Bring brightness and nostalgia to your table with this Orange Jello Cottage Cheese Salad. Combine zesty orange gelatin with creamy cottage cheese for a deliciously smooth base. Fold in sweet mandarin oranges and fruit cocktail, to add a burst of fruity flavor. Mix in fluffy whipped topping to create a light, airy texture. Serve chilled to delight guests with a refreshing, citrusy treat that’s perfect for potlucks, holidays, or any occasion. Discover more easy breakfast, baking, and high-protein meal ideas in my collection of Sweet and Savory Cottage Cheese Recipes.
Discover a warm and comforting summer dessert with my Strawberry Peach Crisp. Incorporate cottage cheese in baking by making my Chocolate Cottage Cheese Muffins and Pumpkin Cottage Cheese Muffins. Accompany your BBQ meals this summer with a batch of my fluffy Cottage Cheese Biscuits.
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Ingredients
Find below the list of ingredients I used to make my Orange Jello Cottage Cheese Salad recipe. Use brand names, or substitute with generic or store brands, making sure that the volume or weight of the package is the same.
- Cottage Cheese
- Orange Flavored Gelatine
- Canned Mandarin Slices
- Canned Fruit Cocktail
- Frozen Whipped Topping
- Fruit Flavored Mini Marshmallow (optional)
- Extra Maraschino Cherries for decorating
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Make Cottage Cheese Salad
Start making the Orange Jello Cottage Cheese Salad by making sure that your whipped topping has thawed out in the refrigerator. This is important to make sure it incorporates smoothly into the cottage cheese salad.
- Drain as much juice as possible from the canned fruit by adding them to a fine mesh strainer over a bowl. Set aside.
- Place the cottage cheese in separate, larger bowl. Sprinkle the orange gelatin powder over the cottage cheese and stir it in. Make sure to scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl, so that all of the powder is dissolved into the cottage cheese.
- Add the drained fruit into the orange cottage cheese mixture. Stir until well combined.
- Add half of the needed whipped topping to the cottage cheese salad. Use a rubber spatula to gently stir it in, trying to keep as much air as possible in the topping. Once almost incorporated, add the rest of the topping and fold it in until mixture is homogenous.
5. Add the mini marshmallows to the cottage cheese salad and fold them in just to combine.
6. Transfer the salad to your serving cups, or serving bowl. Decorate with mandarin slices, cherries, and/or mini marshmallows. Cover and place in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving.
Substitutions and Variations
- Fruit Cocktail - Replace the fruit cocktail with crushed pineapple or other canned fruit, still making sure to drain out as much liquid as possible.
- Strawberry - Substitute the orange for strawberry gelatin powder and adding 2 cups of chopped fresh strawberries to the salad instead of the mandarin segments.
- Nuts - Add ½ cup of toasted pecan or walnut pieces for a little crunch.
Storing the Cottage Cheese Salad
Store freshly made Orange Jello Cottage Cheese Salad in an airtight container to maintain its creamy texture and vibrant flavor. Keep it refrigerated at all times, as the gelatin and dairy components require a cool environment to stay fresh. Enjoy within 2 to 3 days for the best taste and consistency. Avoid freezing, as this can alter the texture and cause separation. Give the salad a gentle stir before serving if any liquid has settled on top.
Recipe
Orange Jello Cottage Cheese Salad
Ingredients
- 398 ml Fruit Cocktail 14 oz can
- 284 ml Canned Mandarin Segments 10 oz can
- 2 cups Cottage Cheese
- 85 grams Orange flavored gelatin 3 oz box
- 3 cups Whipped Topping thawed
- 1 cup Fruit Flavored Mini Marshmallows
Instructions
- Start by making sure that your whipped topping has thawed out in the refrigerator. This is important to make sure it incorporates smoothly into the cottage cheese salad.
- Drain as much juice as possible from the canned fruit by adding them to a fine mesh strainer over a bowl. Set aside.398 ml Fruit Cocktail , 284 ml Canned Mandarin Segments
- Place the cottage cheese in separate, larger bowl. Sprinkle the orange gelatin powder over the cottage cheese and stir it in. Make sure to scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl, so that all of the powder is dissolved into the cottage cheese.2 cups Cottage Cheese , 85 grams Orange flavored gelatin
- Add the drained fruit into the orange cottage cheese mixture. Stir until well combined.
- Add half of the needed whipped topping to the cottage cheese salad. Use a rubber spatula to gently stir it in, trying to keep as much air as possible in the topping. Once almost incorporated, add the rest of the topping and fold it in until mixture is homogenous.3 cups Whipped Topping
- Add the mini marshmallows to the cottage cheese salad and fold them in just to combine.1 cup Fruit Flavored Mini Marshmallows
- Transfer the salad to your serving cups, or serving bowl. Decorate with mandarin slices, cherries, and/or mini marshmallows. Cover and place in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving.
