Orange Fluff Salad

Step back in time with this classic retro recipe: orange fluff salad. With its pretty pastel orange color and fresh flavors of zesty Jello powder, creamy cottage cheese, fluffy Cool Whip, and colorful mini marshmallows, this salad recipe just might bring back memories of your childhood. Perfect for potlucks, picnics, and holiday meals, this classic is a hit that just might become the new “trend”!

My Mom’s Affinity for Jello Salads Recipes

I don’t know about you, but I grew up on jello salads. In fact, I was led to believe that jello salads were right up there in the healthy foods category with spinach salad (with this creamy poppy seed dressing recipe) and broccoli salad with cranberries!;)

Most every Saturday night, you’d find my mom in the kitchen preparing the traditional Sunday lunch roast beef dinner. Along with getting the carrots and onions nestled in the big roasting pan with the beef, she’d get the “salad” ready.

It was more often than not a jello salad. As I got old enough to help, I would be the one to stir the boiling water into the colored sweet crystals and then put the cold water in after I was SURE all the crystals were dissolved. If we were feeling really fancy, sometimes we’d add sliced bananas…

Almost every holiday dinner was served with some sort of jello salad. They got more and more creative as the years went by!

Today’s retro orange fluff jello salad is one that Mom would whip together really quick in the event that -heaven forbid! – she didn’t have a salad to go with dinner!

Why you’ll love this Orange Fluff Jello Salad

• It’s quick! You don’t have to worry about boiling water or stirring anything until it’s dissolved with this recipe. Other than thawing the cool whip to make it stir in easy, this can be made in minutes – literally!
• It tastes fresh and fruity – The jello salad is a refreshing twist that pairs with many meals.
• It’s a crowd pleaser – Kids and adults alike love this tasty, pretty recipe.

Ingredients for this orange fluff salad

• 8 ounces whipped topping such as Cool Whip (or 3 cups) – If you live in Canada, you might find this Cool Whip sizes conversion chart helpful.
• 3 ounce package orange jello powder
• 16 ounces cottage cheese
• 14 ounce can mandarin orange slices, drained
• 1 cup mini marshmallows

Step by step instructions for easy fluff salad

1. Thaw the cool whip at room temperature until it is fluffy and easy to stir.
2. Once it is thawed, stir together the cool whip and orange jello powder until well mixed together.

3. Add in the cottage cheese, drained mandarin oranges and marshmallows – reserving some mandarin orange slices and marshmallows for the top. Stir well.

4. Decorate the top with orange slices and sprinkle with marshmallows.
5. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Variations of this Retro Orange Fluff Salad

• Tropical Twist: Add diced pineapple, mandarin oranges, and shredded coconut to the classic orange fluff salad for a refreshing tropical flavor.
• Berry Burst: Incorporate fresh berries like strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries to the orange fluff salad for a burst of fruity sweetness.
• Citrus Delight: Enhance the citrusy flavor by mixing in segments of grapefruit and lime zest to the orange fluff salad, giving it a tangy kick.
• Creamsicle Dream: Infuse the salad with the nostalgic taste of creamsicles by incorporating vanilla pudding mix along with the orange Jello powder, and garnish with orange zest for added aroma.
• Nutty Orange Crunch: Introduce a satisfying crunch by adding chopped nuts such as pecans or almonds to the orange fluff salad, providing a delightful contrast in texture.
• Chocolate Orange Bliss: Elevate the decadence by folding in chocolate chips or chocolate shavings to the orange fluff salad, creating a harmonious blend of citrus and chocolate flavors.
• Creamy Citrus Ambrosia: Combine the flavors of traditional ambrosia salad with the orange fluff salad by adding diced apples, grapes, and maraschino cherries, along with a dollop of Greek yogurt for added creaminess.

What are some things I could serve this Orange Fluff Salad recipe with?

Here are some ideas:

• Ham: Serve orange fluff salad as a refreshing side dish alongside a glazed ham with mustard sauce.
• Sloppy Joes!: This salad goes delightfully well with Mom’s old fashioned sloppy joes recipe.
• Turkey: Pretty and colorful orange fluff salad with roasted turkey dinner is a perfect combination.
• Grilled Chicken: Cool and creamy orange fluff salad with tender grilled chicken breasts tastes delicious for lunch or dinner.
• Pork Chops: Serve orange fluff salad alongside juicy pork chops, whether they’re pan-seared, grilled, or oven-baked, for a deliciously comforting meal.
• Pulled Pork Sandwiches: Sunday lunch will be a breeze with crock pot pulled pork sandwiches and creamy orange fluff salad!
• Biscuits or Scones: Serve orange fluff salad alongside freshly baked biscuits or scones for a delightful brunch or afternoon tea treat, offering a balance of sweet and savory flavors.

Other Yummy Salad Recipes:

• This is one of those potato salad recipes with eggs that’s a classic!
• Broccoli salad with cranberries is a great make ahead salad perfect for holiday dinners.
• This coldpasta salad with ketchup dressing sounds a bit strange, but it’s SO good!
• This creamy poppy seed dressing recipe is very yummy on spinach salad.

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