Are you ready for a burst of sweet, creamy nostalgia? That’s what you’ll get with this classic orange fluff salad.
It’s light, sweet, and delightfully fluffy. This easy-to-make dessert will transport you straight back to childhood potlucks.
You can whip it up with just a handful of simple ingredients and very little time and effort.
Every time I make it, I fall in love with this retro dessert all over again!
Why You’ll Love This Orange Fluff Salad
Effortless Elegance: Despite its impressive appearance, orange fluff salad is incredibly easy to make. It requires fewer than 10 ingredients and no effort.
Versatile Flavor: There are a myriad of flavors in this simple salad. It’s a perfectly balanced blend of tastes.
Customizable: You can leave this recipe as is or experiment as much as you like. Try other Jello flavors, or add plenty of mix-ins. (Nuts, coconut, fruit, etc.)
Ingredients
- Orange Jello Mix: Jello is the quickest and easiest way to add loads of signature citrus flavor to the recipe. It also provides its brilliant orange hue.
- Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix: It helps thicken the salad and makes it creamier.
- Whipped Topping: It gives a light, airy, almost cloud-like texture that melts in your mouth.
- Cottage Cheese: The secret ingredient! It provides a subtle savory flavor and plenty of protein.
- Crushed Pineapples: For that tropical sweetness. It also adds texture to the otherwise smooth and creamy treat.
- Mandarin Oranges: They provide sweetness and chewiness.
- Mini Marshmallows: Sprinkle them throughout for soft pillows of sweetness in every bite.
How to Make Orange Fluff Salad
Orange fluff salad comes together easily with just a few steps:
1. Dissolve the Jello. Dissolve the Jello mix in a large bowl of boiling water. Then, add cold water and refrigerate the Jello for 15 minutes.
2. Add the pudding. Whisk the instant pudding mix into the chilled Jello until smooth. Refrigerate for another 15 minutes to thicken.
3. Add the whipped topping. Gently stir in the thawed whipped topping until it’s fully combined.
4. Mix in the cottage cheese. Stir it in gently until it’s well mixed.
5. Add the fruit Drain the crushed pineapple and mandarin oranges well. Then, stir them gently into the salad. Don’t overmix.
6. Add the marshmallows. Stir the mini marshmallows into the salad slowly and carefully. Try to distribute them evenly throughout.
7. Chill and serve. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap. Refrigerate it for at least 2 hours, but overnight is best. Immediately before serving, remove the plastic wrap and stir. Enjoy!
Tips for the Best Orange Fluff Salad
It’s impossible to mess up this recipe. Even so, here are a few tips to ensure it turns out perfectly every time:
- Don’t forget to drain. There should be as little liquid as possible left in the pineapples and oranges. If they’re too watery, your salad will be runny, as well.
- Use the right tools. Everything should be mixed very gently into the Jello salad. The best tool for folding is an offset rubber spatula.
- Stick to full-fat. If you’re counting calories, it can be tempting to reach for low-fat options. Don’t do that with the cottage cheese. The full-fat version will give you the thickest, creamiest consistency.
- Don’t skip the chill time. The finished product looks so good, you’ll want to dive right in. I get it! Don’t do it, though. The salad needs at least 2 hours in the fridge to set properly. Overnight is even better.
Variations and Add-Ins
Don’t be afraid to experiment with these variations (or some of your own!):
- Double your pleasure. Feeding a hungry crowd? Simply double (or triple!) the recipe to make a larger salad. Multiply each ingredient by a factor of 2, 3, or more to keep everything balanced.
- Try different Jello flavors. I’ve made this salad with raspberry Jello, strawberry Jello, and even blackberry Jello! It tastes just as good every time.
- Vary the fruits. You don’t have to stick strictly to pineapples and oranges, either. Play around with different fruit combos to see what you like best. A mix of peaches and blueberries is one of my favorite options.
- Cut the sugar. Use sugar-free ingredients whenever possible. You should be able to find sugar-free Jello, pudding mix, and whipped topping.
- Have fun with add-ins. Mix in crushed nuts, dried fruit, or even broken pretzel chunks.
- Don’t forget to garnish! Topping the salad with a dollop of whipped cream or extra orange slices makes it look even prettier.
How to Store
Orange fluff salad tastes best when cold. So storing it as simple as popping it in the fridge!
To Store: Wrap the bowl tightly in plastic wrap, or transfer the leftovers to an air-tight container. Refrigerate them for up to 4 days. Remember to stir before serving each time to help restore the salad’s texture.
To Freeze: I don’t recommend freezing this salad, as its consistency won’t be the same after thawing. However, it’ll keep up to a month in an airtight container in the freezer. Press a piece of plastic wrap tightly on top of the salad before sealing the container to prevent ice crystals.
To Thaw: Let frozen orange fluff salad thaw in the refrigerator overnight before serving. Stir well.
Orange Fluff Salad
8
servings10
minutes353
kcalThis classic orange fluff salad is creamy, dreamy, and irresistible! The combination of pudding mix, jello mix, oranges, and marshmallows is to die for.
Ingredients
1 (3-ounce) package orange Jello mix
1 cup boiling water
1/2 cup cold water
1 (3.4-ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix
1 (8-ounce) tub frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 (16-ounce) container cottage cheese
1 (20-ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained well
1 (20-ounce) can mandarin oranges, drained well
2 cups mini marshmallows
Instructions
- In a large bowl, dissolve the orange Jello mix in 1 cup of boiling water. Stir until completely dissolved. Add 1/2 cup of cold water and whisk to combine. Refrigerate for 15 minutes.
- Remove the Jello from the fridge and whisk in the instant vanilla pudding mix. Continue mixing until there are no lumps. Return the salad to the refrigerator for another 15 minutes to thicken slightly.
- Remove the thickened Jello mixture from the fridge. Using a rubber spatula, gently stir in the thawed whipped topping until combined and no streaks remain.
- Gently stir (“fold”) in the cottage cheese, mixing well. Then, fold in the well-drained crushed pineapple and mandarin oranges.
- Finally, gently stir in the mini marshmallows until evenly incorporated.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight before serving. This allows the flavors to meld and the salad to thicken to the perfect fluffy consistency.
- Give the orange fluff a good stir before serving. Garnish with additional mandarin orange slices if desired. Enjoy!
Notes
- For the best flavor, use full-fat cottage cheese. Small- or large-curd cottage cheese will work.
