Orange Jello Salad Recipe

This vintage jello salad recipe combines mandarin oranges drained of their liquid, orange gelatin, cool whip, crushed pineapple and cottage cheese.

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Mandarin orange jello salad with cottage cheese is ready in 5 minutes. This vintage jello salad recipe combines mandarin oranges drained of their liquid, orange gelatin, cool whip, crushed pineapple and cottage cheese.

✨ Here is why this recipe is amazing:

• A favorite holiday recipe from my childhood.
• An easy jello salad recipe that is perfect for the kids to help make because there is no stove or heat involved.

🍍 Ingredients needed:

Here is a visual overview of the ingredients in the recipe. Scroll down to the recipe at the bottom for quantities.

📝 Ingredient notes:

• Cool whip - the brand name for non-dairy whipped topping.
• Mandarin Oranges - use the 15 ounce can. Be sure to drain away the juice.
• Crushed Pineapple - drain away the liquid from a 15 ounce can.
• Orange Jell-O - just one 3.4 ounce box is needed in this recipe.
• Cottage Cheese - small curd, whole milk is what I use in this recipe

🔄 Substitutions

• Non-dairy whipped topping - I am using the full fat cool-whip but feel free to use the low fat to the non-fat. version
• Jello - sugar free jello can be substituted.
• Crushed pineapple - Pineapple tidbits can also be used. Both need to be drained. I have one child who likes the tidbits and one child who likes the crushed pineapple. It is a texture thing for both of them.
• Cottage cheese - I use the full fat, small curd cottage cheese. Use a lower fat cottage cheese or substitute in equal parts sour cream if cottage cheese is not available or if you don't like cottage cheese.

🥣 How to make Orange Jello Salad, basic instructions

1. Drain the mandarin oranges and the pineapple.
2. Sprinkle the orange jello over the cottage cheese and stir to combine.
3. Fold in the mandarin oranges, pineapple and marshmallows.
4. gently fold in the thawed non-dairy whipped topping.

📷 Making Orange Fluff Salad, photo instructions

1. Drain the mandarin oranges and the crushed pineapple. Discard the liquid.
   
2. In a large bowl, sprinkle the orange jello powder over the cottage cheese.
   
3. Stir to combine and rehydrate the orange jello.
   
4. Add the drained oranges and the drained crushed pineapple to the cottage cheese mixture.
   
5. Dump 2 cups of mini marshmallows into the bowl and stir to combine.
   
6. Add the thawed whipped topping to the orange jello salad.
   
7. Gently fold in the whipped topping, being sure to not break up the mandarin oranges. There will be a few streaks of cool-whip still in the salad.
8. Serve.

❄️ Storage tips

Store in a closed container for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.

Orange Jello Salad Recipe

Sarah Mock

This vintage jello salad recipe combines mandarin oranges drained of their liquid, orange gelatin, cool whip, crushed pineapple and cottage cheese.

5 from 2 votes

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Prep Time 2 minutes mins

Cook Time 3 minutes mins

Total Time 5 minutes mins

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Servings 6 servings

Calories 192 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 14 oz can mandarin oranges drained
• 1 15 ounce crushed pineapple drained
• 1 3.4 ounce orange-flavored gelatin
• 8 ounces frozen whipped topping thawed
• 12 ounces cottage cheese small curd
• 2 cups marshmallows mini

Instructions

 

• Drain the mandarin oranges and the crushed pineapple. Discard the liquid.
  1 14 oz can mandarin oranges, 1 15 ounce crushed pineapple
• In a large bowl, sprinkle the orange jello powder over the cottage cheese.
  1 3.4 ounce orange-flavored gelatin, 12 ounces cottage cheese
• Stir to combine and rehydrate the orange jello.
• Add the drained oranges and the drained crushed pineapple to the cottage cheese mixture.
  1 15 ounce crushed pineapple
• Dump 2 cups of mini marshmallows into the bowl and stir to combine.
  2 cups marshmallows
• Add the thawed whipped topping to the orange jello salad.
• Gently fold in the whipped topping, being sure to not break up the mandarin oranges. There will be a few streaks of cool-whip still in the salad.
  8 ounces frozen whipped topping thawed
• Serve.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 192kcalCarbohydrates: 32gProtein: 8gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 16mgSodium: 227mgPotassium: 102mgFiber: 1gSugar: 22gVitamin A: 147IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 89mgIron: 1mg

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

👩🏻‍🍳 Sarah Mock

Founder & Culinary Blogger

Sarah Mock is a classically trained Chef and graduate of Johnson & Wales University. A culinary blogger for 13 years Sarah helps the home cook prepare her recipes with professional results.