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 in a large bowl.

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!

All the ingredients for this recipe including mandarins, jell-o, cool whip, and mini marshmallows prepped out for easy assembly.

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!

  1. 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.
  2. Orange Jell-O mix: Use the smaller (3-ounce) package and skip sugar-free boxes.
  3. 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!
  4. Mandarin oranges: Use “no sugar added” canned oranges. The salad is sweet enough without extra sugar.
  5. 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.

The orange jell-o, cool whip, and marshmallows being added to a bowl along with the mandarin oranges for this orange fluff salad.

How To Make Orange Fluff Salad

  1. 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.
  2. Add Pudding Mix: Mix in vanilla pudding until well combined. Pop in the fridge for another 20 minutes.
  3. Fold in Ingredients: Fold in whipped topping, oranges, and mini marshmallows.
  4. 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.

Orange fluff salad in a bowl ready to be served as a delicious side or dessert.

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:

  1. Mix 8 ounces of thawed whipped cream with 3 ounces of dry orange Jell-O mix until combined.
  2. Add in 16 ounces of 4% cottage cheese, mandarin oranges, and 1 cup of marshmallows (or skip the marshmallows if you prefer).
  3. 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

5 from 6 votes

Orange Fluff Salad

Orange Fluff Salad combines orange Jell-O with vanilla pudding, whipped cream, mandarin oranges, and miniature marshmallows.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Chilling Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes
Servings: 8 -10 servings, as a side

Ingredients 
 

  • 3 ounces orange Jell-O mix Note 1
  • 3.4 ounces instant vanilla pudding mix
  • 1-1/2 cups water, separated
  • 8 ounces frozen whipped topping, thawed Note 2
  • 15 ounces mandarin oranges, well drained
  • 2 cups mini 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 the Jell-O from the fridge. Add the 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

Note 1: Mixes: 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: Frozen whipped topping: Be sure it's fully thawed before making this salad. If it is still frozen in its entirety or in part, it won't incorporate with other ingredients how it's supposed to. Want to make your own whipped topping? Here's how:
  • 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, and then increase the speed and whip until firm peaks form, about 2-4 minutes. With a spatula, fold the homemade topping into the pudding and Jell-o mixture.ย 
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.

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.

Meet Chelsea


Hello, and welcome to Chelseaโ€™s Messy Apron! Iโ€™m Chelsea, the recipe developer, food photographer, and writer behind the site. Iโ€™m passionate about creating simple, reliable, and delicious recipes that anyone can make.

Thanks for stopping byโ€”I hope you find something delicious to make!

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5 from 6 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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7 Comments

  1. Cheryl says:

    5 stars
    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!

    1. Chelsea says:

      I am so thrilled to hear this! Thanks so much Cheryl! ๐Ÿ™‚

  2. Jamie Cummins says:

    5 stars
    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.

    1. Chelsea says:

      So thrilled you enjoyed! ๐Ÿ™‚ Thanks for your catch on the vegetarian tag, it’s been updated!

  3. Carolyn says:

    Next time I make this recipe, I am going to use the juice from the oranges instead of water when mixing the jello.

  4. Lynda Smith says:

    5 stars
    Rather than just water, I use the liqued from the oranges and the wayer.

    1. Chelsea says:

      Delish! Love that idea!