Orange Fluff Salad
Orange Fluff Salad is one of those old-fashioned recipes that never seems to go out of style. Made with mandarin oranges, marshmallows, whipped topping, and orange gelatin, it’s sweet, creamy, and always a hit at potlucks, holidays, and family dinners. The best part? It comes together with just a few simple ingredients and hardly any effort.
Servings 8
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Boiling Water
- 1 Package Orange Gelatin 3 ounces
- 2 Cans Mandarin Oranges in Light Syrup 15 ounces each
- 1 Package Instant Vanilla Pudding 3.4 ounces
- 1 Container Frozen Whipped Topping 8 ounces, thawed
- 1½ Cups Miniature Marshmallows
Instructions
- In a large bowl, stir together boiling water and orange gelatin until fully dissolved.
- Drain the mandarin oranges and save ½ cup of the light syrup.
- Whisk the ½ cup of light syrup from the mandarin oranges into the gelatin mixture.
- Refrigerate the mixture, uncovered, for about 15 minutes.
- Remove the gelatin mixture from the refrigerator and whisk the instant vanilla pudding into the gelatin mixture until combined.
- Refrigerate the mixture for about 10 minutes or until slightly thickened.
- Remove the mixture from the refrigerator and gently fold in the whipped topping just until combined.
- Fold in the mandarin oranges and the marshmallows until evenly combined.
- Cover and refrigerate until set, about 1 hour.
Notes
Helpful Tips
- Let the gelatin cool before adding the pudding mix: If the gelatin mixture is too warm, the pudding can turn lumpy or thicken unevenly. Cool it until it’s no longer warm to the touch for the best texture.
- Drain the mandarin oranges well: Too much extra liquid can make the fluff salad watery. Be sure to drain the oranges and only use the amount of syrup called for in the recipe.
- Fold gently, don’t stir aggressively: When adding the whipped topping, oranges, and marshmallows, gently fold everything together to keep the salad light and fluffy.
- Give it enough chill time: Orange Fluff Salad tastes best after it has had time to chill and thicken. Even if it looks ready, a little extra fridge time helps the flavors come together.
- Make it ahead if you can: This is a great make-ahead recipe for holidays, potlucks, and cookouts. Making it a few hours in advance gives it even better flavor and texture.
- Save a few oranges for the top: If you want it to look extra pretty for a party or holiday table, reserve a few mandarin oranges to garnish the top before serving.