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It’s a common goal for us moms to make mealtime both enjoyable and nutritious, but I’m here to let you in on a little secret: sometimes, you just need to throw out the rulebook and add a little fun.

Want to be the world’s best mom? Then serve dessert with dinner! And what better way to do that than with this nostalgic dish that’s part dessert, part side dish—Orange Fluff Salad.

This light and fluffy treat is made with orange jello and and Dream Whip dessert topping (or, to modernize the recipe, Cool Whip) whipped together into a smooth, airy base. Then, we fold in juicy canned mandarin oranges and creamy cottage cheese to create a dish that’s as delicious as it is fun.

My mom always insisted it was a side dish (thanks to the cottage cheese), but let’s be honest—it’s dessert through and through.

orange fluff salad in individual glass dessert dishes outside on a picnic table

white ceramic serving dish heaped with orange fluff salad

orange fluff salad in individual white ceramic bowls on a marble countertop

orange fluff salad in a bowl on an outdoor picnic table

Jello Salads: A Nostalgic Throwback

My mom grew up in the era of jellied salads, and as a kid, I remember there were always at least two versions present during holiday dinners—sometimes more if it was a big family get-together. If it was a special occasion, jellied salads were always on the table.

And at every gathering, without fail, there was this Orange Fluff Salad. Looking back, I think my mom made it just for us kids. She’d pile it high next to the more traditional savory dishes, like roasted ham or mashed potatoes, and even though it looked more like a dessert, she always treated it like part of the main meal.

Cottage cheese was her “reasoning”—it added enough protein to count as a side dish, or at least that’s what she told us. But in truth, this salad was the highlight for us kids, and we never complained about piling it onto our dinner plates!

Dessert Disguised as a Side Dish

The whipped topping makes it light and airy, the orange jello gives it a burst of fruity flavor, and the mandarin oranges add a juicy bite. Then, of course, there’s the cottage cheese—a creamy addition that gives the dish just enough substance to make it feel like it belongs with the rest of the meal.

What I love most about Orange Fluff Salad is how it brings a little joy to the dinner table. Sure, we moms aim to serve balanced meals, but there’s no harm in throwing a little dessert into the mix, especially when it’s disguised as a side dish!

And believe me, whether you’re serving it to kids or adults, no one is going to mind seeing this bright, citrusy dish alongside their savory dinner.

Dream Whip vs. Frozen Whipped Topping: What’s the Difference?

In my mom’s day, there was no such thing as frozen whipped dessert topping. Instead, every kitchen had a package or two of Dream Whip tucked away in the pantry.

For those who don’t know, Dream Whip is a powdered mix that, when combined with milk and vanilla, whips up into a light, fluffy topping. It was a staple in many households, perfect for creating those whipped salads and desserts that were so popular at the time.

My recipe for Orange Fluff Salad sticks to tradition and calls for 2 packages of Dream Whip, prepared according to the package directions. If you’re a fan of nostalgia or you just love the ease and flavor Dream Whip offers, by all means, use it!

But if Dream Whip isn’t your thing or you prefer a more modern convenience, you can easily swap it out for frozen whipped dessert topping (like Cool Whip).

How to Make the Swap

Here’s how you can make the substitution if you prefer using frozen whipped topping:

Dream Whip: My original recipe calls for 2 prepared packages of Dream Whip. To make this, you whip 2 envelopes of Dream Whip mix with 1 cup of cold milk and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. This results in about 4 cups of whipped topping.
Frozen Whipped Topping (Cool Whip): If you prefer the convenience of frozen whipped dessert topping, you’ll want to use about 1 full 8-ounce container of it. This is roughly equivalent to the 2 prepared packages of Dream Whip.
Real Whipped Cream: You might be tempted to try real whipped cream in this recipe. This can work, but only if you eat it right away. The whipped cream tends to “melt” over a few hours, leaving you with a water soggy mess that no one want to eat (even if it still tastes the same!)

Classic Orange Fluff Salad

Recipe by Jessie

Course: DessertDifficulty: Easy

Servings

servings

Prep time

minutes

Setting Time

hours

Sweet, fluffy, and packed with fruit, our orange fluff salad is the perfect balance of dessert and side dish. Made with orange jello, whipped topping, and cottage cheese, it’s a fun twist on jellied salad recipes.

Ingredients

1 pkg (3 oz) orange jello
1 can (15 oz) mandarin oranges
2 pkg. Dream Whip, prepared according to pkg directions*
16 oz cottage cheese**

Directions

Drain the juice from the mandarin oranges into a small saucepan (make sure the orange are well drained).
Add water to the juice to make 1 cup liquid.
Bring liquid to a boil, add jello powder, and stir until dissolved.
Cool jello mixture in the refrigerator until it is just beginning to set (don’t let it get too hard or it will not fully blend with the rest of the ingredients).
Prepare Dream Whip according to package directions.
Gently fold in cooled jello, cottage cheese, and mandarin oranges, until all ingredients are blended together.
Return to the refrigerator for at least 2 hours to set, stirring occasionally.
Leftovers will keep in the fridge, covered, for up to 3 days. Does not freeze well.

Notes

*You can substitute an 8 oz container of Cool Whip for the Dream Whip; just thaw it first before mixing it in.
**for a smoother, more kid-friendly version (for those kids that don’t like the texture of cottage cheese) you can puree the cottage cheese in a blender for folding in.

A Dish That Stands the Test of Time

While jellied salads may not be as popular with my generation, Orange Fluff Salad is one that continues to stand the test of time. My own kids love it just as much as I did growing up, and when it makes an appearance at family dinners, it brings back all those happy memories of childhood gatherings.

So, the next time you’re looking for a fun and easy way to liven up your meal, whip up a batch of this Orange Fluff Salad. Serve it with dinner and watch as your kids’ faces light up, just like mine did when I was their age. You might just find yourself earning the title of “world’s best mom” without even trying!