Orange Fluff (+Video)
Orange Fluff also called Orange Delight or “The Orange Stuff.” Made with Cool Whip, Mandarin Oranges, Jell-O and marshmallows!
A LIGHT AND FLUFFY DESSERT RECIPE
This dessert has a lot of different names that people call it. Orange Fluff, Orange Delight, Weight Watchers Dessert, or even ‘The Orange Stuff.’ It was something my mom made often when she was doing Weight Watchers. I don’t know the point value anymore for this because they keep changing it all the time. I also don’t actually adhere to a Weight Watchers diet so you’ll want to do your own checking on the points if you are. However, you don’t need to be on a diet to gobble this stuff up!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Don’t let the list of ingredients deter you. I know lots of folks gag at the thought of cottage cheese being in this. Most folks don’t taste the cottage cheese as a separate ingredient. Unless they know it’s in there, a lot of people can’t really put their finger on what is different. But if you just absolutely cannot stand the thought of putting it in there – try substituting with plain yogurt.
Yes absolutely! Any of the ingredients that you can purchase that are low sugar or sugar-free will work. In addition, you can get low fat cottage cheese (or yogurt if you’re using that) as well!
Absolutely! You can have fun playing around with this dessert and testing out different flavors for sure!
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (FULL RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST)
- small-curd cottage cheese
- orange Jell-O gelatin
- mandarin oranges
- whipped topping (COOL WHIP)
- mini marshmallows
- chopped pecans (optional)
HOW TO MAKE ORANGE FLUFF:
In a bowl, combine cottage cheese with the orange Jell-O gelatin mix. Stir until well mixed.
Add in the well-drained can of mandarin oranges and the tub of Cool Whip. Stir.
Finally, stir in the marshmallows and pecans.
Cover and store in the refrigerator and allow to get nice and cool. If you were to eat it right away, it would taste grainy from the Jell-O. But give it at least a couple of hours and the flavors will really come together and blend nicely. This is definitely a dessert you can make the day before you need it.
CRAVING MORE RECIPES? GIVE THESE A TRY!
Originally published March 2011
Updated and republished July 2021
Orange Fluff (+Video)
Ingredients
- 16 ounce container small-curd cottage cheese
- 3 ounce box orange Jell-O gelatin
- 15 ounce can mandarin oranges, drained well
- 8 ounce tub whipped topping (COOL WHIP), thawed
- 2 cups mini marshmallows
- ½ cup chopped pecans, optional
Instructions
- In a bowl combine cottage cheese with the orange Jell-O gelatin mix.
- Stir until combined well.
- Gently stir in the well-drained mandarin oranges and the Cool Whip whipped topping.
- Finally, stir in the mini marshmallows and pecans.
- Cover with plastic wrap and place into the refrigerator to allow the flavors to come together (at least 2-3 hours but overnight is best.)
Video
Notes
- Sugar free options can be used where applicable.
- This can be made the night before it is to be eaten.
- Cottage cheese can be substituted with Vanilla Greek yogurt or plain Greek yogurt.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
I have used black cherry jello and marching cherries. very good
Debi: May I ask what are “marching” cherries
I used flavored yogurt instead of the cool whip.
I love this recipe and always make some variation or other with it. I am not a fan of cool whip so I just make my own whipped cream. The gelatin helps to stabilize it so it doesn't separate. Have you used ricotta instead of the cottage cheese?
I've been making this (without the cottage cheese) for about 4 years now. I LOVE it and can eat the whole bowl by myself, easily.
The best part is the mandarin oranges. Who ever thought this up should be award a star!! Sue
I do it with 2 containers of cottage cheese–choice of any flavor of jello powder (strawberry is very popular around my house)and fruit cocktail or choice of other fruit, NO cool whip, marshmallow or nuts. If using sugar-free jello, it's VERY diet friendly!
My grandfather grew up on a dairy farm & HATED cottage cheese but LOVED this. Grandma thought he was going out of his way to be polite when he ate the 1st helping (At this point, I knew he had grown up on a dairy farm but did not know he had developed a hatred of cottage cheeses as a result!) When he asked for 2nd Grandma was beside herself & spoke up "But Les, you HATE cottage cheese!" Grandpa's reply was "I know it is cottage cheese, but this does not TASTE like cottage cheese–this is GOOD!"
I promise, even without the cool whip &/or marshmallows, it is a sweet treat! And you could probably process it in a blender to give it a creamier texture if you need to sneak it pass a picky eater who would otherwise refuse to taste it.
I make a version of this all the time, but I don't usually put the marshmallows and nuts in mine. I make it with a variety of fruits and flavors of gelatin! We love it!!
Just wondering what could be used as a substitute for Cool Whip as we don't get that in NZ. Looks yummy I can't wait to try it.
I made this twice this week. I forgot about the marshmallows but had some peeps left from Easter. Gave it a nice sugary crunch. Thank you for all the great recipes. 🙂
Will have to try this. I make about the same thing with lime jello, crushed pineapple drained, cool whip, and cottage cheese. So refreshing.
Hey Brandie, thanks for the smiles when viewing today's recipe. Back in the day, my mom got on a jag where she made this jello salad once or twice a week and would change up the jello flavor and corresponding fruit so the color would coordinate with entree colors. My brother and I ate it so much we got to calling it "medley" because it was always just a medley of this and that in a jello salad. (This is being written by a boomer who ate fancy family dinners under a color changing satelite style chandelier, so we were definitely a stylish family many decades ago!)Also enjoyed this with jello pistachio pudding as Watergate salad….thanks for the smiles!
I tend to be a dessert snob, but I decided to try this because it sounded similar to something my grandma used to make. I used fat free cool whip, fat free cottage cheese, sugar free jello, and fresh mandarin oranges (because I have a huge bag of them). I left out the marshmallows since I just didn't have any. This is delicious! Tastes just like a Dreamsicle and the fresh mandarin oranges are really good in it. I'll be making this again! Thanks!
I love this recipe! I actually use strawberry jello and frozen strawberries!!
Just made this recently and carried it to a friend who had just had surgery (along with broccoli and cheese soup). She had been saying that she wasn't up to heavy meals and she was thrilled with this. I also add the 20 ounce can of crushed pineapple and chopped pecans. This recipe makes a lot and with the cottage cheese addition it gives you a good amount of protein as well.
I recently made something similar to this for the first time. I used orange jello, crushed pineapple, cream cheese (because im not a fan of the texture of cottage cheese ) and cool whip. It is so yummy! Ive been meaning to try a cherry version with some kind of nuts. I think it will be awesome.
I Love this! I always add Pineapple to. I have never tried the orange though. I always use Strawberry Jello. Will have to try the Orange. Thanks! :o)
Does anyone know the point plus for this dish. I just made this for the first time today. I love it!
My mom who is a southern lady from Alabama has been making this since I was a boy 40 years ago. She sometimes used lime jello and that is just as good. Also a little coconut in it is good.
I have never tried this until tonight for the first time–loved the recipe! I did add a small can of "CHUNKED" pineapple not crushed, amazing, other than that followed everything else to a T. I've been on my weightloss journey since the middle of January and am super glad I found this recipe because it definately will curb the sweet tooth and taste like I'm being naughty not healthy! LOL.
One more addition makes this perfect . . . well-drained, halved maraschino cherries . . . yummmm!
This sounds really good. Have tried something similar. For low carvers and diabetics out there:
Small container of heavy whipping cream, any flavor of sugar free jello, splenda, you can add cottage cheese if you like. Whip up whipping cream and jello until fluffy, adding splenda to taste. Good stuff! Easy too!
I use lime jello with crushed pineapple and pecans or Strawberry with fruit cocktail which is yummy too.
I hate cottage cheese but I love this recipe. My grandmother has made this for every holiday since I can remember, 30+ years. We don't put marshmallows in it though. We do put crushed pineapples(well-drained) and we make it with and without pecans, to please all family members. She has always called it Orange Conjealed Salad.
I make it the same way. My Aunt use yo make it for me when I was a kid some 45 years ago.I never knew it had cottage cheese in it. Probably a good thing back then.
If you use cooked and cooled rice instead of cottage cheese you have Glorified Rice. I learned to make it from my boss when I was a waitress at the ripe old age of 16. She made it for every Sunday buffet.
We know it as "Orange Love Affair", don't know why…. but I also switch it up by using different flavors…. Strawberries with strawberry jello, Cherries with cherry jello, pineapples with lime or lemon jello etc.. It is awesome!!!
In our family my husband loves this dish and refers to it as fluff.