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This Orange Fluff Salad is a sweet citrus dessert made of juicy mandarin oranges and creamy vanilla pudding infused with orange jello flavor. It’s a refreshing treat that’s perfect anytime!
Easy Orange Fluff Dessert
I love light and refreshing desserts, and this mandarin orange marshmallow salad is a great treat for summer. Vanilla and orange are a great combination, and the jello pairs wonderfully with the vanilla pudding. The Cool Whip makes it extra fluffy and creamy, giving it that airy texture! The mini marshmallows add an extra subtle sweetness and chewy contrast to the soft mixture and the oranges. It’s truly heaven on a spoon.
Why You’ll Love This Orange Fluff Salad Recipe
- Budget-friendly: All of the ingredients used in this recipe are super affordable, making it a great choice for a tight budget.
- No-bake dessert: When you want to skip the oven, this perfectly balanced fluff salad hits the spot.
- Crowd favorite: Bring this orange fluff salad to parties, potlucks, and cookouts!
What You’ll Need
With just 6 ingredients you can create a light and scrumptious orange dessert!
- Orange jell-o mix: Jello brand or store brand will both work for this recipe.
- Water: You’ll need both boiling water and cold water. I recommend keeping the cold water in the refrigerator until the boiling water is ready for best results.
- Instant vanilla pudding mix: Just like for the gelatin, store-brand pudding mix is fine here as well. Vanilla is my favorite but even cheesecake flavor will taste delicious.
- Cool Whip: Be sure to thaw the whipped topping in the refrigerator before use. It will not combine with the ingredients if it’s frozen.
- Mini marshmallows: This is my favorite ingredient. Reserve extra for garnishing, too.
- Mandarin oranges: I use canned mandarin oranges because they are peeled and ready to use. Drain all of the juice from the cans, or the fluff salad will be watery.
How to Make Orange Fluff Salad
Making this jello salad is easier than ever! All you have to do is combine the ingredients in the order listed below, and it will come out perfectly.
- Mix the jello. Whisk the boiling water and jello mix in a large bowl until it’s fully dissolved. Then, stir in the cold water.
- Add instant pudding. Stir in the instant pudding mix until thoroughly combined.
- Chill. Place the mixture in the refrigerator for about 15 minutes to ensure it is completely cooled and soft set.
- Fold in Cool Whip. With a rubber spatula, gently fold the Cool Whip into the jello pudding mixture until combined and free of streaks. Be sure to do it slowly so it stays fluffy.
- Add marshmallows and oranges. Next, fold in the mini marshmallows and mandarin slices.
- Chill again. Cover and refrigerate the orange fluff salad for 1-2 hours or until ready to eat.
- Serve. Scoop a small amount into a serving bowl and enjoy!
Tips for Success
- Don’t overmix. Fold in the Cool Whip, marshmallows, and oranges gently. If you mix it too much, it will lose its light and fluffy texture.
- Enjoy immediately. You don’t have to wait to enjoy this recipe! I prefer to chill it to soften the marshmallows, but you can eat it right after you make it, too.
- Try another jello flavor. I love the strong orange flavor, but strawberry jello, pineapple jello, or raspberry jello are variations that also taste good in this dessert. Just be sure to substitute the fresh strawberries, fresh raspberries, or crushed pineapple accordingly.
Proper Storage
Transfer the leftovers of this orange fluff jello salad to an airtight container and use it within 3 days, or it will begin to separate. You may also cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap.
More Dessert Salad Recipes to Try
- Cherry Fluff Cheesecake Salad
- Caramel Apple Salad
- Strawberry Banana Cheesecake Salad
- Ambrosia Salad
- Easy Orange Dreamsicle Salad
Add as Google Trusted SourceOrange Fluff Salad
Ingredients
- 1 3 oz package orange jello mix
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1/2 cup cold water
- 1 3.5 oz box instant vanilla pudding mix
- 8 oz cool whip, thawed
- 2 cups mini marshmallows
- 3 15 oz cans mandarin oranges, drained
Instructions
- In a large bowl add the jello mix and boiling water and stir until everything is dissolved. Add the cold water and whisk again.
- Add in the vanilla pudding mix and stir once more. Make sure to scrape around the walls of the bowl so every part is mixed together. Place in the fridge for 15 minutes.
- After the 15 minutes is up, remove from the fridge and fold in the cool whip. Fold until you see no more white streaks.
- Add in the mini marshmallows and fold, add in the oranges and gently fold once again.
- Cover the bowl and place in the fridge for 1-2 hours. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.
- You don’t have to chill for 2 hours before serving. Chilling for 2 hours only thickens it up and softens the marshmallows.
- Do not stir the mixture when you add the cool whip and after. Only fold. Stirring cool whip makes it not fluffy anymore.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Simply amazing and yumalicious!!
Thanks Tamara!
I am going to try this with sugar free jello & low fat cool whip. Sounds delicious!
fantastic
Thank you Dorothy!
I’m going to try this
This is a tasty, fresh, light and flavorful, easy to make, dessert.
I used an additional 20 oz pineapple rings which I cut into smaller pieces which I prefer over the pineapple tidbits. The 20 oz can I use because I doubled this recipe and I’m glad I did. It was a big hit at our dinner party! I will make this over and over again.
This was my favorite out of the three fluff salads that I’ve made it’s cool light refreshing The only thing I did was tweak it and add one can of pineapple chunks or pineapple tidbits. I favor the chunks which are the rings and just cut them into smaller pieces otherwise the tidbits just kind of get lost and you don’t taste them distinctly in the salad. I will continue to make this it got lots of raves at our dinner gathering!
Thank you Berlinda!