Orange Jello Fluff, that creamy whipped salad recipe you know and love with Mandarin Oranges, Mini Marshmallows and of course a creamy pudding mixture.
This is a favorite for any BBQ or Pot Luck. I've made this often when attending a family reunion where I have to travel. Why? Well, because it travels so well and I can throw it together quick and easily when I arrive!
Orange Fluff Salad
Orange Fluff or Orange Fluff Salad, or Mandarin Orange Salad are all the same simple recipe. With only 5 ingredients this side dish is perfect.
Even your pickiest of eaters will eat this Fluff Recipe, we promise.
Along the same type of Salad is also my other favorite, Pistachio Fluff Salad. When my boys were younger we called it Shreck Salad because it was green like Shreck and as you can imagine, they loved watching Shreck the movie.
Somehow it was affectionally named Shreck Salad in our home.
Both of these make excellent Summer Salads or Pot Luck Salads too. Never go empty handed to the neighborhood social. This is such an easy recipe!
How to make Orange Fluff Jello Salad?
Making Orange Fluff Jello Salad is super easy. The ingredients are fairly simple with a box of orange jello, a box of vanilla pudding, marshmallows, Mandarin Oranges and of course whipped topping.
Step by Step Instructions
- Mix together the small box of Orange Jello with 1 cup Hot water and allow the Jello to fully dissolve. Mix in 1 cup of cold water and stir.
- Add small box of Instant Vanilla Pudding to jello and stir until combined
- Allow the mixture to cool for about 20-30 minutes in the Refrigerator. This will allow it to become thick
- Add whipped topping, marshmallows and oranges and carefully combine
- The salad will set up as it chills further. Store covered in refrigerator.
- Salad can be kept in refrigerator until ready to serve.
- See complete recipe at bottom of post in Recipe Card.
How to Make Orange Fluff Salad without Cottage Cheese
When I grew up it seemed everyone was putting Cottage Cheese in a Jello Salad.
Can we just STOP all ready? Ewww! It's not good.
So let's stop trying to make Jello Healthy. Let's just let it be what it is, a tasty whipped fluff salad recipe that everyone calls a salad even though it's more like a dessert recipe.
This recipe for Orange Fluff does not call for Cottage Cheese. You can of course serve Cottage Cheese on the side if you really really want to. 😉
How many Ingredients are in Orange Fluff Salad?
There are 5 Ingredients in this recipe for Mandarin Orange Fluff Salad not including water.
- 8oz container of Whipped topping
- 1 small box of Orange Jello
- 1 small box of Vanilla Pudding
- 2 Cups Mini Marshmallows
- 2 8oz cans of Mandarin Oranges (rinsed)
Is Orange Fluff a dessert or a salad?
Why can't it be both? Orange Fluff is a salad recipe. With that said, everything in it says it's a dessert.
But you know you love to attend a pot luck and see this Fluff Recipe on the Table with the other Salads. It just makes a PERFECT Pot Luck Salad Recipe.
Why is it called "Fluff" Salad?
Even though Orange Fluff has pudding, it also has marshmallows and Cool Whip, both help to lighten and fluff this salad up a bit.
Then mix in jello and it's a perfect light and fluffy salad recipe
Can I use Instant Pudding?
We enjoy using Instant Pudding for it's quick, fast and easy possibilities.
If we are making it to serve immediately we prefer using Instant Jello.
If we want to make it ahead of time and store in the refrigerator for a day or more, then using Cooked Pudding is ideal as it hold up better longer.
Can you Freeze Orange Fluff?
Yes, you can! However, this recipe has Jello in it and Freezing Jello will change the texture and consistency.
The Flavor will remain the same. So Freeze with caution. You may not like the consistency once it has thawed.
Jello Salad Variations
There are so many combination, let me name a few!
- Raspberry Jello with fresh raspberries
- Pineapple Jello with crushed Pineapple
- Strawberry Jello with fresh sliced strawberries
- Lemon Jello with fresh Strawberries or Raspberries! Ohhhh think about what that will taste like!
Fluff Salads you will also LOVE
PIN and Save for Later!
Looking for more amazing Pot Luck Salad Recipes?
- Neighborhood Favorite ~ Dorito Taco Salad Recipe
- Authentic Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
- Tri Color Pepperoni Pasta Salad
- Strawberry Poppyseed Pasta Salad
- BLT Pasta Salad
- Taco Pasta Salad
- Mushroom and Garlic Noodles
- Zucchini and Cherry Tomatoes with a creamy Pasta Sauce
- Ramen Pad Thai
Orange Fluff Salad
Ingredients
- 8 ounces whipped topping
- 16 ounces Mandarin Oranges - Canned and drained
- 2 Cups Mini Marshmallows
- 1 sm box Orange Jello - 3.4 ounce
- 1 sm box Vanilla Instant Pudding - 3.4 ounce
- 2 Cup Water
Instructions
- Mix 1 cup HOT water and small box of Orange Jello in a medium size bowl. Stir until dissolved. Then add 1 cup Cold water and mix to combine.
- Add small box Instant Vanilla Pudding to Jello Mixture and stir to combine. Allow to cool in refrigerator for 20-30 minutes.
- Mixture will thicken up.
- Add Whipped topping to pudding and jello mixture and stir to combine.
- Stir in Marshmallows and drained Mandarin Oranges and fold together.
- Keep refrigerated until ready to serve. Enjoy
Notes
Substitutions:
This easy recipe can be easily changed by using Strawberry Jello with Fresh Strawberries. Peach Jello with fresh peaches, etc. Enjoy!Nutrition Disclaimer
All nutrition values are approximate and calculated by a plugin and are provided as a courtesy. Adding or subtracting ingredients will change the nutritional value.
Zia
I made this with dream whip instead of pudding because I didn’t have any. Just adjusted the the recipe a bit hope it still turns at as good. Wish me luck trying in an hour.
Leslie Donaldson
I will use this salad on Halloween. I think hot orange juice will work instead of water for dissolving the jello? I would like a more intense orange.
Devour Dinner
You can use Orange Juice, Electrolytes, soda pop or any thin liquid!
Michele Stoen
We love this recipe! We use sugar free and dairy free due to diabetes and allergies and it is still delicious.
Devour Dinner
Hi Michele, I love hearing that sugar free jello works great. Others will greatly appreciate knowing this too!
Stacy
Are there any different instructions when using cook-type pudding?
Devour Dinner
Hi Stacy, I have not tested this recipe with the cooking type pudding. I'm not sure it would work the same. You might want to mix up the pudding and cook it first. Allow it to cool and then mix with the jello.
donna pendergast
do you add 2 cups of hot water to the jello or just 1 cup of hot and 1 cup of cold
Devour Dinner
I add 1 cup hot water and stir jello until dissolved then add 1 cup cold water. This helps speed up the process of the jello setting up.
Cindy
Hi, you don’t list if it is instant or regular box pudding?
Devour Dinner
Hi Cindy, I use an instant pudding in this recipe.
Pattie
I have made this with alot of variations, like cottage cheese or pineapple but never with marshmallows cause my families children do not like them. Can I make this without marshmallows ?
Devour Dinner
Hi Pattie! You can leave the Marshmallows out of this recipe if you wish. They add a little extra sweet taste along with their texture. But you would be fine to leave them out if you wish.
Anita Ng
Do you add the dry boxed pudding directly to the jello or make the pudding according to directions and add that to the orange jello?
Devour Dinner
Yes, the dry pudding is added to the Jello Mixture after it's had a chance to cool.
Trish Senkow
Can you use Whipped Cream instead of Cool Whip? Or will it turn to "liquidy" (if that's a word)?
Devour Dinner
Hi Trish! You could use Whipping Cream if you stabilized it first. Other wise it would go "liquidy" pretty quickly. If you made it fresh and immediately served it you should be fine using Whipping Cream that is whipped.
Julie
Hi
Do you make the jello as on the package?
Devour Dinner
Hi Julie, The full directions are listed in the Recipe Card at the bottom of the post. You will add the hot water to the jello and allow it to cool before adding the pudding etc. Hope this helps!
Samantha Whipkey
Can I use a different jello flavor and different fruits? I was thinking Lime jello with fruit cocktail and coconut flakes? Maybe a can of oranges also?
Thanks!
Devour Dinner
Hi Samantha, YES ~ You can use a different flavor of Jell-O and fruit. Have fun!
Carol Burrill
This recipe is awesome! I took it to a picnic last weekend and it was the hit of the night. Everyone was talking about Carol's orange stuff! It is super easy to make.
Devour Dinner
Hi Carol! I love hearing this! This recipe is soo soo easy and everyone loves it! It always feels great when others can't stop talking about it.
beth
Can you add crushed pineapple
Devour Dinner
Hi Beth! Yes you can add crushed pineapple, but I would suggest draining the pineapple first. You won't want all that extra liquid.
andrea
Why does mine not look like this 🙁 mine is all a light orange
Devour Dinner
Hi Andrea, I have used Jello Brand Jello which I think has a bolder orange color. But overall the "fluff" will be a lighter or more pale orange color than the oranges.
Nancy
Can you cut up fresh oranges instead of canned? Would it make it too juicy?
Devour Dinner
Hi Nancy, I've used the small clementine oranges in this recipe. It works, but I find the canned oranges have more juices and give better flavor. It's a personal choice for sure.
Cassie Booth
Do you make the pudding or just pour the mix with the hello?
Devour Dinner
Cassie,
For this recipe you add the dry pudding mix into the mixed jello and stir. Hope this helps!