pinterest collage with text "creamy orange fluff salad"

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CREAMY and COOL, Orange Fluff is a delicious Jello salad! Made with PLUMP oranges, TART pineapple, and SWEET mini marshmallows it is a crowd favorite and welcome at any pot luck.

Serve it as a side dish or dessert!

close up of orange jello salad in a clear bowl

If you'd rather skip my essential cooking tips and tricks and get straight to this delicious recipe –  simply scroll to the bottom of the page where you can find the printable recipe card.

"What is that ORANGE STUFF over there on the table?"

It just happens to be the BEST JELLO SALAD ever!

Full of orange flavor perfectly paired with crushed pineapple, call it a side dish, a salad, or a dessert. Just as long as you eat it!

This is very similar to Watergate Salad made with pistachio pudding but this recipe uses jello instead.

WHY IS IT CALLED ORANGE "FLUFF"?

Why because it is so light and fluffy! The jello adds a punch of flavor and the whipped topping and cottage cheese add the fluffy texture that you can't resist.

So what's in it you ask?

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ingredients for jello salad in individual bowls

Don't be alarmed when you read the list of ingredients!

ORANGE FLUFF INGREDIENTS

  • Cottage Cheese
  • Orange Jello
  • Mandarin Oranges
  • Crushed Pineapple
  • Mini Marshmallows
  • Frozen Whipped Topping

Yes, I did start with cottage cheese. Don't freak out. Cottage cheese is good.

If you are not a fond of the texture you can always put it in a food processor and pulse it until it's smooth and creamy.

  • jello powder on cottage cheese in a bowl
    pour jello on cottage cheese
  • orange cottage cheese topped with oranges and pineapple in a bowl
    stir and add oranges and pineapple
  • mixed orange salad in a bowl
    mix completely
  • mini marshmallows on orange jello salad in a bowl
    add marshmallows
  • cool whip on top of orange salad with a spatula
    mix in whipped topping
  • mixed jello salad in a green bowl
    mix and chill for 1 hour

Now that you know what's in it, let's get started!

HOW TO MAKE ORANGE JELLO SALAD

ONE: Add cottage cheese to large bowl. Sprinkle the jello powder over it and mix well.

TWO: Drain and add the oranges and pineapple and stir to mix well.

THREE: Stir in the mini marshmallows and cool whip until creamy.

FOUR: Chill for at least an hour or overnight. Enjoy chilled!

For the full recipe and detailed baking instructions, please see the recipe card at the end of this post.

Want even more flavor or texture?

FLAVOR VARIATIONS

  • try cherry or raspberry jello and fruit for a different flavor profile
  • add maraschino cherries or cranberries for more tartness
  • add shredded coconut or chopped pecans for texture
  • need less sugar? try sugar free jello instead
three small clear bowls with orange jello salad topped with orange slice

CAN I MAKE THE ORANGE FLUFF AHEAD OF TIME?

Of course you can! The salad is best when it's able to set up for at least an hour or overnight. Just be sure to give it a quick stir before serving.

I wouldn't make it more than 2 days before enjoying.

CAN I USE INSTANT PUDDING?

If you want to leave out the cottage cheese or want it creamier, then you can add some instant pudding powder to the recipe.

But you will need to add more whipped topping so mix it with.

Looking for more comfort food? Follow LTB on Pinterest!

large scoop of orange salad on a metal spoon

CAN I USE SUGAR FREE JELLO?

I haven't tried it with a sugar free jello powder before but I have heard of those that use it and love it!

CAN I SUBSTITUTE SOMETHING FOR THE COTTAGE CHEESE?

You can use instant orange or vanilla pudding and a 16 ounce whipped topping as a substitute for the cottage cheese. Greek yogurt is also a great choice!

TIPS FOR NO LEFTOVERS

  • Do not prepare the jello or pudding ahead of time. It will be too liquidy!
  • Try pineapple tidbits for a heartier salad.
  • Make sure you chill for at least an hour to let everything set.
  • Add in some extras like toasted nuts for texture.
  • Experiment with different flavor profiles.
overhead picture of three small bowls of orange salad with mini marshmallows on the table

If you love this recipe as much as I do, please write a five-star review in the comment section below (or on Pinterest with the "tried it" button – you can now add pictures into reviews, too!), and be sure to help me share on facebook!

pinterest collage with text "creamy orange fluff salad"

This Orange Fluff Salad is so creamy and delicious! Serve this easy side dish at your next picnic or pot luck!

MORE EASY RECIPES

  • Slow cooker pineapple chicken
  • Broccoli cheese soup
  • Classic Lasagna
  • Southern pear salad
  • S'mores cupcakes
  • Garlic parmesan chicken pasta
  • No bake chocolate lasagna

Ingredients

  • 2 cups (1 - 16 oz) container small curd cottage cheese
  • 1 small box (3.4 oz) orange jello
  • 1 can (14 oz) mandarin oranges, drained well
  • 1 can (20 oz) crushed pineapple, drained well
  • 2 cups mini marshmallows
  • 1 container (8 oz) whipped topping, thawed

Instructions

  1. Add cottage cheese to large bowl. Sprinkle the jello powder over the cottage cheese and mix well.
  2. Add mandarin oranges and pineapple and mix well.
  3. Stir in marshmallows and whipped topping. Mix well.
  4. Cover and chill for at least 1 hour before serving. Enjoy cold!

Notes

*If you like this recipe, please leave me a comment and rate it 5 stars. Thank you!

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 8 Serving Size: 4 ounces
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 100 Total Fat: 2g Saturated Fat: 1g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 0g Cholesterol: 6mg Sodium: 86mg Carbohydrates: 19g Fiber: 1g Sugar: 15g Protein: 3g

This nutrition information was generated via a third party, Nutritionix, and can not be held liable for any discrepancies in the information provided.

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