When we posted our 5-cup fruit salad (one of our most popular recipes), we received some very concerned emails from people who were upset at the word “salad” in the title. They feared that we were deceiving people into thinking that this was a healthy dish because of the word “salad” in the title. Sorry about that- we had no intentions of tricking anyone.
So I googled the word “salad” and discovered that the first definition talked about vegetables and green lettuce, but that there were two definitions that work for salads such as this one:
- a mixture or assortment, or
- any dish of cold vegetables or fruit (i.e. fruit salad).
We completely agree that this isn’t the most healthy you could ever eat, but we also believe that the healthiest attitude to have when it comes to food is “moderation in all things.” You can have a yummy “salad” like this every once in a while . . . that is one of life’s real pleasures.
Recipe Ingredient Notes
To make this mandarin orange cookie dessert salad, you need the following ingredients:
- Vanilla instant pudding
- Buttermilk
- Cool whip
- Pineapple tidbits
- Mandarin oranges
- Fudge-striped cookies
Equipment Needed
For this recipe, you only need a few simple kitchen tools. We recommend using the following equipment:
How to Make Our Mandarin Orange Cookie Dessert Salad
- In a large bowl, mix together the dry pudding mixes and buttermilk.
- Then fold and in Cool Whip and stir until combined.
- Add in the pineapple and mandarin oranges until incorporated.
- Break cookies into bite-size pieces and gently fold into salad mixture.
- Serve immediately.
- If preparing ahead of time, add cookies right before serving.
Recipe Notes
- This recipe calls for buttermilk. It definitely tastes best with buttermilk, but you could also make it with milk, if you desire. I personally prefer the buttermilk, because it’s a little thicker.
- When you fold in the cool whip, we really mean fold. If you mix it with an electric mixer, your whipped cream will become more liquidy, and not so thick and fluffy.
- If you don’t want to add the cookies, you most definitely don’t have to. You could easily go without them.
- If you make this recipe ahead of time, we recommend adding the cookies right before serving. If you make it ahead of time with the cookies, they will become mushy and won’t taste as good.
Enjoy More Delicious Fruit Salads
Want to add more fruits to your meals? Browse our comprehensive list of salad recipes.
- 5-Minute Pistachio Salad
- Ambrosia Salad
- Caramel Apple Jello Salad
- Creamy Grape Salad
- Honey Lime Fresh Fruit Salad
- Mandarin Orange Pretzel Salad
- Mom’s Frog Eye Salad
- Orange Fluff Jello Salad
- Peach Jello Fluff Salad
- Pina Colada Fruit Salad
- Snickers Apple Pudding Salad
- Weight Watchers Jello Pudding Fluff
Mandarin Orange Cookie Dessert Salad
Ingredients
- 6.8 ounces vanilla instant pudding, 2 (3.4 ounce) package
- 2 cups buttermilk
- 16 ounces cool whip, 2 packages
- 20 ounces pineapple tidbits, 1 can. drain well
- 22 ounces mandarin oranges, 2 (11 ounce) cans, drained well
- 11.5 ounces fudge striped cookies, 1 package, I used Keebler
Equipment
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix together the dry pudding mixes and buttermilk.
- Then fold and in Cool Whip and stir until combined.
- Add in the pineapple and mandarin oranges until incorporated.
- Break cookies into bite-size pieces and gently fold into salad mixture.
- Serve immediately.
- If preparing ahead of time, add cookies right before serving.
Notes
- This recipe calls for buttermilk. It definitely tastes best with buttermilk, but you could also make it with milk, if you desire. I personally prefer the buttermilk, because it’s a little thicker.
- When you fold in the cool whip, we really mean fold. If you mix it with an electric mixer, your whipped cream will become more liquidy, and not so thick and fluffy.
- If you don’t want to add the cookies, you most definitely don’t have to. You could easily go without them.
- If you make this recipe ahead of time, we recommend adding the cookies right before serving. If you make it ahead of time with the cookies, they will become mushy and won’t taste as good.
Nutrition
Did You Make This Recipe?We’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave a review or a question in the comment section below the post.Be sure to not miss another recipe!
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Sounds like a perfect recipe for a summer party!
wow! some people are so mean. I do feel bad about the calories in this salad, so I just leave out the cookies. It makes me feel better.
It’s YOUR blog — people who don’t like the recipes are welcome to click on the “Next Blog” button at the top. Back in the day (I’m only in my 40’s), this was a free country. I’m tired of Food Police and Thought Police and Organic Police and Baby Police and Recycling Police and Carbon Footprint Police and who-knows-how-many-other-kinds-of-Police. They can start their own blogs, if they can find enough people interested enough to read their recipes for Cardboard-on-a-Stick. I like YOUR recipes!
I can’t believe there are people who think that just because it is called “salad” that it should be healthy or “diet” food. Really? What about potato or pasta salad? Are they assumed to be healthy too?
I laughed when I read your post. I feel sorry for anyone who would take the time to complain about you calling a dessert type dish a salad. I’ve seen dishes like that all my life called “salads”. These are just angry people & they took it out on you. There were 4 kids in my family & my mother made a pie or cake every other day. We ate chicken fried in Crisco. All of us are very thin & healthy.
We make this salad all the time! It’s definitely a crowd pleaser especially for the kids and picky eaters!
This “salad” would be so easy to lighten up by swapping out the ingredients for lower fat/lower sugar versions and I’m sure would still be delicious. I guess SOME people would really get pissed at my Snickers “salad” 🙂 SOME people need to get a life! Keep up the great work!
I have been a Weight Watchers lifetime member for several years now. I enjoy them bery much and take them as they are or tweak them for my family. No one is forced to eat or make any of the recipes. Thank you for all your hard work!!
This salad is also delicious if you swap fresh picked raspberries for the other fruit.
This is one our family favorites. One day I needed the salad to be more filling to make up for extra dinner guests and my husband kids loved it, my husband told me that it was so much better.
I also have used Whipping Cream with gelatin for a Rich creamy moose flavor.
I am glad to see this recipe here because if this recipe gets how we can find this at more ward parties and neighborhood pot lucks.
With Love,
Scary
I can’t believe that some people were upset by the name of this salad. By looking at the picture you know this is a dessert salad. I’m looking forward to making this salad this week.
My husband is diabetic, I take recipes and use sugar free pudding, sugar free cool whip, you can even fi d fruit now with , no sugar added, works great for us
My MIL gave me this recipe a looong time ago. I was skeptical, but I tried it and it is a great addition to any family reunion or pot luck. Really a fun recipe. I don’t worry about the calories, etc. You take a spoonful or two… It’s great!
Looks like a yummy salad. I don’t want to be rude to the people that emailed you saying that this ‘salad’ is decieving ha ha but they are being dumb! Each of us are responsible for our own health. If you look at the picture or read the recipe you know it’s not a healthy salad and so if that isn’t what you’re looking for than move on ha ha. I think of a ton of other salad recipes that are just as
unhealthy’ as this one. I will be making this salad this weekend, I am currently losing weight and this won’t set me back because I will eat other things with it and eat in moderation! Thanks for posting! People can and will complain about anything!
🙂 Thanks Courtney! We try to have a variety of recipes for everyone. Some are healthy and some are for fun parties. Moderation is the key!!
Cyd (mom of the Six Sisters)
Someone made this salad at a family reunion this summer. It was very good!! I will be making it for a family bbq this Labor Day weekend. Thank you for sharing the recipe!
This is a family favorite and I am asked a lot to bring it to many functions! BUT we call it “Cookie Monster SALAD”
I have made this salad many times. I also put sliced bananas in it just before serving. And, an easy way to break the cookies up, is to crush them in the package BEFORE opening it. It is less messy that way. I have also added cut up green apples. Most everyone in our town knows this salad by, “Aunt Lola Salad”. My husband’s aunt made this about 32 years ago and the name has stuck since. Everyone loves Aunt Lola Salad. It is a favorite at Church Dinners.
Addition to previous post: I have also used Banana Cream Pudding. This adds a better flavor than vanilla. VERY YUMMY!!
I’ve never made this salad with the striped cookies before. I always use chocolate covered graham cookies. Today I will be trying with Oreos (since that is all that I have). I also like serving this with fresh strawberries and pineapple chunks. Very delicious.
I love this salad. Its easy to make and if there are leftovers im forced to leave them.
Great with added bannas.
Thanks for the reciepe
This is one of my favorite “salads” to make. I love to use cheesecake pudding instead of vanilla and twix instead of the fudge stripe cookies!
Mmmmm! Thanks Jess. That sounds amazing!
This is a tradition for holiday meals in my husbands family. The first time I attempted to make it, I botched it horribly! I was mortified, it wouldn’t set up! I’m by no means a slouch when it comes to following a recipe. I think I may have over whipped it? Not sure. But the family dubbed it “Dessert Gravy” and laddled it over brownies. Definitely not a healthy option, but an occasional indulgence never hurt and it still makes for one heck of a funny story!
Can you use regular milk?
You can use regular milk in this recipe in place of the buttermilk.
Would halving this recipe work?
You could easily halve this recipe.
I could only find banana instant pudding. Hope it will be good !
Very good recipe. Followed exactly only to find the whipped topping was left out of the instructions. I think it should be incorporated after the pudding and buttermilk?!? You may want to fix instructions.
Thanks so much for letting us know. We have edited the recipe.
Made with all the cookies going in. Wonderful recipe
Hi. I have never heard of this dessert before. Saw it on the spring baking championship on the food network. Just had to look it up on Pinterest. My question is, can you use real whipping cream instead of cool whip?
It’s a classic! You could try it with real whipping cream, however the texture might be a little off – more creamy and less “fluffy”
Can I leave out the pineapple? Mother in law is allergic to pineapple. What would be a good substitute
You can try doubling the mandarin oranges or add in canned pears or peaches