Name: Orange Fluff Salad
Prep time: 30 min
Total time: 2 h 30 min
Ingredients: 1 (3 ounce) box orange Jello; 1 cup boiling water; 1/2 cup cold water; 1 (3.4 ounce) box instant vanilla pudding; 8 ounces Cool Whip; 2 cups mini marshmallows; 2 (15 ounce cans) mandarin oranges, drained well; 20 ounces crushed pineapples, drained well

Easy recipe for Orange Fluff Salad that makes a sweet and creamy fruit salad filled with mandarin oranges, pineapple and fluffy marshmallows. This retro recipe is a real treat and the perfect blend of sweet and citrusy flavors, perfect for summer parties and holiday dinners.

A small glass bowl with a serving of orange fluff salad that has mandarin oranges on top. There's a fork next to it and a serving dish full of the fluff salad, as well as a bowl of marshmallows in the background.

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Mandarin Orange Fluff Salad

If you’re trying to find the recipe for that salad with mandarin oranges and Cool Whip, you’ve come to the right place.

Orange Fluff Salad, is a sweet and creamy fruit salad that gets its fluffy texture from a combination of orange Jello, vanilla pudding and Cool Whip. It’s loaded with mandarin oranges and pineapple, and if that’s not enough, mini marshmallows join the party, too!

So is this sweet concoction a salad or is it a dessert? I’ll leave that up to you.

What I will say is, Orange Fluff “salad” is the thing holidays are made of.

This decadent side dish is delicious anytime of year, but is always popular for Christmas and Easter dinners. It’s easy to make, perfect for potlucks, and always disappears.

Orange fluff salad topped with mandarin orange slice and mini marshmallows served in a glass cup. There's also a picture showing all the ingredients needed to make the salad, including box of orange jello, box of vanilla pudding, mandarin oranges, pineapple, mini marshmallows and a tub of Cool Whip.

Why You’ll Love Orange Fluff Salad

Easy 6-ingredient recipe. Making orange fluff salad is as easy as combining 6 packaged foods. It only takes 30 minutes to prep. All you do is whip together the ingredients and let it set in the refrigerator.

Tastes like a Creamsicle. Orange and vanilla are a combo made in heaven, and this creamy fruit salad has both. If you love Creamsicles as much as I do, then you probably won’t be able to stop at one serving.

A real crowd pleaser- This is one of those recipes that’s great for any kind of party or holiday, from baby showers, summer barbecues, Easter and Mother’s Day to Thanksgiving and Christmas. I bet your guests can’t eat just one bowl.

Best make ahead recipe – This orange fluff salad can be prepared a day ahead of time and tastes better the longer it marinates. Prepare the night before your party or event.

In the foreground is a small serving of fluff salad in a bowl that has some mandarin orange slices and mini marshmallows on top. In the background is a small bowl filled with white mini marshmallows, and a serving dish filled with the salad.

Looking for another fruity dessert-style salad? Five-Cup Salad is another popular recipe that’s as simple to make as orange fluff.

Orange Fluff Salad Recipe

Ingredients Needed

Orange Jello Mix (plus water)
Instant Vanilla Pudding
Cool Whip
Mini Marshmallows
Mandarin Oranges
Crushed Pineapple

Orange Jello Mix – Orange gelatin gives this salad its super sweet orange taste. I use Jello brand, but any kind is fine.

Boiling Water & Cold Water – Water is needed to make the Jello mixture.

Instant Vanilla Pudding – Pudding gives this dessert salad its signature fluffy texture. Be sure to get instant pudding.

Cool Whip – Makes the fluff salad nice and creamy.

Mini Marshmallows – You can use regular white mini marshmallows or pastel colored ones for the spring.

Canned Fruit – Get mandarin oranges and crushed pineapple. You’re going to drain the fruit so it really doesn’t matter if its packed in light or heavy syrup.

Three parfait cups in the foreground full of orange fluff salad with mandarin oranges on top, and a small bowl in the background, also filled with the creamy fruit salad. There is a light blue lined napkin with two forks on it, as well.

How to Make Orange Fluff Salad

In a large bowl, whisk Jello and boiling water until dissolved. Then whisk in the cold water.
Chill bowl of orange Jello in the refrigerator for 15 minutes to set. Remove from refrigerator and whisk in the vanilla pudding. Chill mixture in fridge for another 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, drain the canned mandarin oranges and crushed pineapple, removing as much liquid as possible (see tips below).
Gently fold the drained fruit, thawed Cool Whip and mini marshmallows into the orange Jello/pudding mixture.
Cover the orange fluff salad and refrigerate for 2 hours. This allows the mixture to thicken and the marshmallows to soften.

Orange jello mix in a glass bowl with a whisk in it, which is next to an opened box or orange Jello. — Add orange jell-o to a mixing bowl.

Whisking water into orange jello mix in a large glass bowl that has a whisk in it. There is an opened box of orange Jello next to the mixing bowl. — Add orange jell-o to a mixing bowl.

Recipe Tips

Here are a few tips to help you make this salad just right!

Three glass parfait cups filled with orange fluff salad topped with mandarin oranges and marshmallows, sitting on a wooden board which is next to a light blue linen napkin that has forks on it.

Thaw cool whip entirely. Make sure the Cool Whip is thawed or you could ruin the texture of this salad.

Drain canned fruit well. Remove as much syrup from the canned fruit as possible so the salad isn’t watered down. I like to take the extra step and place the fruit on paper towels to absorb any remaining liquid.

Leave enough time to chill the fluff salad. The salad fluffs up as it chills. The marshmallows soften and all the fruity flavors marry together.

Leave marshmallows out if making many hours ahead of time. This way they don’t become too gooey. Instead, stir in an hour or two before serving.

Recipe Variations

One thing I love about fluff salads is how versatile they are. Here are some variations.

The top view of a single serving of orange fluff salad, showing two juicy mandarin orange slices on top of the the creamy fruit salad.

Make a different flavor. blueberry fluff salad, strawberry fluff salad, cherry fluff salad, banana split fluff salad. They are all tasty options and so easy to make.

Reduce the sugar. For the least amount of added sugar, use sugar-free Jello, pudding and Cool Whip, and canned fruits packed in their own juices.

Want more crunch? Add nuts, like almonds, walnuts, pecans or pistachios. Shredded coconut is delicious, too.

More Recipes with Fruit

Orange Fluff Salad

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Additional Time: 2 hours

Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes

Ingredients

1 (3 ounce) box orange Jello
1 cup boiling water
1/2 cup cold water
1 (3.4 ounce) box instant vanilla pudding
8 ounces Cool Whip
2 cups mini marshmallows
2 (15 ounce cans) mandarin oranges, drained well
20 ounces crushed pineapples, drained well

Instructions

In a large bowl, whisk Jello and boiling water until dissolved. Then whisk in the cold water.
Chill bowl of orange Jello in the refrigerator for 15 minutes to set. Remove from refrigerator and whisk in the vanilla pudding. Chill mixture in fridge for another 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, drain the canned mandarin oranges and crushed pineapple, removing as much liquid as possible (see tips below).
Gently fold the drained fruit, thawed Cool Whip and mini marshmallows into the orange Jello/pudding mixture.
Cover the orange fluff salad and refrigerate for 2 hours. This allows the mixture to thicken and the marshmallows to soften.

Notes

Thaw cool whip entirely. Make sure the Cool Whip is thawed or you could ruin the texture of this salad.
Drain canned fruit well. Remove as much the syrup from the canned fruit as possible so the salad isn't watered down. I like to take the extra step and place the fruit on paper towels to absorb any remaining liquid.
Leave enough time to chill the fluff salad. The salad fluffs up as it chills. The marshmallows soften and all the fruity flavors marry together.
Leave marshmallows out if making many hours ahead of time. This way they don't become too gooey. Instead, stir in an hour or two before serving.

Easy Orange Fluff Salad

Mandarin Orange Fluff Salad

Why You’ll Love Orange Fluff Salad