Fluffy Mandarin Orange Jello Salad with Cottage Cheese

Orange jello salad recipe is an effortless dish perfect for potlucks and celebrations. Easy orange jello fluff salad combines Cool Whip, mandarin oranges, cottage cheese, orange gelatin, and pineapple for a refreshing old fashioned side dish. 

Old Fashioned Orange Jello Salad

Holidays would not be complete without our family favorite mandarin orange jello salad. Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter meals always included some sort of jello dish to eat with our festive dinners.

Generally my mom alternated between two favorites, this cottage cheese orange fluff or cream cheese jello. If I was weighing in, which I often did, my resounding vote was always for this cool and creamy recipe.

I’m sure Mom appreciated it because holidays are hectic, so an easy five minute recipe was probably a welcomed relief!

It doesn’t take hours to set or use boiling water. Simply dump, mix, and chill for a refreshing tropical light dessert or fruity side dish. Orange jello fluff tastes like diving into a creamy orange dreamsicle.

ingredient notes

The important thing to remember when making mandarin orange jello salad recipe is to drain the canned fruit well! Simply pouring the excess liquid out of the can will result in liquidy, separated jello.

My mother would often drain the fruit in a colander overnight in the fridge. For a shortcut, drain the fruit for at least 30 minutes. Then pour fruit onto a paper towel-lined plate to blot extra juice.

• Canned fruit – Use large cans of mandarin oranges and pineapple tidbits in juice, not syrup. If you prefer a strictly orange jello recipe, the pineapple may be left out.
• Cottage cheese – Small curd, any milk fat will do.
• Orange gelatin – Strawberry jello or sugar-free jello may also be used.

How to Make Orange Jello Salad

(Below shows step-by-step photos and modified instructions. For the complete recipe, along with ingredient amounts, scroll down to the recipe card.)

1. Drain pineapple and mandarin oranges in a colander. Place colander over a bowl and set aside for at least 1 hour. TIP: For a shortcut, drain for 30 minutes and pour fruit onto a paper towel-lined plate. Blot gently on top with another paper towel. If desired, set aside some fruit for a garnish.
2. In a large mixing bowl stir to combine cottage cheese with orange jello. Gently fold in Cool Whip and well-drained fruit.
3. Garnish with reserved fruit, cover, and refrigerate until ready to serve.

How long will This stay good?

Unopened boxes of jello stay good indefinitely. Once jello has been prepared it’s best consumed within a week. Store jello covered in the refrigerator.

According to the Kitchn, jello salad with fruit, like mandarin oranges and pineapple, should be consumed within 3 days. The fruits’ juices will eventually start to separate and pool at the bottom of the jello bowl.

Adding Marshmallows 

Mini marshmallows also make a great addition to orange fluff salad recipe. Fold in the marshmallows with the oranges and pineapples. Top with additional marshmallows for a decorative garnish.

expert Tips and modifications

• Make sure the fruit is well drained before adding to the cottage cheese / jello mixture. For best results drain the fruit into a colander and set over a bowl for at least 1 hour up to overnight.
• If you can’t find pineapple tidbits, use pineapple chunks and cut into smaller pieces or use very well drained crushed pineapple.
• For a more tropical flavor add 1 cup sweetened coconut flakes to the mixture.
• Miniature marshmallows may also be folded in with the Cool Whip.
• Adapt this recipe for a variety of jello flavors using different fruits, such as fresh or canned pears, bananas, fresh or frozen strawberries, grapes, or berries.
• Reserve a few mandarin oranges to use as a garnish before folding into the mixture.
• More garnish options are additional whipped cream, chopped walnuts, pineapple tidbits, mini marshmallows, or maraschino cherries.

More Fruit Salad Side Dishes

• Pineapple Pretzel Salad
• Raspberry Cranberry Jello Salad
• Frozen Fruit Salad

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