This orange fluff salad recipe is packed with flavors, marshmallows, and mandarin oranges. You're sure to make an impression at the next BBQ or get together if you bring this tasty dessert salad along!
We love orange creamsicle fluff not just because it's cheap and easy but also because it tastes a lot like orange sherbert ice cream- which is delicious.
The first time I presented my daughter with this fluff salad, she wouldn't stop raving about it and asked to eat it every day. While that's a bit much, eating this orange jello fluff with vanilla pudding on a hot summer's day is a great way to cool off and enjoy the sunshine with bursting citrus flavors.
This orange jello salad is perfect for family gatherings like family reunions, BBQs, baby showers, and more. It's always a crowd favorite so bring it to the next potluck and enjoy!
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🥘 Ingredients
- Orange jello
- Vanilla pudding
- Mini marshmallows
- Mandarin oranges
- Water
- Whipped Topping (Cool Whip)
For the exact amounts needed, please see the recipe card below.
🍽 Equipment Needed
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- Whisk
- Mixing bowl
- Small pot
- Plastic wrap
🔪 Instructions
Check out how to make creamy orange fluff salad with these simple step-by-step instructions:
Combine 1 cup of boiling water with the dry mix from the box of orange jello in a mixing bowl.
Whisk until dissolved, and add in one cup of cold water. Stir again.
Add in the packet of dry vanilla pudding mix and whisk until dissolved and no chunks remain.
Let rest 10-15 minutes.
Whisk in the whipped topping until well blended.
Stir in the mandarin oranges and marshmallows.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set in the fridge for at least 1 hour.
Stir to mix everything before serving.
Serve chilled.
🍴 Recipe Tips
We make this orange fluff without cottage cheese. Traditionally orange fluff is made with cottage cheese and not pudding. But, forcing picky eaters to eat cottage cheese can be difficult, especially with those that despise the texture. So instead, we use pudding.
Make sure that you use the INSTANT pudding mix, not the cook and serve variety as it will not set up properly.
By using a dry mix of pudding, we can create a thickener that helps to bind everything together while adding a fun flavor to enhance the dish. This is such an easy recipe and one with so many flavorful possibilities.
📖 Jello Salad Variations
- You can add in or use crushed pineapple or pineapple tidbits.
- Use a different flavored pudding mix like cheesecake or white chocolate pudding.
- Use the pastel-colored mini marshmallows instead of white.
- Sugar free jello can be used instead of regular jello. I recommend doubling the jello boxes due to the size difference.
- Chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts would be great for added crunch.
- If desired you can add in a drained can of fruit cocktail.
💭 FAQs
You can reduce the sugar content in this orange fluff jello salad by using mandarin oranges that are low or no sugar content in the syrup and by using low sugar options for the pudding, jello mix, and whipped topping.
Most boxes of pudding mix are naturally dairy free, just double-check the ingredients and then use a dairy free whipped topping. With those simple steps, you should be able to enjoy a tasty summer fluff salad without milk.
While you could use them for garnishing, canned mandarin oranges go better inside this dish as the flavor and texture are sweeter and softer.
More great recipes to try
- Maple Dijon Roasted Rainbow Carrots
- Chicken Cream Cheese Crescent Bombs
- Dill Pickle Potato Salad
- Instant Pot Hot Dogs
- Italian Green Beans with Tomatoes
- Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs
📖 Recipe
Creamy Orange Fluff Salad
Equipment
- Small pot
- Plastic Wrap
Ingredients
- 1 box (3oz) Orange jello ($0.48)
- 1 box (3.4oz) Vanilla pudding *See Note ($0.98)
- 1 ½ cup Mini marshmallows (white or pastel colored) ($0.36)
- 1 can (15oz) Mandarin oranges, drained ($1.48)
- 2 cups Water, divided ($0.00)
- 8 ounces Whipped topping ($0.99)
Instructions
- In a medium sized bowl whisk together 1 cup of boiling water and the dry packet of orange jello mix until dissolved.
- Stir in one cup of cold water.
- Stir in the dry packet of pudding mix and whisk until well blended.
- Let sit for 10-15 minutes to cool and rest.
- Add the whipped topping to the cooled mixture using a whisk until well blended.
- Stir in the mandarin oranges and marshmallows.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and then set in the fridge for at least 1 hour before serving.
- When ready to serve, stir the contents of the bowl to evenly distribute everything as the marshmallows will be at the top and the pudding-like mixture will be at the bottom.
- Serve chilled.
Notes
Recipe Tips
Make sure that you use the INSTANT pudding mix, not the cook and serve variety as it will not set up properly. By using a dry mix of pudding, we can create a thickener that helps to bind everything together while adding a fun flavor to enhance the dish.Variations
- You can add in or use crushed pineapple or pineapple tidbits.
- Use a different flavored pudding mix like cheesecake or white chocolate pudding.
- Use the pastel-colored mini marshmallows instead of white.
- Sugar free jello can be used instead of regular jello. I recommend doubling the jello boxes due to the size difference.
- Chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts would be great for added crunch.
- If desired you can add in a drained can of fruit cocktail.
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