They say the South knows its way around a casserole dish, but let me introduce you to something even more legendary: Orange Creamsicle Salad. This sweet, creamy, citrusy fluff has been gracing potlucks and Sunday dinners since somebody’s great-aunt decided that gelatin, fruit, and marshmallows were all the food groups a person needed. And honestly? She wasn’t wrong.
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Table of Contents
- 🗝️ Key takeaways: why this recipe is your new favorite
- 🎥 Watch and cook: step-by-step video tutorial
- 🧾 Gather your ingredients: what you'll need
- 🔪 Step-by-step guide: How to make orange creamsicle salad
- 🥫 Leftover love: how to store
- 💭 Insider tips: things to know
- 📖 Make it your own: yummy variations
- 👩🍳 Let's answer those questions: FAQs
- 📚 More Southern comfort: related recipes you'll love
- 📖 Recipe
- Pin Now
- 💬 Comments
If you’ve never had this before, imagine what would happen if an orange creamsicle and a fruit salad had a baby—then let that baby loose at a church potluck, where it promptly disappeared within ten minutes. That’s this salad. It’s got all the nostalgic, dreamy flavors of childhood summers but with just enough tangy sophistication to make you feel like you’re eating real food and not just dessert masquerading as a side dish.
Whether you know it as Orange Fluff, Dreamsicle Salad, or “that orange stuff Aunt Betty-Lou makes,” this dish is pure magic. Grab a spoon and get ready for a trip down memory lane.
🗝️ Key takeaways: why this recipe is your new favorite
- Cool, creamy, and packed with bright orange flavor—like eating a creamsicle with a spoon.
- Disappears at potlucks faster than gossip at a beauty salon, but easy enough to make any day of the week.
- No cottage cheese here! Just creamy goodness packed with peaches, mandarin oranges, pineapple, bananas, and marshmallows.
Orange creamsicle salad goes by many names—Orange Fluff, Dreamsicle Salad, and even Mandarin Orange Watergate Salad. (Fancy!) It's similar to my mom’s infamous Cherry Junkyard Salad. Terrible name, but don’t knock it till you try it.Whether you call it a side dish or dessert, it’s a no-fuss recipe that always delivers.
🎥 Watch and cook: step-by-step video tutorial
They say seeing is believing, and once you watch this video, you’ll be racing to your kitchen to whip up this dreamy, citrusy fluff! I’ll walk you through every step, spill a few secrets, and maybe sneak a bite or two—strictly for quality control, of course. So go on, press play, and get ready to make a salad that’ll have everyone begging for the recipe!. If you're looking for more yummy ideas, dive into our full recipe collection on YouTube. You're gonna love it!
🧾 Gather your ingredients: what you'll need
This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.
🔪 Step-by-step guide: How to make orange creamsicle salad
This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page. Click on the image to see it full size.
Honestly, this couldn't be easier. Just drain the fruit well and add it to a bowl with the marshmallows. Whisk the sour cream, pudding, and orange juice concentrate together and fold in.
Easy peasy lemon squeezy!
🥫 Leftover love: how to store
Cover with plastic wrap or place in an airtight container and refrigerate for 3 - 4 days. It may get watery the last day or so but you just need to stir the liquid back in.
I've never frozen this recipe so I'm not sure whether or not it would freeze well. My guess is no.
💭 Insider tips: things to know
- This mandarin orange salad is like the classic Watergate Salad, but with way more personality.
- Got some stale marshmallows? Perfect! This salad actually benefits from slightly crunchy ones—they soak up the goodness overnight.
- Let it chill in the fridge before serving. The flavors meld, the marshmallows soften, and it becomes the dreamy, creamy dish we all know and love.
Marye's Tip o' the day
Food safety - Don't let this creamy dessert salad sit out at room temperature for more than 2 hours. If you're unsure, go ahead and throw it out. It's not worth risking a food-borne illness!
📖 Make it your own: yummy variations
- Sprinkle ½ cup toasted coconut on the top.
- Use cheesecake flavor instant pudding mix.
- Use lemon juice instead of orange juice to soak the bananas before using.
- Stir in some chopped maraschino cherries for color.
🤫 Marye's secret for zhuzhing it up
Dipping the slices of banana in orange juice or lemon juice keeps them from turning brown. Don't skip this step.
zhuzh: verb. To make something more interesting or attractive
👩🍳 Let's answer those questions: FAQs
Have other questions? Ask me in the comments!
Yes! Sugar-free pudding mix works fine, but let’s be honest—this isn’t exactly a health food.
Nope. Regular sour cream is non-negotiable here—low-fat just won’t give you that luscious, rich texture.
My mom's recipe calls for sour cream rather than whipped topping or whipped cream. It gives this yummy summer side dish a tangy, cheesecake-type flavor rather than just sweet on sweet.
📚 More Southern comfort: related recipes you'll love
Back in the late 1960s our electric bill came with an insert printed with a different recipe on it every month. My mom would dutifully cut the recipe out and save it in her recipe file.
This creamy orange fruit salad was one of my favorites because, since it was a "salad", it was a side dish and I could still have a bowl of ice cream afterward.
My mom always had a collection of similar salads ready for our next potluck, pool party, or summer picnic.
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.
If you love this recipe please comment below and give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
Orange Creamsicle Salad
Print Pin Recipe Save Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
- 3 bananas, peeled and sliced
- 1 ounce orange juice concentrate, thawed and mixed with 2 ounces water
- 20 ounces pineapple tidbits, drained
- 16 ounces peach slices, drained
- 11 ounces mandarin oranges, drained
- 1 cup mini marshmallows
- 3.4 ounces vanilla instant pudding, dry mix
- 1 ½ cups milk
- 3 ounces frozen orange juice concenrate, thawed, do not mix with water
- ¾ cup sour cream
Instructions
- Dip the bananas in orange juice concentrate and water mixture to keep them from turning brown.
- Drain.
- Mix all the fruit and marshmallows in a large bowl and set aside.
- In a medium bowl combine the dry instant vanilla pudding mix, milk, and orange juice.
- Beat with a hand mixer about 1 to 2 minutes.
- Add in sour cream and mix well.
- Pour over fruit and mix well.
- Cover with plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes.
Notes
- Keep refrigerated. If salad is at room temperature for more than 2 hours, or you are unsure, throw it away.
- Dipping the slices of banana in orange juice or lemon juice keeps them from turning brown. Don't skip this step.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.
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Bea Jaye Herman says
This was a favorite salad when I was growing up. My mom made it for special occasion throughout the year. It’s awesome to have a refreshing salad reminder. Will make soon. Thanks for sharing