Orange Fluff Salad is a classic treat with orange Jell-O, vanilla pudding, whipped cream, mandarin oranges, and mini marshmallows.
author’s note
My Favorite Kind of “Salad!”
This recipe is pure nostalgia for me. My mom made Orange Fluff Salad for nearly every holiday growing up. No matter if it was Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter, this dish always had a spot next to the green beans and mashed potatoes.
Even though my everyday salads now look more like quinoa or kale, I’ll never stop loving fluff salads. They’re fun, lighthearted, and instantly take me back to childhood. My kids are just as obsessed, so I keep the tradition alive by making it for our family gatherings. Around here, it doesn’t feel like a true holiday meal unless there’s a big bowl of fluff salad on the table!
Ingredients
| Ingredient | Tips or Swaps |
|---|---|
| Orange Jell-O | Stick with the small (3 oz) box of regular orange Jell-O, not sugar-free. |
| Vanilla pudding mix | Use instant pudding (3.4 oz box). Cheesecake or white chocolate pudding are fun swaps! |
| Whipped topping | Thaw before using. Or make homemade whipped cream. Truwhip works. |
| Mandarin oranges | Drain really well to avoid watery salad. Try pineapple tidbits for a twist! |
| Mini marshmallows | Fresh and soft marshmallows make all the difference. Try fruit-flavored minis for something playful. |
How To Make Orange Fluff Salad
- Dissolve Jell-O: Mix orange Jell-O with 1 cup boiling water. Stir in ½ cup cold water. Chill 15 minutes.
- Mix in pudding: Whisk in instant pudding until smooth. Chill 20 minutes.
- Fold together: Gently fold in whipped topping, drained oranges, and marshmallows.
- Chill again: Refrigerate 20–30 minutes before serving for best texture.
Storage
Can You Freeze Orange Fluff Salad?
I don’t recommend freezing this salad because of the dairy. It gets watery and loses texture. Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and eat within 3-4 days. I personally like this salad best the same day it is made!
More Fluff Salad Recipes:
Orange Fluff Salad
Orange Fluff Salad mixes orange Jell-O, creamy vanilla pudding, whipped cream, juicy mandarin oranges, and fluffy marshmallows for a sweet, nostalgic treat!
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 (3-ounce) package orange Jell-O mix see note 1
- 1 (3.4-ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix
- 1-1/2 cups water divided
- 8 ounces frozen whipped topping thawed, see note 2
- 15 ounces mandarin oranges well drained
- 2 cups miniature marshmallows
Instructions
- Place the dry orange Jell-O mix in a large bowl. Pour in 1 cup boiling water and whisk briskly until fully dissolved. Add 1/2 cup cold water and stir. Scrape the sides of the bowl with a spatula to ensure no Jell-O granules are left. Cover and refrigerate for 15 minutes.
- After 15 minutes, remove Jell-O from the fridge. Add vanilla pudding mix and whisk together until well combined. Scrape the sides of the bowl with a spatula. Cover and refrigerate for 20 minutes.
- After 20 minutes, remove the mixture from the fridge. Gently fold in the marshmallows and thawed whipped topping using a spatula. Add the well-drained oranges and fold gently until fully incorporated. Cover the bowl and refrigerate until chilled and thickened, about 20–30 minutes.
- Enjoy right out of the fridge and promptly return leftovers to the fridge. Best enjoyed the same day it’s made.
Recipe Notes
Note 1: For the pudding mix, use the smaller (3.4-oz.) box, not the 5.6-oz. package. Use regular vanilla instant pudding mix, not sugar-free or cook-and-serve types. For Jell-O, use the smaller (3-oz.) package and avoid sugar-free versions.
Note 2: Be sure the frozen whipped topping is fully thawed before making this salad. If it is still partly frozen, it won’t incorporate with other ingredients well. Here’s how to make your own whipped topping:
- Whip 1 cup heavy cream with 1/2 cup powdered sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract in a stand mixer with a whisk attachment. Beat to combine, then increase the speed and whip until firm peaks form, about 2–4 minutes. With a spatula, fold the topping into the pudding and Jell-o mixture.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 218kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 160mg | Potassium: 121mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 38g | Vitamin A: 383IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 42mg | Iron: 0.2mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Variations
- Cheesecake version: Use cheesecake pudding mix instead of vanilla.
- White chocolate version: Try white chocolate pudding instead of vanilla.
- As a dip: Leave out the marshmallows and serve this salad as a dip like this fruit dip recipe.
- With cottage cheese: Mix whipped cream and Jell-O until smooth. Stir in cottage cheese, oranges, and marshmallows (optional). Serve right away or chill.
Tips For Success
- Dissolve Jell-O: Whisk with boiling and cold water until fully dissolved to avoid gummy bits.
- Drain oranges: Make sure they’re well-drained to prevent a watery salad.
- Mix gently: Fold with a spatula to keep the orange fluff salad fluffy.
- Marshmallows: Use fresh, soft ones for the best texture.
We love this dessert. But, we have to keep an eye on our sugar so I always use the no sugar jello and pudding and cool whip. Marshmallows I don’t guess there’s any sugar free so regular marshmallows lol. It’s a wonderful dessert
Yay! I am so excited this has been a hit and that you’ve been able to fit it into your diet!
When doubling or tripling this recipe shouldn’t you let people know to increase the time before adding the other ingredients?
I’m not sure I understand? If you double or triple the recipe it will take more time!
Just change the serving amount on the website
What if I only cook and serve vanilla pudding.
Delicious and easy!
So thrilled to hear this! Thanks Mark!
Thank-you for sharing this recipe for!
I made it today and I’m eating it now.
It is delicious! Your instructions and
pictures are a winner!
I am so thrilled to hear this! Thanks so much Cheryl! 🙂
I like your recipe for Orange Fluff. It is delicious! I just noticed that it says vegetarian. Nothing made with Jello is vegetarian. Gelatin is made from animal bones.
So thrilled you enjoyed! 🙂 Thanks for your catch on the vegetarian tag, it’s been updated!
Next time I make this recipe, I am going to use the juice from the oranges instead of water when mixing the jello.
Rather than just water, I use the liqued from the oranges and the wayer.
Delish! Love that idea!