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–+ servings
A bowl of orange jello salad.
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4.90 from 19 votes

Old Fashioned Orange Jello Salad

Orange Jello Salad is made in less than 10 minutes and it bursts with tangy citrus flavors with a smooth, and creamy texture.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time0 minutes
2 hours
Total Time2 hours 10 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Dessert, Salad
Cuisine: American
Keyword: holiday
Servings: 12 Servings
Calories: 106kcal

Ingredients
 

  • 1 cup cottage cheese excess moisture drained
  • 3 ounce box orange Jello mix
  • 1 cup drained crushed pineapple
  • 15 ounce can mandarin oranges drained
  • 8 ounce Cool Whip
  • 1/4 cup maraschino cherries halved

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, combine the cottage cheese and orange Jello mix. Stir until the Jello is fully incorporated into the cottage cheese.
  • Gently fold in the drained crushed pineapple and mandarin oranges, mixing until evenly distributed.
  • Add the Cool Whip and maraschino cherries to the mixture, folding it in gently to maintain its fluffy texture.
  • Cover the bowl and refrigerate the salad for at least 2 hours, or until it’s well chilled and set. Before serving, top with additional maraschino cherries. 

Video

Notes

Pro Tips and Substitutions
  • Low-Fat and Sugar-Free Options: Use low-fat cottage cheese and light Cool Whip to make a lighter version of this dish. Sugar-free Jello can be used in place of regular. 
  • Different Flavors: Experiment with other Jello flavors like strawberry, raspberry, or lemon for a fun twist.
  • Additional Mix-Ins: Add 1-2 cups mini marshmallows or 1/2 cup-1 cup chopped nuts for extra texture and flavor. Toasted and cooled pecans and walnuts are a popular choice.
  • Fruit Tips: Drain and pat dry the crushed pineapple and mandarin oranges before blending into the mixture. You can also choose to use fresh oranges and pineapple. If doing so, make sure to peel, segment, and drain any excess juice.
  • Moisture Control: Orange Jello salad separates a bit as it chills. Simply pour off any excess moisture and give it a stir before serving. Also, some cottage cheese brands have more moisture content than others. Make sure to drain excess moisture before blending.
  • Homemade Whipped Topping: While Cool Whip is a popular choice, you can use homemade whipped cream as a more natural alternative. Simply whip together 1 1/2 cups heaving whipping cream, 1/4 cup powdered sugar and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract until stiff peaks form. The salad will keep for a couple days.

Nutrition

Calories: 106kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 104mg | Potassium: 113mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 535IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 45mg | Iron: 0.2mg
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