Orange Jello Salad is an easy, refreshing dessert you can make ahead of time. With mandarin oranges and pineapple juice, this Jello salad recipe adds a touch of nostalgia to any occasion.
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Why this Vintage Orange Jello Salad Recipe is a Keeper
This Jello salad is cool and refreshing, and can be made with Cool Whip and vanilla pudding. It’s similar to Watergate salad, and tastes like an orange cake. This orange Jello salad is made with juicy mandarin oranges, which give it a refreshing flavor, along with its orange color. Here are a few reasons why you’ll love this orange Jello fluff recipe:
- Easy Ingredients: All of the ingredients in this Easter Jello salad can be found in your kitchen or local grocery store.
- Consistent Results: This orange Jello mandarin orange salad turns out well every time.
- Budget-Friendly: This classic mandarin orange Jello salad uses easy, affordable ingredients.
- Special Occasion Worthy: Serve this Christmas Jello salad all year round. Festive and fun.
Can I Make Orange Cottage Cheese Jello Salad?
If you want, you can use cottage cheese instead of cream cheese. However, this may alter the texture of the layered Jello salad. Just combine the cottage cheese and Jello, along with the other ingredients. If you’re not a fan of cottage cheese, you can make this easy mandarin orange fluff recipe with cream cheese instead.
Cream Cheese Jello Salad Ingredient Notes
- Box of Jello Powder: Use 2 boxes of orange Jello mix. You can also try whatever flavor Jello you prefer, or add in instant pudding mix to this dessert salad.
- Canned Mandarin Oranges: Add mandarin oranges for more orange flavor.
- Cream Cheese: Use 8 ounces of soft cream cheese.
See the recipe card at the bottom for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.
Orange Fluff Salad Recipe Prep Ahead Suggestions
- Drain the fruit: Drain the mandarin oranges or other fruit you plan to use in the salad.
Special Equipment Needed for this Orange Fluff Recipe
- Jello Mold: Chill the Jello salad in a mold to give it its shape.
Pro Tip for this Mandarin Orange Jello Salad Recipe
Allow the Jell-O salad to chill for at least 4 hours, or overnight, to set properly.
How to Make Old Fashioned Orange Jello Salad
These are the basic steps for making orange gelatin salad. Refer to the full, printable recipe card below for detailed instructions.
1. Combine the Ingredients
Combine boiling water, pineapple juice, cream cheese, and Jello into a large mixing bowl. Mix with a hand mixer until light and fluffy, until the Jello is fully incorporated.
2. Add the Fruit
Add the pineapple, drained mandarin oranges, and Cool Whip to the Jello mixture. Stir and pour into the mold.
3. Set Jello Salad in the Fridge
Cover and refrigerate the salad for at least 4 hours, then transfer to serving plate.
How to Store, Freeze, and Use Leftover Mandarin Orange Salad
- Storing: Cover the Jello salad and store in the refrigerator.
- Freezing: It’s best not to freeze this recipe, as the salad may change texture.
- Using Leftovers: Leftover Jello salad will keep fresh for 3-5 days.
Fruit Salad Variations and Substitutions
- Sugar Free: Use sugar free Jello, or fat-free Cool Whip or Dream Whip if desired.
- Cool Whip: Try mixing in different flavors of whipped topping or whipped cream. You can also try different Jello flavors, or other fruits, like tropical crushed pineapple pieces.
- Jello Molds: Spice up the look of this refreshing Jello salad with fun mold shapes.
Mandarin Orange Jello Salad FAQs
Serve this recipe with these great recipes – strawberry Jello salad, cranberry Jello salad, or cherry Jello salad with fruit – or visit our page for new recipes. You can also try this recipe using homemade whipped cream.
Yes; try adding in other fruit, like drained crushed pineapple pieces and juice, or other canned fruit.
Yes; try using a fat-free whipped topping or sugar-free Jello.
Recipe Tips for Making this Orange Salad Side Dish
- Add Crunch: If you’re looking to spice up your dessert and add a bit of crunch into the mix, try adding in some nuts of your choosing. Walnuts are a great nut to pair in the salad.
- Coconut: Another fun way to jazz up your jello orange salad is to add in coconut flakes. Coconut flakes have great flavor and add to the summer feel of this dessert. Also, try a few small marshmallows or mini marshmallow.
- Molding Tip: If you are having trouble getting your jello out of the mold, try filling a large pan with hot water and placing the mold in the water for about 10 seconds. This will help loosen the jello from the mold, making it easier to remove.
- 7-Up Jello Salad: Add a splash of 7-Up soda to the mixture.
- Triple Orange: Add zest to this mandarin orange Jello salad recipe if desired.
- Vegan Option: While jello normally isn’t a vegan dish, you can easily use plant based jello in place of regular for this fun dessert.
- Orange Dreamsicle: Instant Vanilla pudding mix would add a creaminess and a hint of vanilla flavor to make your Jello salad taste like an orange Creamsicle.
Orange Jello Salad
Equipment
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Ingredients
- 12 ounces Orange Jello, 2 boxes
- 3 cups Water, boiling
- 1 cup Pineapple Juice, reserved
- 8 ounces Cream Cheese, soft
- 8 ounces Crushed Pineapple, 1 can, drained, reserve juice
- 11 ounces Mandarins, 1 can, drained
- 8 ounces Cool Whip, 1 tub
Instructions
- Combine jello, boiling water, pineapple juice, and cream cheese into a large mixing bowl.
- Using a hand mixer, mix the ingredients until jello is completely dissolved and the mixture is light and fluffy.
- Add the drained pineapple, drained mandarins, and cool whip to the bowl.
- Stir gently and pour mixture into the prepared mold.
- Cover mold and chill for 4 hours.
- Transfer jello salad to a plate.
Christina’s Notes
- Add Crunch: If you’re looking to spice up your dessert and add a bit of crunch into the mix, try adding in some nuts of your choosing. Walnuts are a great nut to pair in the salad.
- Coconut:Â Â Another fun way to jazz up your jello orange salad is to add in coconut flakes. Coconut flakes have great flavor and add to the summer feel of this dessert. Also, try a few small marshmallows or mini marshmallow.
- Molding Tip:Â If you are having trouble getting your jello out of the mold, try filling a large pan with hot water and placing the mold in the water for about 10 seconds. This will help loosen the jello from the mold, making it easier to remove.
- 7-Up Jello Salad: Add a splash of 7-Up soda to the mixture.
- Triple Orange: Add zest to this mandarin orange Jello salad recipe if desired.
- Vegan Option: While jello normally isn’t a vegan dish, you can easily use plant based jello in place of regular.
- Orange Dreamsicle:Â Instant Vanilla pudding mix would add a creaminess and a hint of vanilla flavor to make your Jello salad taste like an orange Creamsicle.Â
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.
Nice post
Thanks