Cottage Cheese Jello Salad
A smooth and creamy Cottage Cheese Jello Salad has the best balance of tangy tartness to offset the sweetness from the fruit. Serve it as a side dish with dinner or as dessert after the main meal.
Servings: 8 ½ cup servings
Calories: 270kcal
Ingredients
- 16 ounce container cottage cheese
- 3 ounce box orange gelatin
- 20 ounce crushed pineapple well drained
- 15 ounce mandarin oranges well drained, reserve 4 to 5 slices of oranges for an optional garnish
- 2 cups miniature marshmallows reserve 5 to 6 for an optional garnish
- 8 ounce thawed whipped topping
Instructions
- Add the cottage cheese and the dry gelatin powder to a medium size mixing bowl. Stir well.16 ounce container cottage cheese, 3 ounce box orange gelatin
- Stir in the drained pineapple and mandarin oranges (reserve 4 to 5 slices of oranges for a garnish) until well combined.20 ounce crushed pineapple, 15 ounce mandarin oranges
- Fold in the miniature marshmallows and then the thawed whipped topping.2 cups miniature marshmallows, 8 ounce thawed whipped topping
- Cover tightly with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours, or until the gelatin is set. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve. Garnish with the reserved orange slices and mini marshmallows.
Notes
Storage:
- Make Ahead: You can prepare this salad 1 to 2 days in advance of your gathering. In fact, letting it sit for a few hours or overnight allows the flavors to meld together even better, giving you a more flavorful dish.
- To Store: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Make sure to cover it tightly to prevent it from drying out or absorbing other odors in the fridge.
- When you stir the packet of dry gelatin into the cottage cheese, make sure to mix it really well to remove any lumps. If the powder doesn’t dissolve fully, it can create a grainy texture in your salad.
- Cottage cheese has a mild tang, and the orange Jello is sweet, so taste as you go. You can adjust the sweetness by adding a little more fruit or a splash of juice from the can to bring out a fruity depth without making it overly sugary.
- The key to a creamy, smooth texture is gently folding in the fruit and whipped topping to maintain the light, airy consistency. If you stir too vigorously, you risk breaking down the whipped cream or marshmallows, which could affect the texture.
- Be sure to chill the salad for at least 2 hours or until the gelatin is fully set. This gives everything time to come together, resulting in a smooth, firm texture that holds up well when served.
Nutrition
Calories: 270kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 260mg | Potassium: 265mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 40g | Vitamin A: 498IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 99mg | Iron: 0.4mg
