This Orange Creamsicle Salad satisfies my dessert cravings AND is light enough to serve as a barbecue side dish! No matter the time, it’s a great fluffy, sweet compliment to any meal!
Is it a salad or is it a dessert? You decide. This Orange Creamsicle Salad is an old-fashioned favorite that pleases even the youngest crowds. It’s perfect for a light, summery dessert, and it goes great alongside a heavy holiday meal. There’s no time you can’t serve this salad!
The tang of the juicy mandarin oranges surrounded by sweet cream makes this dessert salad feel decadent and rich without heavy and too much after a meal! I like to make this for a quick weekend dinner because it’s half fruit salad, half healthier dessert option!
Looking to use more mandarin oranges but less dairy? Try my Sunshine Salad, a deliciously fresh and acidic tropical fruit salad with bananas and pineapple!
Did I mention this Orange Creamsicle Salad is only FOUR ingredients? You can throw this recipe together quickly if you need an extra side for dinner or want to add a bit of sweetness to the meal.
Ingredients
- Cool Whip — you can also use whipped cream here, but I find the Cool Whip is lighter in flavor and calories
- Cottage cheese
- Orange Jello
- Can of Mandarin Oranges
My favorite part is when I bite into the juicy mandarin oranges that are mixed throughout! The mix of the acidic oranges and the sweet cream reminds me of the quintessential orange creamsicles of childhood.
What I used for my Orange Creamsicle Salad
- Colander: This colander is great for straining and washing! The handles make it easy to use and the holes are big enough to drain your liquids off while keeping the food in the colander!
- Measuring spoons and cups: Everyone needs a good set of measuring cups and spoons, and these are excellent! The handles make the measuring tools easy to attach and stay together, so no more losing that tiny teaspoon in your drawer!
- Mixing bowls: These glass mixing bowls are beautiful and practical. I love being able to see all my ingredients through the bowl and they nest inside each other for space saving!
This recipe barely needs a recipe, it’s so easy. Combine, stir, and you’re done!
How to Make Orange Creamsicle Salad
- Mix cottage cheese and orange Jello together in a large bowl.
- Add Cool Whip and stir.
- Set five mandarin oranges aside for garnish. Add in remaining mandarin oranges and stir. Refrigerate for 2 hours.
- Garnish with mandarin oranges before serving.
Versions of this recipe have been made for generations! In my family, it’s typically served at special occasions like Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. It’s sweet, creamy, fluffy and delicious without being too rich or heavy.
What to serve with Orange Creamsicle Salad
Anywhere you would serve a fruit salad, you could definitely have this! My kids like to have this plain, nothing but a bowl and a spoon, and eat it like ice cream. Nothing wrong with that! It’s delicious on its own and goes great with other dishes, both sweet and savory!
My family loves this as a weeknight dinner treat alongside a quick dinner like my Salsa Chicken or these Savory Pork Chops with tomatoes, garlic, olives, and green peppers.
This dessert, much like an Ambrosia Salad, is great served alongside an unfrosted cake, like a buttery Lemon Bread or as a complement to this delicious Blueberry Tea Cake.
How to serve Orange Creamsicle Salad
I like to serve this simply, in a large serving bowl with a decoration of a handful of mandarin oranges fanned across the top for decoration as well as a sprinkling of toasted coconut.
Looking for a little more presentation? Serve Orange Creamsicle Salad over a slice of angel food cake with an extra dollop of Cool Whip and toasted coconut on top for the ultimate fluffy, flavorful summer dessert!
How long does Orange Creamsicle Salad last?
This dessert salad, as with many creamy fruit salads, will last about five days in the refrigerator, so this is a perfect make ahead dish! The longer the flavors sit together, the more they meld together, so feel free to make this the day before your next pool party or barbecue for an even fresher flavor the next day!
I prefer to decorate my Orange Creamsicle Salad within about half an hour of serving to keep the mandarin oranges from drying out in the air or to keep from losing the coconut topping to the mixture.
Other delicious dessert recipes to try…
- Cherry Salad
- Homemade Orange Extract
- Pineapple Pretzel Fluff
- Orange Julius Copycat
- Creamy Fruit Salad
Do you have any recipes for dessert-like salads? I’m always looking for more recipes to try! Follow me on Instagram @simplystacieblog, on Facebook at Simply Stacie, and on Pinterest @SimplyStacie and let me know how you liked this and my other recipes!
Orange Creamsicle Salad
The fluffiest dessert! You'll dream about your childhood ice cream cravings with this creamy fruit salad with cottage cheese, Jello, and mandarin oranges.
Ingredients
- 2 cups cottage cheese
- 2 cups Cool Whip, thawed
- 1 orange Jello (4 serving size)
- 1 1/4 cup canned mandarin oranges, drained
Instructions
- Mix cottage cheese and orange Jello together in a large bowl.
- Add Cool Whip and stir.
- Set five mandarin oranges aside for garnish. Add in remaining mandarin oranges and stir. Refrigerate for 2 hours.
- Garnish with mandarin oranges before serving.
Notes
Use the jello powder straight out of the box.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 559Total Fat: 37gSaturated Fat: 29gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 21mgSodium: 514mgCarbohydrates: 42gFiber: 1gSugar: 41gProtein: 16g
IOAN says
Do you use the juice of the oranges?
Stacie says
No, you drain the can first.
Jessica says
Making this for the first time for a group gathering tomorrow super excited
shelley Kenyon says
Hi there this recipe has bin in my family for over 60 years we love it my kids and grand kids also love it.
Denise says
Do you prepare the jello or just use the powder
Stacie says
Just use the powder.
Jessica says
Are we supposed to cook the jello or just use the powder ?
Stacie says
Just use the powder.
Carol says
I have a question…. is it a small or large box of orange jello? I think this should be listed in the recipe.
Stacie says
It’s the small box (4 serving size).
Marsha says
What size jello do you use? The small or large box?
Stacie says
The small box (4 serving size)
Marsha says
2 cups of Cool whip? Is that 16ozs of Cool whip or a measuring cup (16 ozs). An 8oz container of Cool whip looks awfully big. 1 8oz container of Cool whip would fill a 2 measuring cup.
Sorry to keep bothering you.
Marsha says
I answered my own question. It’s 2measuring cups, NOT 2-8oz containers of Cool whip. That’s a big difference. Please clarify your measurements on your recipe.
I made it and it is awesome.
Thanks
Patricia says
I used a 16 oz. container of cool whip & I thought it was fine, made alot too. Also used 23.5 oz. jar of oranges though. More Is Better..
Shelley says
this is a historical recipe that will keep cool whip relevant! My over 60 yrs old neighbors ate this as kids. I brought it to a neighborhood bbq since seeing it on your site! Brought back memories for the neighbors and making new memories for grandkids.