Mandarin Orange Gelatin Salad

  4.5 – 28 reviews  • Jell-O® Salad

Without a recipe, a friend taught me how to make this many years ago. It is quick and simple. The creamy, sweet salad is delicious as a dessert or as a cool, refreshing side dish.

Prep Time: 5 mins
Additional Time: 2 hrs
Total Time: 2 hrs 5 mins
Servings: 9
Yield: 8 to 10 servings

Ingredients

  1. 1 (12 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
  2. 1 (11 ounce) can mandarin oranges, drained
  3. 2 (16 ounce) packages cottage cheese
  4. 1 (6 ounce) package orange flavored Jell-O® mix

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, blend the thawed frozen whipped topping, mandarin oranges, cottage cheese and orange flavored gelatin mix. Chill in the refrigerator 2 to 3 hours before serving.

Nutrition Facts

Calories 311 kcal
Carbohydrate 33 g
Cholesterol 15 mg
Dietary Fiber 0 g
Protein 15 g
Saturated Fat 11 g
Sodium 483 mg
Sugars 30 g
Fat 14 g
Unsaturated Fat 0 g

Reviews

Melody Brown
The orange is not my favorite for this salad. I prefer the Lime jello, with crushed pineapple or pineapple tidbits (drained), chopped pecan, 1 container whipped topping and 2 cups cottage cheese. We’ve made this salad since the 1970’s, its a very refreshing dessert or side to a spring table.
Thomas Santiago
I have made about the same thing for years but there is too much cottage cheese in this. I use 1 large pkg orange jello, 1 cup water, and dissolve. add 1 quarter cup cold water. 1 package cottage cheese, 2 small or 1 large can mandarin oranges. refrigerate till soft set and add whipped cream. fold in and refrigerate
Mr. Mark Valenzuela III
Been making this for years. I do a variation with drained crushed pineapples. Then lay the Mandarin oranges on top in a circular pattern. Very pretty when sharing. Works great with sugar free & other no sugar added fruit.
Shannon King
I use sugar free jello and fat free cool whip. Never miss the extra caloriee
Rachel Banks
I channeled my inner “That Midwestern Mom” and put together this jello fluff salad. In all honesty I can count on my one hand the number of times i’ve eaten a fluff salad. They aren’t something I really make but they hold a strong core memory from when my grandpa passed away and people brought food to my grandma’s house. I halved this recipe and made as written. The only change I would make would be to add more mandarin oranges. I will add, fluff salads are an acquired taste, you either love them or hate them, I have a mixed house.
Dawn Hutchinson
A variation of this recipe–which have we affectionately christened “Pink Stuff”–is a must for all our family get togethers. We use strawberry flavored gelatin mix (dry) and drained pineapple tidbits or drained crushed pineapple in place of mandarin oranges. We recently started adding fresh sliced strawberries and blueberries to it…pure bliss! This light salad/dessert goes well with a heavy meal. I serve it in an older Princess House ice bucket for that added splash of prettiness…tea cups/saucers also make a nice presentation! Quick, easy and so DELISH! Recommend using the thawed frozen whipped topping as the you-whip types of topping do not work for me.
Victoria Edwards
One container of cottage cheese is plenty for this salad. I like to triple the oranges in this salad and I add one bag of mini marshmallows to help soak up some of the “juice” that comes when this salad sits. My husband swore up and down that he didn’t like “fluffy” salads until he tried this one and ate three bowls, back to back.
Norman Johnson
I have had this desert for years on the holidays. My mom discovered this many years ago and it became a family tradition. This is my moms favorite holiday desert. It is sad that she can no longer make this for herself and we have moved out of state. My sister doesn’t cook on the holidays so my mom may never get this desert again.
Jessica Richardson DDS
So glad to have this recipe! Funny story…I’ll keep it short…A co-worker brought this to a work pot luck…I was so excited, afterall it was one of my favorites. She didnt like me so well..when I told her it was one of my favorites, she grabbed it and put it away in the fridge. HaHa now I can make my own! Thank you !
Valerie Alvarez
This has been a favorite of mine for years! It’s so quick and easy. I use it for a lot of church potlucks!
Joy Contreras DDS
can also use lime jello and pineapple
Christopher Quinn DDS
This is a hit at any party. I also take this to funerals as it can be dropped off the night before. Never come home with leftovers. Strawberry is also a hit
Spencer Brown
very nice and light with just the right consistancy for us.I used all your ingredients but used low fat,low carb products.Thankyou.
Michael Brown
I love love love this! As dessert or as a sidedish.
Roger Sherman
This is comfort food. My family made jello salads for every family outing during my years at home. My mom used to use a blender to smooth out out the texture and then add the fruit. I love dishes like this – 5 minutes to put together! I recommend using small curd cottage cheese. I used fat-free cottage cheese, and sugar-free whipped topping. Unfortunately, I didn’t have any mandarin oranges on hand – and it was fine without. This had 2-3 hours to set, but could have used a little more. Enjoy everyone – and thanks for sharing!
Howard Ewing
My grandmother made this salad for me, by request, when I was a child. I now make it for my own children who absolutely love it. As mentioned, this does go over very well at family gatherings, especially with children who are picky eaters. So quick and easy; perfect for those evenings when the family asks, “What’s for dessert??”. 🙂
Kathryn Smith
I love this recipe, so easy, and a little good for you. I think that next time I will add more oranges.
William Frederick
I remember my mom making this for my 5th birthday and I have loved it ever since. I have made variations with 1 small box of cherry and 1 small box of orange jello. I also prefer to use small curd cottage cheese to cut down on a potential mouth full of cheese-only and usually add additional oranges or a can of pineapple chunks. can’t wait to make this same recipe for my kids some day. Thanks
Crystal Hardy
Update: Made this again for a luncheon, this time I added marshmallows to it (posted pic). Original review: I used this recipe, but kind of combined it with another recipe that I had. I was a little nervous about putting the powdered gelatin in with the other stuff, and not actually making the jello per say (ie boiling the water). But it actually turned out really well! I subbed the cottage cheese for 8 oz. of sour cream and added cherries & crushed pineapple. My 3yo is calling this ‘shark salad’ since we got the other recipe with the cherries and cr. pineapple from the kids section of our local newspaper and the section was about sharks, LOL! (: Thanks for the post! My 3yo had like 5 bowls through the day!
Jonathan Combs
I made some changes based on what I had in my cabinets so I used canned strawberries and strawberry/banana jello instead. I thought this was good but I think its just a bit too sweet for my taste to eat plain. I liked it spread on a bagel for breakfast.
Noah Mckinney
Easy to make, perfect as a light side dish with summer meals.

 

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