I recently attempted a Mandarin Orange Cheesecake Salad and it turned out pretty good. I loved everything about it, especially the mandarin oranges. I love finding a good recipe that I can make over and over again. If you’re looking for something delicious and refreshing to cool you down on these hot days, try my Mandarin Orange Cheesecake Salad.
Dreamsicle Mandarin Orange Salad (Cheesecake Salad)
This Mandarin Orange Salad tastes just like a creamsicle or Orange Julius. Enjoy it for dessert tonight – it comes together in just 15 minutes!
Creamy cheesecake dressing and fluffy marshmallows are combined with canned mandarin oranges to create a heavenly orange dreamsicle salad.
It’s refreshing enough for a hot summer day and is a great addition to any potluck or barbecue.
Transform your favorite desserts into cheesecake salads with my banana split or caramel apple candy versions. Both are rich and luxurious enough to satisfy any sweet tooth!
How To Make Mandarin Orange Salad
While there are several steps to this recipe, it’s really quite simple to put together!
Using an electric mixer, beat together the ingredients for the cheesecake mixture in stages. Be sure that everything is well incorporated before adding the next one.
In a separate bowl, make a batch of homemade whipped cream and fold it into the other bowl.
Then, gently stir in the fruit and mini marshmallows until they are evenly distributed throughout. It’s important to go slowly since the mandarins break apart easily.
Spoon the orange dreamsicle salad into your favorite serving bowl and top with more marshmallows and fruit. Even a sprig of fresh mint would look lovely!
Helpful Tips and Tricks
- Soften the cream cheese. Either let it sit on the counter for about 30 minutes, or place the unwrapped block on a plate and microwave for 10-15 seconds.
- Adjust the sweetness. There’s only a small amount to sweeten the heavy cream, but you can add more after folding in the whipped cream if it tastes like it needs it.
- Want a silkier texture? When making the cheesecake mixture, replace the heavy cream with regular milk instead.
- Use Cool Whip. Instead of whipping the heavy cream to fold into the mandarin salad, substitute a thawed container of the popular whipped topping.
FAQ – Common Recipe Questions
Can I make this mandarin orange salad ahead of time?
Yes, simply prepare the cream cheese mixture, fold in the whipped cream, and store covered in the refrigerator.
It’s best to stir in the marshmallows and mandarins just before serving since both will soften and break apart the longer they sit.
How long will orange dreamsicle salad last in the refrigerator?
Cover the bowl tightly with plastic or transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2 days.
It’s probably safe to eat for another day or two after that, but the texture will become soft and watery.
Can I use regular pudding mix instead?
Unfortunately, no. Anything other than instant won’t set up properly, so you may need to find it online if your local store doesn’t carry that variety. You could also substitute vanilla or french vanilla instant pudding.
Enjoy!
Creamsicle Orange Cheesecake Fluff Salad
yield: 4-5
prep time: 5 MINUTES
total time: 5 MINUTES
Creamsicle Orange Cheesecake Fluff Salad – this refreshing quick and easy salad is one of my favorite desserts. Cream cheese, Greek yogurt, orange juice and cool whip make this salad so creamy. Marshmallow melts in your mouth and mandarin oranges make it refreshing.
Ingredients
- 16 oz Cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
- 1 cup Orange juice
- 1 (3 oz ) package Orange jello
- 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoon powdered sugar
- 2 cups Cool whip
- 2 cups Mini marshmallows
- 15 oz can mandarin oranges, drained
Instructions
- In a large dish mix cream cheese, Greek yogurt, orange juice, orange jello, powdered sugar and vanilla until well combined.
- Add cool whip and mix.
- Fold in mini marshmallows and Mandarin oranges.
Notes
Serve fresh, or keep refrigerated before serving.
How to Make JELL-O Mandarin Orange Salad
This is a seriously quick recipe that you’ll find yourself making again and again. Everybody loves Orange Fluff, even if we can’t agree whether it’s a dessert or a salad.
You’ll find the complete recipe and ingredient list at the end of this post, but here’s a quick video to show you just how easy it is to make.
It will take you longer to open the cans of oranges and pineapples than it will be mix up a batch of the sweet, low-calorie mandarin orange salad.
How to Serve Orange Fluff Salad
Orange JELL-O salad is perfectly suited to outdoor parties where you want a light and fresh dessert, instead of something rich and heavy that will weigh you down. When made with low-fat cottage cheese, fat-free whipped topping and sugar-free JELL-O, the recipe is just 4 Weight Watchers SmartPoints per serving!
Mandarin orange salad is also a good choice at Thanksgiving or Christmas. The ingredients are always in season!
Plus, it’s kind of a potluck tradition to bring a JELL-O salad, at least here in the South. But this is one people will actually eat, unlike some of those congealed JELL-O salads that were so popular in the 60s and 70s!
I personally think Mandarin orange salad is a pretty tasty breakfast, too.
Tips for Making JELL-O Orange Salad
When you make this Mandarin orange salad, be sure to give it a little chill time in the fridge before serving. It’s so much better served cold, after the flavors have had time to meld.
If you’re making this for a crowd, you’ll probably want to double (or triple) the recipe. You can easily do that, just make sure you have a bowl that is large enough to mix everything together.
I’ve lightened up this recipe by using oranges and pineapples in their own juice, sugar-free gelatin and low-fat or fat-free cottage cheese and whipped topping. You can use full-fat cottage cheese and whipped topping and regular orange gelatin, but it will change the nutritional information included in the recipe below.
You can use it either crushed pineapple or pineapple tidbits in the recipe. Just make sure you drain the fruit before adding it to the recipe.
Mandarin Cheesecake Dessert (or “Salad” if you’re Southern)
Ingredients
- 2 boxes cheesecake instant pudding and pie filling + milk to make pudding
- 1 can mandarin oranges drained well
- 1 pack fudge stripe cookies you won’t need the whole pack
Instructions
- Make the pudding according to the package directions.
- After pudding sets up in refrigerator, assemble in a round or square pan.
- Place layer of cookies on bottom. Add half of pudding. Top with oranges. Repeat layers.