Creamy orange jello dotted with mandarin slices and topped with a fluffy vanilla topping makes for a perfectly refreshing and delicious orange creamsicle jello salad!

There is something so refreshing and fun about a jello salad. Especially when it is loaded with mandarin orange slices and topped with a vanilla pudding frosting.
It is bright and fresh mixed with creamy and sweet. It is reminiscent of a warm childhood day. It’s the best part of the frozen dreamsicle mixed with fruity jello in a fun way.
This jello treat is a fun mash-up of two classic treats. Jiggly gelatin that always reminds me of my great grandmother and orange creamsicle popsicles that make me think of my dad.
Little Dude has been wanting to make some jello, so I thought it would be fun to dust off this recipe.
I originally shared it in 2018. This time LD and I made a video to show you just how good it is.
If you are in the mood for something that will make you feel like a kid again, this recipe is a great place to start. So whip up a batch for yourself.
Original post from 2018
I have been having a lot of fun cooking what I would consider vintage recipes lately. So I tried to get some ideas for fun new things to try on Facebook, when the conversation turned to what qualifies as vintage?
What would you consider a vintage recipe? Jello salads scream vintage to me.
So I thought I would make a fun orange creamsicle inspired jello salad in celebration of my (not so) newfound love of old recipes.

Ever since I remade my great-grandma’s green jello salad recipe, I have been hankering to make another. I mean Jello salads are just so fun!
Plus I feel like the fact they are called a salad makes them just a teency bit healthy. Hey, a girl can dream!
Add to that the fact that there has been a bit of crud going around here lately. I’m sure part of it is the weather change and part of it is the fact that there is influenza B and strep making the rounds.
Little Dude was the latest victim to the flu bug. Luckily he seems to be bouncing back now, but he had a few really sad afternoons and evenings.

I hate seeing him sick, but I did soak up all of the extra cuddles while I had the chance! All of this to say that my husband thinks jello is a necessity when you’re sick.
It was one of the first things he asked when Little Dude presented with a temperature. “Do we have any jello to make him?”
Of course I couldn’t just make jello. So I took inspiration from that green jello salad and made and orange version with mandarin oranges.
While we were going that far, it seemed only right to top it off with creamy vanilla goodness. A little bit of super strength vanilla pudding (made with less milk than the box calls for) and some cream whipped together did the trick very nicely.

A proper jello salad needs a bit of garnish. So I placed a few more mandarin orange sections on top and a true new vintage recipe was born! I am sure that’s how it works, right?
In addition to jello salads, recipes like scalloped corn, SOS and even some tuna noodle casseroles scream vintage to me. What kind of recipes would you consider vintage? Do you have any favorites?
If you like this, you should check out my orange creamsicle pretzel salad and orange cottage cheese jello salad recipes as well. They are perfect for potlucks and parties.
Or for a more elegant orange and vanilla treat, try making a no bake orange creamsicle cheesecake. It is a perfect treat for company.
Did you make this great recipe? Please leave a review in the recipe card below!

Orange Creamsicle Jello Salad
Ingredients
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened
- 2 3 oz packages orange jello
- 2 cups hot water
- 2 15 ounce cans mandarin orange slices
- 1 cup milk
- 1 3.4 ounce instant vanilla pudding
- 1 cup cold heavy cream
Instructions
- In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth and creamy.
- Stir orange jello packets into hot water until dissolved. Add to cream cheese and mix until as smooth as possible.
- Add one can of orange slices and the juice and stir to combine. Pour into a greased 8 or 9 inch pan and refrigerate until set, at least two hours.
- In medium mixing bowl, stir instant pudding mix into 1 cup cold milk. Refrigerate for 5 minutes to set into a really thick pudding. Using a mixer, beat the pudding.
- While the mixer is going, slowly drizzle in the cold cream. Beat until light, fluffy and it holds stiff peaks. Spread over set jello.
- Drain the second can of orange slices and arrange over the whipped cream. Serve and enjoy!
Video
Nutrition

Amy
Tuesday 9th of February 2021
This Salad looks so nice and creamy. I think that a lot of my recipes are vintage, as a matter of fact some days I feel pretty vintage!
Carlee
Thursday 11th of February 2021
I'm starting to feel pretty vintage myself 😉
whiterose
Thursday 20th of February 2020
I have a question that may seem kinda silly. In the instructions, #3, when you say "Drain one can of orange slices and stir into jello mixture." What are you wanting added to the jello mixture; the drained juice or the oranges? And if it's not the drained juice, are we doing anything with the juice from either can or just tossing it all away?
Shelby
Wednesday 2nd of May 2018
I consider anything that I remember from my childhood that you don't see much anymore as vintage recipe! Also, the creamsicle was really popular when I was young (and was my dad's favorite), so this was perfect to combine with the jello salad concept!
Carlee
Friday 4th of May 2018
Ha! I am starting to feel that way too. Creamsicles are my dad's favorite as well <3
Duke Linda @ Pink
Sunday 29th of April 2018
Love this recipe!! Sounds so refreshing for summertime! But - do you know - Dreamsicles & Push-ups are different! Take it from a true “oldie” vintage grandma! Creamsicles are flat (like Fudgecicles) & on a popsicle stick; Push-ups are round & come in a Cardboard tube. As you eat the push-up, you “push up” on the round stick inserted through a plastic disc on the bottom. Remember? ��
Carlee
Tuesday 1st of May 2018
And I love both! Thanks!
Ali @ Jamhands.net
Friday 27th of April 2018
Looks amazing Carlee :D
Carlee
Tuesday 1st of May 2018
Thank you!