy peachy concoction!
- Add some sweetened coconut flakes for another level of flavor and texture.
- Leave out the nuts if you're not a fan or swap out walnuts for the pecans.
How to Make Orange Jello Fluff Salad
Step 1 - Blend the Cool Whip, cottage cheese, and Jell-O. Fold in the mandarin oranges and marshmallows.
Step 2 - Top with some marshmallows and chopped pecans. Eat right away or for best flavor, chill at least an hour! Now wasn't that easy!
Recipe Tips
- Make sure the gelatin is completely dissolved before adding the mandarin oranges and marshmallows.
- Drain the mandarin oranges thoroughly because you don't want any of the juice in the salad or it'll make it runny.
- After mixing up the ingredients, you can enjoy right away (I always sneak several taste tests before putting in the fridge to chill), but I try to let it chill in the fridge for at least an hour before serving.
- Garnish the salad with chopped pecans, some mini marshmallows, and a few mandarin orange sections.
Storage and Leftovers
Leftover salad can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The salad will stay fresh for up to 2-3 days, allowing you to enjoy it even after the holiday festivities!
Questions You May Have
Yes, you certainly can!
Yes, you can make this the day before you plan to eat it.
It's one of those dishes that can be a fruit salad, side dish, or dessert because it's sweet. Kinda like that sweet potato casserole that you know is a side dish but something keeps telling you that you're eating dessert haha!
More Cold Side Dish Recipes
If you tried this recipe, please let me know by leaving a comment! I'd love to hear from you.
If you'd like more easy recipes sent straight to your email, subscribe and get a free 5-day meal plan! How easy is that!
Recipe
Orange Jello Fluff Salad
Equipment
- mixing bowl
Ingredients
Salad
- 8 oz Cool Whip, thawed
- 16 oz Cottage cheese, small curd, full fat
- 3 oz Orange Jell-O, dry gelatin dessert mix
- 15 oz Mandarin oranges, canned, in light syrup, drained
- 1 cup Mini marshmallows
Garnish
- ¼ cup Mini marshmallows for garnish more or less depending on your preference
- 1-2 tablespoon Pecans, unsalted, chopped into small pieces for garnish more or less depending on your preference
Instructions
- Blend Cool Whip, cottage cheese, and Jell-O in a large bowl until the Jell-O is dissolved.
- Fold in the mandarin oranges and marshmallows.
- Pour into a pretty serving bowl. Top with some marshmallows and chopped pecans for garnish. Cover and chill for 1-2 hours before serving.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy to my readers. I'm not a nutritionist and I don't guarantee the accuracy of this data. The data may differ according to the brands I used versus the brands you use. To calculate the data yourself using your brands, try using an online nutrition calculator or app.
Comments
No Comments