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 Mandarin Oranges, Jell-O, Cool Whip and pineapple delight with the next generation!
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 orange fluff jello salad 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.
It’s also listed as a Weight Watchers Dessert. If you figure that one out, let me know…
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!
Here’s how to make orange fluff dessert:
While generations before called the orange delight a salad, let’s be honest. Recipes like this are really just an excuse to serve dessert along with the main dish.
I love my ancestors.
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.
Can I use Sugar Free Options?
Sure, you can use sugar free jello and light whipped topping when you make orange fluff.
As seen on Weekend Potluck
Oh, and make sure you lick the spoon when you’re finished.
Other dessert recipes you’ll love:
So tell me, do you call this Orange Fluff, or something else??
Note: I may use referral or affiliate links for the products I love.
Orange Fluff Jello Salad
Growing up Orange Fluff Jello Salad was also on the table for special occasions. Now it's time to share this mandarin orange and pineapple delight with the next generation!
Ingredients
- 2 packages tapioca pudding, cook n serve (3 ounces each)
- 1 package orange jello (3 ounce package)
- 20 ounce can crushed pineapple, drained
- 15 ounce mandarin oranges, drained
- 8 ounce cool whip brand or similar whipped topping
Instructions
- In a large bowl, add one package of orange jello and two packages of tapioca pudding to three cups of boiling water.
- Stir well to combine until all the jello mix is dissolved. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
- After the jello has set, add Cool Whip to the jello mixture. You can do this by hand or may use a hand mixer to break up the jello into small pieces.
- Stir in the Cool Whip. Drain your canned fruit and fold it gently into the mixture.
- Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition Information
Yield
12Serving Size
1 gramsAmount Per Serving Calories 139Unsaturated Fat 0g
Shared on Meal Plan Monday and Weekend Potluck
26 Comments
Katie
April 19, 2019 at 11:24 pmOH YUM!!! I grew up in the south, and we had a version of this with coconut! Yum yum, I love this recipe and can’t wait to try it!
Beth Pierce
April 19, 2019 at 11:29 pmThis sounds like the best afternoon delight! What a fun combo of flavors; I’ll have to give this a try at Easter!
Beth
April 20, 2019 at 12:47 amI call this Delicious!! I know it’s a salad but I could eat this as a meal!
Jeannette (Jay Joy)
April 20, 2019 at 3:38 amMY FAMILY LOVES FLUFF! I have been looking for this recipe everywhere. I am so making this Orange Fluff Jello Salad for dessert after Easter dinner!
Bee
April 22, 2019 at 9:49 amThis looks very delish! I have a recipe that is similar and my husband always requests it. Thanks for sharing, I am always looking for new recipes to try.
Jennifer
April 30, 2019 at 10:08 amYum! We called it fluff. The jello flavor varied, but the other ingredients are basically the same. Wondering now why I never make it for my own family? This was a holiday staple all through my Iowa childhood.
Deanne Frieders
May 3, 2019 at 8:57 amHello in Iowa! I’m trying to make some of my childhood favorites so our kids get to see them, too!
Kate
June 2, 2019 at 5:41 pmMmmm I love fluff jello recipes, and this orange one looks delicious! Can’t wait to try!
Kiki Johnson
June 2, 2019 at 6:58 pmThis recipe looks amazing! We don’t get orange flavored jello here in Mexico but mango and pineapple! Do you think that would work as well?
Sylvie
June 2, 2019 at 7:28 pmWhat a fun recipe, so perfect for a hot summer day bbq or picnic! I’m sure kids go crazy for this one 🙂
Sophie
June 2, 2019 at 9:39 pmSuch a lovely recipe. Always love orange and cream!
Veena Azmanov
June 2, 2019 at 10:15 pmThis is surely a delicious and yummy salad. Love the orange flavor to it. Unique and special.
Natalie
June 2, 2019 at 10:50 pmYUM! Looks so delicious and I bet kids will love it!
Sara Welch
June 2, 2019 at 11:15 pmThe name of this recipe clearly states the truth! This was so light and fluffy and full of sweet flavor; my whole family loved it!
2019 Christmas Recipes - Mother Thyme
December 17, 2019 at 9:56 pm[…] Orange Jello Fluff Salad […]
Kim
April 6, 2020 at 1:45 pmDo I use the instant kind of orange flavored jello? The directions do not specify and neither does the rest of this blog posting. Thanks so much.
Sara
June 22, 2020 at 2:04 pmWe use lemon and lime and my kids call it green stuff. Love the way you can use any flavor of jello and you still have the same ‘stuff’.
It’s ALL good and can be color coordinated to go with the holiday decorations just by changing the flavor of the jello!
Deanne Frieders
June 24, 2020 at 10:07 amMy husbands family calls it junk, haha! A fun recipe for sure!
Jimmy
September 10, 2020 at 4:38 amMy grandma used to make fluff salads. I stumbled on your recipe a year ago and I’ve made it for my family on many occasions. Thank you for sharing it. It makes me feel closer to my grandma.
Deanne Frieders
September 17, 2020 at 2:23 pmAwww, I’m so glad to hear that, Jimmy. There’s something about tried and true recipes that bring us closer together.
Beryl
September 21, 2020 at 9:20 pmThis sounds so yummy and I would like to make it but one thing I cant substitute here in Australia is Cool Whip as I don’t know what it is, can you give me an idea what it is so I can try and find something similar here
Thanks for sharing. I am about to have a good look around your site now.
Deanne Frieders
September 22, 2020 at 8:21 amHi Beryl, Cool Whip is a brand of whipped topping here. I’m not sure if you have it in Australia or not!
Kelly
December 1, 2020 at 3:12 amGreat recipe. The only change we made was to cut the jello down to one box instead of two. Thanks for sharing.
Karens
December 13, 2020 at 8:53 pmSo glad you enjoyed it. Thank you!
Rachel
December 13, 2020 at 8:54 pmThis is easy to make and very good. There were no left overs.
Deanne Frieders
December 14, 2020 at 4:48 pmSo glad you liked it Rachel!