Mandarin Orange Salad is creamy, cool, and studded with juicy orange and pineapple slices. Fluffy as a cloud and low-calorie, too! Make a double batch if bringing to share— it always goes fast at picnics, parties, and holidays.
Mandarin Orange Salad is not a 30-minute meal. It takes so much less time than that! You can whip up any of my quick one-pot dinner recipes and still have enough time to finish this recipe.
Seriously, the most time-consuming part of this dish is opening the fruit cans and box of Jell-O.
Despite being so easy to make, this is such a delicious treat. You’ve got those sweet oranges and pineapples surrounded by creamy swirls of cottage cheese and whipped topping.
It’s hard to believe that it can be a healthy dessert, but I use low-sugar and low-fat ingredients to make it guilt-free.
What is Mandarin Orange Salad?
Google the recipe name, and the results can be confusing. You’ll see photos of this creamy dish, then green salads with lettuce, dressing, and orange slices.
To make it clearer, this recipe is known by other names: Jell-O Mandarin Orange Salad and Orange Fluff.The “fluff” part comes from the super fluffy and light texture thanks to the whipped topping, cottage cheese, and gelatin.
So, is it a salad or a dessert? Well, why not both! No matter what you want to call it, one thing’s for sure— it’s an instant favorite for everyone who tries it.
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Recipe ingredients:
One thing I love about this dish is that you can make it any time of the year. You don’t have to wait for the fruits to be in season.
We’ll use two cans of mandarin oranges and a can of pineapple chunks. You can use crushed pineapple if you like the texture. Since we’re using canned, you’re saving a lot of time not having to peel and slice the fruits.
For the fluffy part, you’ll need Jell-O or any gelatin you have available. Orange flavored is preferred Thaw some frozen whip topping, and get your cottage cheese ready. If you want to use full-fat and regular versions, feel free to do so.
How to make Mandarin Orange salad?
Once you’ve prepared your ingredients, it only takes two steps from start to finish:
Combine all ingredients in a bowl.
Refrigerate for several hours before serving.
How easy is that? No need to skip dessert or come empty-handed to potlucks again!
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Recipe variations and substitutions:
Mix and match fruits and gelatin flavors. Try using strawberries and strawberry-flavored Jell-O!
Use vanilla gelatin to tone down the citrusy flavor.
You can whip the cottage cheese until smooth if you don’t like its original texture.
If you don’t want to use it at all, whip some cream cheese to sub.
Add a nice crunch with some walnuts and candied almonds.
Add dried fruits like raisins and dried cranberries.
Serving this to kids? Add some mini marshmallows for extra fluff!
What to serve with this dish?
You can totally eat it as a snack or as a dessert, but it’s such a good side dish, too. I suggest serving it with roast beef and baked ham. It’s a refreshing accompaniment to fried chicken and other deep-fried food. You can also serve it as a part of a brunch spread or holiday table.
Yes! You’ll need to keep in the fridge for a few hours, so it’s definitely one of those make-ahead recipes. If you’re storing it overnight, note that the fruits may release liquid. Just mix well again before serving.
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