My Great Aunt Faye does not call herself a cook, but there’s one thing that she’s known for always nailing: Orange Jell-O Salad. When it came time to prepare for my Grandma’s 90th birthday party, we thought we’d serve some old family favorites—among them, the Orange Jell-O Salad, which my grandma remembers Faye making for her when she was a little sick or down. Sure enough, my Aunt Faye still had her old, recipe card handy, and my mom and I got to work at making it. Once it came time to serve it, we did so with bated breath—but just about everyone went back for seconds, and even thirds!
What Is Orange Jell-O Salad?
This dish isn’t your typical orange or strawberry “fluff’ recipe, though it does contain similar ingredients: Whipped topping like Cool Whip, a gelatin mixture like Jell-O, crushed pineapple, and nuts. It’s more firm than fluffy, resembling a molded Jell-O, but served chilled, in a bowl. It’s tangy and creamy, but rounded out with a pleasant nutty bite from chopped pecans.
How to Make Orange Jello Salad
As with many vintage or retro recipes, the instructions are quite simple—but this can be harrowing to read nowadays, where we are used to elaborate, detailed, and even time-stamped directions. The trick is to make sure the gelatin mixture full dissolves, and to beat well. Otherwise, the toughest part of the recipe is waiting for it to firm up in the refrigerator.