I am all in on retro recipes these days and I got a hankering for some of my Mom's mandarin orange jello salad! This is a great spring or summer recipe to pull out to take to a pot luck or just a great Sunday dinner dessert.

This retro treat is pure nostalgia – bright orange Jello, sweet mandarin oranges, fluffy marshmallows, and a coconut surprise. Some might call it weird, others pure comfort food. Me? I call it a delicious slice of my childhood!

I don't know why, but honestly mandarin oranges was a staple of my Mom's kitchen and dessert offerings… the 70s were an interesting time food wise at our family gatherings for sure! The  funny thing is that Mom took a Cordon Bleu class so we either had super high-brow bougie food or a can of tiny oranges with dream whip but nothing in between!

This is not one of those fancy “jello mold” recipes you see old magazines, it is more of a dump recipe where you mix the whole thing together in a servicing bowl and plop it on the table!

What You'll Need (printable recipe card below!)

Don't worry, this isn't some complicated recipe. Keep it simple like the 70s with just a few basic ingredients:

• Orange Jello
• Hot Hot or Boiling Water
• Instant Vanilla Pudding
• Whipped Topping (like Cool Whip)
• Mandarin Oranges
• Mini Marshmallows
• Coconut Flakes

Instructions

While I have an actual recipe for you below, making this Jell-o treat is not a complicated recipe! Mostly you just throw things together and it tastes amazing!

Fruity Fun: Grab some of the mandarins, marshmallows, and coconut to make the topping later. Then boil some water and make that Jello in a large bowl! Remember, orange is the key.

Chill Out: Whisk in some cold water, then let the Jello mixture hang in the fridge to get a little firm.

Pudding Party: Mix the vanilla pudding powder into the Jello. Back into the fridge for a quick rest.

Mix & Match: Fold in your miracle whip, then toss in most of your mandarins, marshmallows, and coconut.

Make it Pretty: Pour it all into a serving dish, then sprinkle those leftover goodies you saved on top.

The Hard Part: Cover it up and stick it back in the fridge for a few hours. Waiting is tough, but that's when the Jello sets into its groove!

Substitutions

• Maraschino cherries: Add in drained maraschino cherries along with the mandarin oranges for a burst of contrasting flavor and color. For a fancier twist, chop the cherries in half or quarters.
• Green Jello salad: You can't substitute this directly, but you could create a layered Jello salad. First, make the orange version. After it sets, prepare a green jello mixture (lime, pear, etc.) and gently layer it on top. The result is a colorful, two-flavored treat!
• Lime Jello salad: Similar to the above, this creates a layered salad. It's a great option if you love citrusy flavors.
• Shredded carrots: This would be an unusual addition in terms of texture. If you want to experiment, finely grate the carrots and mix them in for specks of color and a slight sweetness
• Pistachio pudding: Use vanilla pudding as the recipe instructs, then fold in chopped pistachios at the end. This keeps the familiar base but adds the pistachio flavor and crunch.
• Cherry pie filling: Fold in cherry pie filling along with the mandarin oranges for a mixed fruit take on the classic.
• Crushed pineapple: You can directly swap the mandarin oranges with crushed pineapple. This gives it a more tropical vibe.
• Fruit salad: Drain a can of mixed fruit salad and fold it in with the mandarin oranges (or use instead of the mandarin oranges) for more variety and color.

A few more ideas:

• Chopped nuts: Add pecans, walnuts, or almonds for crunch. Toast them beforehand for a deeper flavor.
• Shredded coconut: Use instead of (or in addition to) the coconut flakes for a different texture.
• Pretzel bits: For a sweet and salty combo, add broken-up small pretzels to the mix.

Remember, this is a classic for a reason! While these substitutions can be fun, the beauty of the original lies in its simplicity.

Mandarin Jell-o Dessert With Pudding and Marshmallows Wrapup

I REALLY love this dessert! It is not the weirdest “salad” my mom made, looking at you wilted lettuce which is functionally bacon and lettuce, but it was a great side dish for special occasions in my youth like Easter or Christmas dinner, church potlucks and Fourth of July picnics!

Now a days I tend to use sugar free jello in my fluff salads to take the calorie count down at least a tiny bit! It has become one of family favorites and is growing new fond memories in our next generation of kids!

So, the next time you are looking for a little nostalgic nosh, consider a yummy treat like 1970s Old Fashioned Mandarin Orange Jello Salad!