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!
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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. Make your own homemade Cool Whip if you like.
- 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
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- 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
- Snickers Salad
- Grape Salad
- Strawberry Fluff 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
menkens says
Just a bit of info — a 11oz can of mandarin oranges drained is ~1 cup; and a 8oz tub of Cool Whip = 3 cups (learning experience for me today and I’ve been using both for YEARS) hahaha I DO NOT like small portions of anything being left over — so, I used all the 8oz container and 2 cans of oranges! Taking to a Church function tomorrow afternoon; so not sure if I can update later or not! Take care & enjoy!
Sally says
You did not say but I am assuming that the Jell-O has been dissolved as per package directions. Just checking.
Stacie says
No just use the powder itself. Don’t dissolve it.
Marilyn Tolan says
Can cottage cheese be subbed ….maybe with ricotta cheese?I just can’t eat cottage cheese it must be the texture. TY for a response.
Stacie says
Yes, I think that would be fine!
Debra Fjeld says
You could sub cooked white rice…………so then it would be Glorified Rice.
Krista says
I’m going to try substituting greek yogurt for the cottage cheese.
Karla says
Do you think I can use sugar free jello for this?
My husband is diabetic-I
Can use the sugar free cool whip-
Stacie says
I’m not that familiar with sugar free, but I don’t see why you couldn’t use it.
Debra Fjeld says
I have used both sugar free jello and Cool Whip….it works just fine.
Debra Fjeld says
I like to make this salad at Christmas by using cherry or strawberry jello for the red color and using fruit cocktail or pineapple for the fruit
Angela says
How much pineapple did you use?
Linda says
Can I make it creamier by pulsing the cottage cheese for a few seconds?
Stacie says
Yes, for sure!
Pat says
Could you use cream cheese instead of cottage cheese
Stacie Vaughan says
I haven’t tried it with cream cheese. I would either use the whipped cream cheese or beat it with a mixer so it’s easier to stir together with the rest of the ingredients.
Sharon says
Do you use the instant orange jello?
Stacie Vaughan says
I use this jello powder here – https://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/jell-o-orange-jelly-powder-gelatin-mix/6000156123638
Audra says
My grandma has made this for every holiday for years! She adds a can of drained crushed pineapple . She has dementia now so I have taken over the tradition of making it for my family!
Jolene says
How much cottage cheese do you use. I don’t see it in recipe…sorry of I missed it.
Stacie Vaughan says
Hi Jolene,
No worries! It’s 2 cups of cottage cheese. I listed everything in the recipe card at the bottom of the post (above these comments).
Mitsy Brooks says
I have got to try this it looks delicious.