Orange Fluff Salad is a classic treat with orange Jell-O, vanilla pudding, whipped cream, mandarin oranges, and mini marshmallows.
Try some of my other fluff salad recipes like Raspberry Fluff, Grape Salad, or Watergate Salad!
Orange Fluff Salad
This is a recipe my mom made often when I was growing up. We all loved this “salad” so much that she made it for nearly every holiday. Today, my salads are usually filled with quinoa, farro, or kale, but fluff salads still hold a special place in my heart! I can’t have a holiday meal without at least one on the table!
It’s more dessert than salad, but as a native Utahn, we pile it on our dinner plates next to the green beans and mashed potatoes! Why are Utahns so obsessed with Jell-O? Try this recipe and see!
Orange Fluff Salad Ingredients
This recipe needs only five ingredients (plus some water) — it’s hard to beat that! I like this Orange Fluff Salad best with instant pudding — no cottage cheese in this recipe!
- Vanilla pudding mix: Use Jell-O® brand and get the smaller (3.4 ounces) box, not the 5.6-ounce one. Use the regular vanilla instant pudding mix, not sugar-free or cook-and-serve.
- Orange Jell-O mix: Use the smaller (3-ounce) package and skip sugar-free boxes.
- Frozen whipped topping: Make sure it’s fully thawed before using. If it’s still frozen, it won’t mix well. Want to make your own whipped topping? Check out the section below!
- Mandarin oranges: Use “no sugar added” canned oranges. The salad is sweet enough without extra sugar.
- Mini marshmallows: Choose the freshest, softest marshmallows for the best texture.
Homemade Whipped Topping
If you want a different option to frozen whipped topping, here’s how to make your own:
- 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 until mixed, then increase the speed and whip until firm peaks form, about 2-4 minutes.
- Gently fold the homemade topping into the pudding and Jell-O mixture with a spatula.
If you don’t want to make your own whipped topping but want fewer ingredients, try Truwhip. This option uses real ingredients without artificial flavors or colors.
How To Make Orange Fluff Salad
- Dissolve Jell-O: Mix orange Jell-O with 1 cup of boiling water. Add 1/2 cup of cold water, stir, and pop in the fridge for 15 minutes.
- Add Pudding Mix: Mix in vanilla pudding until well combined. Pop in the fridge for another 20 minutes.
- Fold in Ingredients: Fold in whipped topping, oranges, and mini marshmallows.
- Chill: Pop in the fridge for 20-30 minutes before serving.
Orange Fluff Salad Tips
- Dissolve the Jell-O completely: When adding boiling and cold water to the Jell-O, whisk until it’s fully dissolved. If not, you might get gummy Jell-O at the bottom.
- Drain the oranges well: To avoid a watery salad, make sure the oranges are well-drained before mixing them in.
- Mix gently: To keep the salad fluffy, gently fold ingredients together with a spatula instead of stirring vigorously.
- Marshmallows: Use very soft and fresh marshmallows for the best salad texture.
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! Try dipping with vanilla sandwich cookies, graham crackers, or vanilla wafers.
- With coconut: Mix in 1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut along with the marshmallows.
Orange Fluff Salad With Cottage Cheese
Here’s how to make it:
- Mix 8 ounces of thawed whipped cream with 3 ounces of dry orange Jell-O mix until combined.
- Add in 16 ounces of 4% cottage cheese, mandarin oranges, and 1 cup of marshmallows (or skip the marshmallows if you prefer).
- Enjoy immediately or chill before serving.
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 Seasonal Side Dishes
- Beet and Goat Cheese Salad with an orange dressing
- Cornbread Dressing with fresh herbs
- Green Bean Casserole with a homemade cheese sauce
- Wild Rice and Sweet Potato Salad with a lemon dressing
- Corn Casserole made from scratch!
Orange Fluff Salad
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.
Video
Recipe Notes
- 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
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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!
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!