4 Ingredient Mandarin Orange Jello Salad

Mandarin orange jello salad is a 4-ingredient dessert salad that is packed with a creamsicle orange flavor. Mandarin oranges, Cool Whip, orange Jello, and mini marshmallows. Whip this orange fluff salad up in 5 minutes and have it in the fridge ready for serving.

This orange salad is made without cottage cheese. You will find some recipes have cottage cheese but we wanted to make it without. Serve this up as a sweet dessert or even side dish for a gathering with family and friends.

Make sure to try out our other fruit salad with Cool Whip or our slow cooker hot fruit salad this is a good one for fall and winter. Or try this Oreo Fluff dip for a fun sweet treat to serve up after dinner.

What is Mandarin Orange Jello Salad?

Mandarin Orange Jello Salad is a classic dessert salad that typically consists of orange gelatin, canned mandarin oranges, whipped cream, and sometimes other fruits or ingredients. An American dessert salad. It is served chilled as a side dish or even as a dessert.

This Mandarin Orange Jello Salad Is…

• A mousse-like dessert. You will find the jello paired with fruit and whipped cream offers a velvety texture.
• A sweet dessert salad that truly takes 5 minutes to prep. Then store in the salad until you are ready to dish it up.
• Make it ahead of time and then just grab from the fridge and serve when ready.
• Kid friendly and a family friendly recipe everyone loves.
• Great for parties, holiday gatherings, summer cookouts, and more.

Ingredients You Will Need

Here is all your need for this mandarin orange salad! Full measurements are featured in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Mandarin Oranges – Canned oranges, drained.

Cool Whip – Thawed.

Jello – Orange flavored gelatin.

Marshmallows – Mini marshmallows.

Water – Filtered.

How to Make

Full steps are in the printable recipe card at bottom of post.

1. Heat up water to a boil, then stir in the orange jello. Mix until the gelatin is fully dissolved.
2. Stir in the cold water. Then cover and place bowl in the fridge to set it up for an hour.

1. Remove bowl from fridge and add in the whipped cream, marshmallows and marshmallows.
2. Refrigerate another hour, and then serve and enjoy.

Variations to Recipe

Want to change up this fluff salad? Here are some simple swaps or add-ins to change up the flavor.

• Swap a can of mandarin oranges with crushed pineapple. Just make sure to drain the pineapple well.
• Use peach jello instead of orange, and swap mandarin oranges for diced peaches!
• Reach for a pineapple jello, and then fruit cocktail that is drained instead of oranges.
• Add in 2 tablespoons of vanilla pudding (instant pudding) to add a creamier flavor to the jello salad.
• Add in 1/4 cup of shredded sweetened coconut for added texture and flavor.

Helpful Tips for Success

Make sure you are going to allow the jello to set up for an hour before you mix in the other ingredients. It is going to help create the texture for the salad.

Refrigerate for an hour once the mandarin salad is mixed together. This will help all the ingredients to chill to the right temperature and blend the flavors together.

You can make this a day in advance of when you plan to serve it up. Just keep it covered in the fridge. Then top with more marshmallows and oranges right before serving if you want.

Storing Jello Salad

Refrigerate – You will want to refrigerate the salad once it is made up. This salad will store for 2-4 days. We find it is best to be eaten the first day but know it will store in the fridge for a few days. It just becomes a bit watery.

Freezing – You will find freezing the salad doesn’t work well as it will alter the texture of the jello salad.

Practical notes

Can we use fresh mandarin oranges instead of canned mandarin oranges?

Go right ahead and peel and section your fresh mandarin oranges to mix in the fruit salad. You are more than welcome to go that route over canned oranges.

Can we use a sugar-free gelatin to make Mandarin Orange Jello Salad?

Reach for sugar-free gelatin and sugar free whipped cream if you are looking to do a no sugar dessert. Also watch the fruit you buy as some are in a thick syrup which has sugar in it.

Can we make Mandarin Orange Jello Salad ahead of time?

This mandarin orange salad can be made a day in advance of when you plan to serve it up. Just keep it in an airtight container until you are ready to serve it up.

More Easy Desserts

Here are even more dessert recipes for you to consider trying out.

• Mini Key Lime Pies
• Snicker Salad
• Shortbread Lemon Bars
• Strawberry Rhubarb Pie

Have you tried the recipe? If so, please leave a star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the recipe card below or drop a comment. Also stay in touch with us through social media by following us on Facebook Pinterest or our Facebook Group

Ingredients

Makes 8 servings

• 1 3 ounce package orange Jello
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1/2 cup cold water
• 1 8 ounce Cool whip, thawed
• 1 11 ounce Mandarin Oranges in Can, drained

Equipment

• Large bowl
• Measuring Cups
• Whisk

Method

1. Start by boiling water and remove from heat. Then add in the jello and stir until the gelatin is fully dissolved. This takes about 2-3 minutes.
2. Next add in the cold water, and stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate jello for 1 hour.
3. Remove Jello from fridge and stir in the whipped topping, oranges, and mini marshmallows.
4. Cover and refrigerate another hour or until you are ready to serve. Then top with more oranges and marshmallows for garnish if you want.

Kitchen notes

Flavor of Jello – Feel free to reach for a different flavor of Jello if you want. Cherry, peach, etc. Fruit – You can use fresh mandarin oranges that you peel and section if you don’t want to use canned. Sugar Free Dessert- Reach for sugar free jello, whipped topping and oranges to create a sugar free dessert. You can leave the marshmallows out or replace with cottage cheese for a creamy texture. Storing – Store this salad in the fridge for up to 4 days. It is best to eat the orange salad the first day of making it.