Orange Jello Fruit Salad is an easy retro side dish or dessert that's cool, creamy and perfect for holidays, parties and potluck dinners. This recipe is a family favorite that always goes fast!
When I was going through my grandma's recipe collection the other day, I found this recipe for orange Jello salad. It's similar to the Strawberry Jello fruit salad I made last year for Easter, except that you use orange flavored gelatin instead of strawberry. And, instead of adding sliced strawberries, you add mandarin orange slices!
Whenever there's a holiday, there's a family dinner, right? I always like to include a couple of vintage recipes with our holiday dinners because I'm a sucker for retro recipes, and I'm just sentimental like that. Plus, my family loves them!
This orange Jello salad is super simple and only has 4 ingredients. It's made with Cool Whip, mandarin orange slices and, of course, the Jell-O gelatin and water. I've seen some recipes that add cottage cheese and pineapple, but this one is about as simple as you can get!
Personally, I'd say that this is more of a dessert than a salad since it's on the sweet side and almost tastes like an orange creamsicle! But that's just me being picky. It really doesn't matter what you call it, as long as you and your family enjoy it!
You can serve Orange Jello fruit salad at Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas or at any kind of potluck dinner, church supper or picnic. I usually think of this as more of a spring or summer recipe, but like I said, it's a classic side dish for any holiday or family gathering.
Tips for making Orange Jello Fruit Salad
- Drain the oranges, pat dry and keep them in the fridge until you're ready to use them
- Cut the oranges in half if you want smaller pieces of fruit
- Use a hand mixer for best results, but a wire whisk works, too
Looking for more Jello salad recipes?
Recipe for Orange Jello Fruit Salad
Orange Jello Fruit Salad
Ingredients
- 1 6-ounce box orange Jell-O gelatin, or any brand
- 2 cups hot water
- 1 ¾ cups cold water
- 1 8-ounce container whipped topping, Cool Whip
- 1 15-ounce can Mandarin oranges, drained
Instructions
- Add jello to a large bowl or casserole dish, and mix in the hot water until powder dissolves
- Mix in the cold water, and place in refrigerator for about 1 hour or until partially set
- When jello is partially set, mix with hand mixer on low (or wire whisk) until mixture thickens, and stir in Cool Whip, and mix well
- Fold in Mandarin orange slices, and place in refrigerator until ready to serve. Keep refrigerated
Nutrition
My family loves this easy orange jello fruit salad. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!
Happy Cooking,
Sherri says
So I made this— my mom used to make it— and mine didn’t turn out fluffy at all. It was jiggly like jello. I used the 6oz jello package. And 2 cups of hot water and 1 and 3/4 cups of cold water. What went wrong???
Dee says
Did you add the Cool Whip? That's what makes it fluffy.
Jackie Grendel says
How far ahead can I make this?
Dee says
A day or 2 ahead of time would be fine.
Trish S says
I am a little upset because I read your ingredients as 1 and 3/4 cup cold water. You might want to take that 1 out of there so nobody else will think what I did.
Dee says
It is 1 and 3/4 cups cold water. If there was a problem, did you use the larger 6 ounce box of regular Jello?
Beverly in Mississippi says
I just made this for Thanksgiving and we all loved it.
It is very refreshing. I'm sure it would be a good summer salad, but it is good any time of year and popular too!
Dee says
Thank you so much, Beverly! I'm glad everyone loved it!
Lilli says
My grandson loves this. Our family calls this yum yum
Dee says
Sounds like my kids! Thank you so much!
Becky Berna says
Asking this as I write! Was one of my Moms go to recipes and she’s been gone now 13 years. Always reminds me of her. I use the juice from the can of oranges as well as part of my liquid. Wonder if you could use some orange pop?? Hmmmmm....
Becky Berna says
Making not asking! Lol
Dee says
I wondered what you meant! 🙂
Dee says
Family recipes are priceless! The pop would probably make it fizzy -- I'd love to know what happens!
Angel says
Hello, just wanted to say I tried this salad, it's good without the pineapple too (my nemasis is crushed pineapple) well, especially crushed, but I tried it both ways n used tiny bites of fresh pineapple instead... also you can use 1/2 a cup softened cream cheese, mixed with 1/2 cup sour cream, & 1/2 cup cool whip, that's creamier... I noted the water amount was off in the recipe for 1 box of jello... Ohhh & my kids made me throw in mini marshmallows last time, so yummy, you can try regular or the colored fruit flavor mini marshmallows, this is my gift, I find recipes I like n then alter them 25 ways, giggle, just thought I'd share... <3 Angel
Kirsten says
I needed something easy but delicious too!! I had forgotten about this refreshing recipe, and when I found it again I did not need to look further!!! THIS recipe is a keeper, always has been!!
Dee says
Thanks so much, Kirsten. We love it, too! 🙂
Miz Helen says
Hope you had a wonderful weekend and thanks so much for sharing your special post with us at Full Plate Thursday! Have a great week and come back soon!
Miz Helen
Sheena says
Salads like these are my favorite! Love that you made it oranges! YUM!
Dee says
I made a strawberry one last year, but this one tastes like a creamsicle. 🙂
Karlynn says
Brings back childhood memories! I love everything about this!
Dee says
Thanks, Karlynn. I'm a sucker for family recipes! 🙂
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says
Such a great flavor! My son definitely love this!
Des says
I can already see my kids eating the whole batch at once.
Dee says
Mine definitely would if they could! 🙂
Jacque Hastert says
This reminds me of my Grandma's and I am loving it 🙂
Allyson Zea says
This salad is my favorite in the spring!
Amy @ Little Dairy on the Prairie says
You have my full attention with this salad! It is calling my name!