This is also sometimes called creamsicle salad or dreamsicle salad. If you love old-fashioned creamsicles then you are going to love this vintage recipe.
Save this recipe by clicking on the ❤️ heart on the right-hand side of the screen or in the recipe card.
Table of Contents
🗝️ Key takeaways
- Cool and creamy with big orange flavor.
- Absolutely evaporates at potlucks but is so easy you can have it any day of the week.
- Dipping the bananas in orange juice keeps them from turning brown without giving them a sour flavor.
If you're not a fan of cottage cheese in fluffs and fruit salads you'll love this creamy fruit salad that's full of peaches, juicy mandarin oranges, pineapple, bananas, and marshmallows.
This easy recipe goes by a lot of names; orange fluff salad, dreamsicle salad, creamsicle salad, mandarin orange Watergate salad...
It's similar to my mom's cherry junkyard salad. Terrible name...but so much yum!
No matter what it's called it's an easy recipe. This simple salad makes a delicious side dish or the perfect summer dessert. Whichever you prefer to call it.
🧾 Ingredients
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.
📖 Variations
- Sprinkle ½ 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.
🔪 Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page.
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!
🍴 Equipment
- large
mixing bowl - medium
mixing bowl - whisk or hand mixer
- measuring cups and spoons
🎥 Video
Hey y'all! Don't forget to check out my latest video where I guide you through each step of this delicious recipe. It's always great to have a visual guide, right? And as always, my cooking show, Restless Chipotle Kitchen, has got your back. If you're looking for more yummy ideas, dive into our full recipe collection on YouTube. You're gonna love it!
🥫 How to store leftovers
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.
🚫 Food safety -
Don't let this 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!
Marye's tip -
Dipping the slices of banana in orange juice or lemon juice keeps them from turning brown. Don't skip this step.
💭 Things to know
- This mandarin orange salad is similar to the classic Watergate Salad. (Recipe from my friend Marisa at All Our Way)
- Orange cream fruit salad is a great way to use up marshmallows that have gotten a little stale. Letting the salad sit in the fridge overnight softens them up as they soak up all the flavor.
👩🍳 FAQs
Yes! You can use sugar-free pudding mix if you'd like to.
No, the texture and richness of this mandarin orange salad depends on regular cream cheese.
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.
📚 Related recipes
📞 The last word
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 Cream 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