Q1: What exactly is a "Jello Salad"?

A Jello Salad is a classic, retro American dish that was incredibly popular throughout the mid-20th century. It is a dessert (or sometimes a savory side dish) where the primary ingredient is a flavored gelatin, like Jell-O®. They often include fruits, vegetables, nuts, and creamy ingredients like whipped cream, cream cheese, or sour cream, and they are almost always set in a decorative mold.

Q2: How do I get my Jello salad out of the mold cleanly without it breaking?

The two most important secrets are to grease your mold and to dip it in hot water . Before you even begin, be sure to generously spray the inside of your mold with a nonstick cooking spray . Then, when your salad is fully set, the brief, 15- to 30-second dip in hot water is the magic trick that will guarantee a perfect, clean release every time.

Q3: How do I keep all my fruit from just sinking to the bottom of the mold?

This recipe has a clever, built-in secret to prevent this! Because the gelatin base is thickened with both sherbet and sour cream, it is already quite thick and creamy before you chill it. This thicker consistency helps to suspend the fruit beautifully throughout the mixture, so you will have delicious pieces of fruit in every single bite.

Q4: Can I make this in a regular bowl or a baking dish instead of in a fancy mold?

Yes, absolutely! If you don't have a gelatin mold or a Bundt pan, or if you just want an even simpler dessert, you can simply pour the finished mixture into a large glass bowl or a 9x13-inch baking dish . Let it chill and set as directed, and then you can serve it by scooping it directly from the dish.

Q5: Can I use a different flavor of gelatin or sherbet?

Of course! This recipe is a fantastic template for all sorts of delicious and creative Jello salads. A lime gelatin and lime sherbet version with the pineapple would be fantastic. A strawberry gelatin and strawberry ice cream version with some fresh, sliced strawberries would also be a delicious and classic choice.

The Best Creamy & Fluffy Orange Jello Salad

A classic, retro-style molded dessert known as an ‘Orange Salad’. This recipe features a creamy orange-flavored gelatin base that is enriched with melted orange sherbet and sour cream. Crushed pineapple and mandarin orange segments are suspended throughout the salad. The entire mixture is chilled in a gelatin mold or Bundt pan until fully set, then inverted onto a platter for serving.

Author: Evelyn
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 3 hours 25 minutes (includes chilling time)
Yield: 6-8 servings 1x
Category: Dessert
Method: Molding, Chilling
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale

Nonstick cooking spray
One 6-ounce packet orange gelatin
One 8-ounce can crushed pineapple in juice
One 11-ounce can mandarin oranges in light syrup
1 cup orange sherbet
1 cup sour cream

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Instructions

Spray a 6-cup gelatin mold or Bundt pan with nonstick cooking spray.
Place the gelatin powder in a medium bowl.
Strain the canned pineapple and mandarin oranges, reserving their liquid in a large measuring cup. Set the fruit aside.
Add enough water to the reserved fruit juices to equal 2 cups of liquid.
Transfer the juice mixture to a small saucepan and bring it to a simmer over low heat.
Pour the hot juice mixture over the gelatin in the bowl and whisk until the gelatin is completely dissolved.
Add the orange sherbet to the hot gelatin mixture and stir until it has fully melted and is combined.
Add the sour cream to the mixture and beat with an electric mixer for 1 to 2 minutes, until smooth.
Pour the mixture into the prepared mold. Add the reserved mandarin oranges and pineapple, distributing the fruit evenly throughout.
Refrigerate for at least 3 hours, or up to overnight, until the gelatin is fully set.
To serve, carefully dip the bottom of the mold in hot water for 15 to 30 seconds. Place a platter over the top of the mold and invert it to release the salad.

Notes

Using the reserved juices from the canned fruit to dissolve the gelatin is a key step that adds an extra layer of fruit flavor.
An electric mixer is recommended to ensure the sour cream is smoothly incorporated without any lumps.
The long chilling time of at least 3 hours is crucial for the gelatin to set properly.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1/8 of recipe
Calories: 220-280
Sugar: 40-50 g
Sodium: 150-200 mg
Fat: 6-9 g
Saturated Fat: 4-6 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 45-55 g
Fiber: 1 g
Protein: 3-5 g
Cholesterol: 20-30 mg

Find it online: https://cookupjoy.com/orange-jello-salad/