Orange Fluff Jello Salad Recipe
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Every Sunday, our Mom would make some sort of jello as a side dish to our delicious dinner. It was usually my favorite part of the meal! This recipe was one of our favorites growing up, and now my little family eats it right up. Plus, it makes a lot so it is a great side dish for parties or big dinners!
This dish is tasty enough to be a side dish or dessert!
Orange Fluff Jello Salad Recipe:
Ingredients:
1 large package Cook and Serve vanilla pudding
1 large package orange jell-o
2 cups water
1 16 oz Cool-Whip (lite or fat-free is fine)
1/2 bag mini marshmallows
1 large package orange jell-o
2 cups water
1 16 oz Cool-Whip (lite or fat-free is fine)
1/2 bag mini marshmallows
1 can pineapple tidbits (Any size, depending on your preference)
1 can mandarin oranges (Any size, depending on your preference)
2 bananas, sliced (Optional, put in before serving so they don’t turn brown in the fridge)
Directions:
Mix together pudding, Jell-o, and water over medium heat until it boils. Remove from heat and pour into a large mixing bowl. Refrigerate until mixture has thickened (about an hour). Beat until creamy. Fold in Cool Whip, marshmallows, and fruit. Chill about an hour before serving.












Wow! So coincidental that you should post the Orange Fluff Jello salad. I made something very similar to this but used orange sherbet as an added ingredient,mandarin oranges,pineapple tidbits, and maraschino cherries.I am falling in love all over again with these kinds of salads. I remember as a youth enjoying salads like this from buffet type restaurants and thought they were the best thing on the menu. I cannot go without serving one to my guests now. Thanks for posting this!~
My mom always used pistachio pudding, minus oranges and bananas…. Yum. Memories.
Oh my goodness, this is one I have got to try! Thanks for posting this! Have a lovely New Years!
My grandma used to make this for us, I LOVE it!! Thank you for posting this, now I can make it for myself!!
This is very similar to what I make except mine has buttermilk (I know that sounds weird) in it. It is tart and delicious! Here is the recipe…
http://thecrunchymamacita.blogspot.com/2011/11/orange-fluff.html
looks great- can’t wait to try it
My mom used to make this jello salad every Thanksgiving! I love this stuff!
Do you think there’s a way to use instant pudding instead of the cooked kind? I only ask because that’s what I have on hand and I want to make it NOW! lol.
This sounds so yummy!!! Can’t wait to try!
@Anonymous- we have never made it using Instant Pudding- our mom always said that Cook and Serve was the one to use, so we have never tried it using Instant! If you try it, let us know!
The instant pudding is too thin and runny for this. It never firms up enough to help this salad set up well.
If making with instant pudding…did you still boil it? I can’t see why it wouldn’t still set with the instant as long as it was still boil so the jello would set? Just curious?
Anyway, I am making it today!! I have made something similar only instead of the pudding it called for cottage cheese. I loved it. but some of my family do not like cottage cheese. So I’m going to try this hoping it’s a hit with everyone!!
This recipe only uses Cook n Serve pudding.
@Anonymous – If you want to make it without cook and serve pudding, leave the pudding out altogether and use the orange jello only, much like the Pistachio Fluff this is very popular.
wait, so do you still add the milk for the pudding or is it just the boxes and the water?
Hey there!
No milk. Just the jello and water.:)
Thanks! I ended up adding some vanilla yogurt and it turned out delicious too! Thanks for the yummy recipe!
Do you drain fruit?
@Nichole,
Yes, you drain all of the fruit. Thanks!
Omgosh I have looked for this recipe for years!!! I used to have it at church lunches and have craved it forever. The only recipes I could find called for mayo…………yuck!!!
Thanks SO much for posting this recipe!
Made this today using sugar free fat free instant jello pudding and sugar free jello. Instead of cooking this with the water, I just put all of it into my blender. Then I added fruit packed in it’s own juice and left out the marshmallows. It really lowered the calories and still tasted wonderful. Thanks for the original recipe that I could tweak for me.
I’ve made this too, but my recipe calls for instant pudding, so it comes together very quickly. I also add chopped walnuts.
Orange Dreamsicle Mousse Salad
1 sm instant Vanilla or French Vanilla pudding
1 sm orange J-ello
1/2 8 oz cool whip
1 cans drained mandarin oranges
1 cups water
Dissolve the gelatin in 1/2 C boiling water.
Add 1/2 C cold water and let set up for 5 minutes.
Using an electric mixer, beat dry pudding mix into the J-ello until well
blended. Refrigerate until set.
Fold in mandarin oranges and cool whip.
Chill either in a bowl or in individual mousse dishes.
Thank you so much The Happy Baker! I have been looking EVERYWHERE for your particular version of the recipe; it’s exactly like one I got from the person who made the salad when I first tried it, but she just said it out loud and we were at a party with no paper or pens… I tried to memorize it
and failed miserably (mom of three, that’ll do it!) So thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!!! My whole family is ecstatic.
We’re having it tonight to celebrate Memorial Day weekend. You can bet I’ll be perusing your blog continually after this!
totally trying this on sunday!! sooo excited! it also is similar to a fruit salad my mom makes. we’ll see how it turns out! Thanks!!
I’m so making this for my Easter dinner this year. My mom used to make something like this years ago, but at before she served it she used to stir in some cottage cheese, I think I’ll like your version better. Thanks for sharing.
This sounds so yummy and I would like to make it but one thing I cant substitute here in Australia is Cool Whip as I don’t know what it is, can you give me an idea what it is so I can try and find something similar here
Thanks for sharing. I am about to have a good look around your site now.
I would use heavy whipping cream in place of it. Whip it up before adding. Cool whip is just a fake heavy cream mixture. As someone who likes REAL foods, I would use the heavy cream. Someone on here used yogurt too and said it worked. Worth a try! Good luck down under!
This sounds so yummy and I would like to make it but one thing I cant substitute here in Australia is Cool Whip as I don’t know what it is, can you give me an idea what it is so I can try and find something similar here
Thanks for sharing. I am about to have a good look around your site now.
hi, just wondering what do you use to substitute Jell-O vanilla?
Im in Australia, Brisbane, and cant seem to find Jell-o around.
Hit me with an email @ lazer_boyz@hotmail.com, it will be very much appreciated.
Cool Whip is a brand of whipped topping that is found in the frozen section here in the US. You could use whipping cream sweetened with a little sugar if there isn’t anything like that where you live.
Thanks Alison. I will use whipping cream and I am sure it will be very tasty. Think we may have something similar to what you have but its in a aerosol can here and I don’t like it so fresh cream will definitely be a substitute.
Going to try this for Easter dinner. Thanks for the idea. I’m assuming making it the night before is fine??
Hi Carla,
You can definitely make this the night before, but I would leave the bananas out until before serving so they don’t turn brown. Thanks!
Gathering the ingredients now to take in to a family fostering 6 teen boys… thinking I might to double this. I remember it being so yummy and refreshing. Thanks
I am going to make this but forgot to pick up the pineapple . . .sooooo I am going to put in grapes, lets hope it works . . hahaha
I’ve got it chilling in the fridge right now… used instant pudding, added it after mixing the jello into the boiling water. Will let you know how it turns out!
Just half to say my hubby hates jello salad we have been married tgirteen happy byears never could get him to eat it i made this for easter sunday he took a bite and said wow i really like this one…thanks for posting this for my pickey eater lol now if i can get him to eat cantelope….
my mama always made something similar to this called watergate salad
1 box lime jello
1 tub cool whip
about 10 marshmellows cut up (or equal amount of minis)
1 cup pecans
1 med can crushed pineapple
3/4 boiling water
optional cottage cheese, really not much difference with/without
just made a double batch sunday night
Throw in coconut and you have Ambrosia! Very old dessert.
What size jello and pudding packages? By large box, do you mean the 6oz size?
Hi!
Sorry about that. Yes, use the 6 oz. size boxes. Thanks!
I tried this recipe and it’s amazing! I am trying different flavors tonight for fun. Strawberry and banana jello with banana cream pudding, and mandarin oranges with strawberries and bananas!
We have almost the same recipe handed down in our family, too!
Orange Fluff
1 box cook and serve Vanilla Pudding
1 box orange jello
1 box Tapioca
(all of these are small boxes)
3 cups water
Mix these together in saucepan and bring to a boil, cooking til thick. Cool. When completely cool add:
1 15 oz. can mandarin oranges, drained
1 small container of Cool Whip
Mix thoroughly and refrigerate overnite, if the kids can wait that long!!
I usually have to double this recipe when we get together, enjoy.
Sorry, I should have said Tapioca Pudding
I made this recipe for my husband to take to work for a potluck, and he’s been asked for the recipe several times, and there are requests that he bring it for their next party. We love it at home, too!
For a bbq w 15 people do you think it shoukd be doubled?
-karlie
debi53: My mom uses tapioca in her orange fluff salad too! It is one of my favorite sweet sides for any holiday get together!
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Sounds so good, will have to try it soon! My mother-in-law used to make what she called a 5-cup salad that I think you’ll like, too. My husband doesn’t like sour cream, but this is an exception to that rule…he loves the stuff!!
Mama Jo’s 5-Cup Salad
1 small tub sour cream
1 regular size can crushed pineapple and juice (don’t drain)
1 pkg chopped pecans
1 large pkg coconut
1 large pkg mini marshmallows
Stir the sour cream and pineapple (with juice) together.
Stir in the chopped pecans
Alternately stir in 1/3 of marshmallows and coconut and stir. Repeat until you have incorporated all of the marshmallows and coconut in the mixture.
Refrigerate and enjoy!
I made this for Fathers Day and I doubled the recipe but forgot to double the cool whip. I turned out good but was a deep orange color and set up more like jello than fluffy. Everyone loved it anyways. Thanks for the recipe next time I will make it right.
I love this stuff and am glad I finally found someone else who calls it Orange Fluff. I get such strange looks when I call it that. I make mine similar, but without the pineapples, marshmallows, or bananas so I get the strong orange flavor. And I use instant pudding. 1 cup hot water and 1 cup cold water like you do in jello. Deliscious!
this is my go to recipe these days , thanks so much
I make something similar to this and it is sooooo goooood. I call it Orange Fluff also.
1 small bowl of Cool Whip
2 small boxes of orange jello
1 large can crushed pineapple, well drained
1 can mandarin oranges, well drained
1 16 oz container of cottage cheese
Mix well and enjoy.
Thats exactly how I make it too! I have never heard of using pudding in it! Thats a new one- might be good but not as simple as this recipe and its sooo good!
I make this with peach jello!
)
I make this with peach jello!
)
I make this with peach jello!
)
mmmm would love to try this but these ingredients aint available here. If any1 in Australia has a similar recipe please share it with me
Use the Edmonds custard mix if you don’t have
Jell-O pudding mix there. Work great!
Thanks for the recipe and sharing with everyone! I make Ambrosia, which is a very old recipe, but is a tradition in my family
Hi Six Sisters! I just wanted to let you know I found your recipe on Pinterest and am making it for my family for one of our “Sunday Family Dinners” Thanks for posting it! Can’t wait to try it!
I can see this having all KINDS of flavor combinations! Just imaging using CHOCOLATE pudding with either RASPBERRY or CHERRY gelatin, and adding in fresh raspberries and maybe some shavings of white chocolate. Or adding in toasted coconut, almonds and/or pecans! I’m using lime gelatin for our family’s get-together tomorrow, since it’s already March, and the theme is “green food”!
My in-laws looove this recipe and I’m asked to make it a few times a year for different get togethers, including Easter this weekend! Would you mind if I added it to my blog as a Family Favorite recipe if I include your site name as the source? Looking forward to making it again tomorrow for the in-laws!
Sure, that would be fine.
I think you could also make this with strawberries!
We love this with fresh strawberries!
I think someone on Facebook is copying your photos and recipes. Here is a link to the one I saw. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151554319230266&set=a.10151360195390266.518636.698670265&type=1
Do u cook the puudding first and then add the jello and water
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Do u cook the puudding first and then add the jello and water
Don’t cook the jello first. Just mix together the box of pudding, box of jello, and water together.
Made this for a cookout was the absolute hit of the party