Orange Fluff Jello Salad Recipe

When we were growing up, Orange Jello Salad or Orange Stuff was always on the table at potlucks, parties, Thanksgiving – you name it! Now it’s time to share this orange jello salad with pineapple with the rest of the world!

If you’re from the Midwest, you know this jello salad recipe.

It’s the one that my family calls orange fluff. My husband’s family calls it Orange Junk Salad and the neighbor calls it Orange Stuff. My great Aunt calls it Mandarin Orange Fluff Jello Salad.

Yet we all know what fruit salad we’re talking about.

I mean, let’s face it – when we devoured this dessert as kids, we didn’t know what was in it. We just knew it was delicious.

What is orange jello salad, anyway?

I’d rank this orange fluff salad recipe along with other famous American desserts. Think of ambrosia salad, watergate salad, and all those fluff-style desserts.

This is an orange fluff jello salad with tapioca, crushed pineapple and mandarin oranges. This easy dessert is all blended together with a creamy Cool Whip, otherwise known as whipped topping.

It kinda tastes like an orange pineapple creamsicle, except – fluff. Dreamy, right???

When we were kids, my Mom called it a salad. In the family cookbooks, guess where it’s listed? Not in the cake section, not in the sweets or desserts. It’s in the salad portion of the cookbook, right along the also delicious Taffy Apple Salad.

It’s also listed as a Weight Watchers Dessert. If you figure that one out, let me know…

Save Orange Fluff Jello Salad

Why I love Orange Fluff Salad

It’s sweet and creamy, light and fluffy. The jello with tapioca pudding adds body and texture and of course, there’s a hint of the tropics from the fruit.

As you can see, this is an epicurean delight. And delish.

There are many variations of this recipe, but mine is an orange fluff jello salad without cottage cheese. In my opinion, it’s the best!

While generations before called this orange fluff recipe a salad – let’s be honest. Recipes like this are really just an excuse to serve dessert along with the main dish.

It’s a cousin to the equally Taffy Apple Salad.

I love my ancestors.

Here’s how to make orange fluff dessert:

Okay, let’s do this! In a large bowl, add one package of orange jello and two packages of tapioca pudding to three cups of boiling water.

Stir well until all the jello mix dissolves. In case you’d like to know, this was my job as a child and it took it very seriously. Moving on…

Cover and refrigerate overnight.

I’m gonna repeat that. Refrigerate overnight. This means don’t wait until the last minute to make this like I may have done the very first time I made it. Ehem…

Add Cool Whip to the jello mixture. Now, you can 100 percent do this by hand but just know your arm muscles may feel the burn in the process. I like to use a hand mixer to break up the jello a bit to make the job easier.

You want your jello to be broken into little pieces. Stir in the Cool Whip.

Drain your canned fruit and fold it gently into the mixture. And that’s it!

You may want to transfer it to a serving bowl, or maybe not. Your call.

Variations

• Use pineapple tidbits instead of crushed pineapple for a chunkier jello salad.
• Top with mini marshmallows as a fun, playful garnish.

Can I use Sugar Free Options?

Sure, you can use sugar free jello and light whipped topping when you make orange fluff.

Oh, and make sure you lick the spoon when you’re finished.

As seen on Weekend Potluck

Other dessert recipes you’ll love:

• Mom’s Apple Slab Pie
• Mom’s Cinnamon Rolls
• Best Scotcheroo Bars
• Mandarin Orange Cake

So tell me, do you call this Orange Fluff, or something else??

If you make this Orange Jello fluff, leave a comment below!

Shared on Meal Plan Monday and Weekend Potluck

Original photo taken at Thanksgiving 2019. Awwww…..