Bring back the old days with this retro mandarin Jell-O salad dessert with pineapple cream topping. Add bananas, pineapple, maraschino cherries, marshmallows, and even grated cheese for a full throwback Jell-O salad recipe that Grandma will remember!

This is the orange Jell-O salad recipe you have been looking for. This mandarin orange and pineapple Jell-O dessert comes straight from my mom who probably got it from one of my grandmas. It’s a classic Jell-O recipe that gives you the complete retro Jell-O feel as it calls for grated cheese to go on top! And this orange Jell-O salad recipe has a delicious homemade pineapple cream that super easy to make. Bring back the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s with this Jell-O recipe!

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Did you eat a lot of Jell-O recipes as a kid? Maybe you’ll remember some of these retro Jell-O salads? I used to have this one as a kid at family gatherings. It was considered a great summer picnic food. And when I left for college, I copied down a bunch of my mom’s recipes to take with me. This mandarin Jell-O recipe was one of the ones I took with me–and guess what? I NEVER made it! Jell-O seemed to go out of style for awhile or something. But now all things retro are in and it’s fun to bring back this classic Jell-O recipe to picnics, potlucks, and parties. This recipe calls for the option of grated cheese on top. Probably not something many would go for now, but we tried it and it’s really pretty good! I’ve also seen this recipe called Jell-O Sawdust Salad because of the cheese on top.

Here’s a few other yummy summer salad recipes you may like to try:

Mandarin Chinese Chicken Salad

Strawberry Banana Jell-O Fluff Salad

Basil Summer Salad

Almond Broccoli Salad

Let’s getting started making some J-E-L-L-O!

How to make Retro Mandarin Jell-O Salad with Pineapple Cream:

For this orange Jell-O salad you will need:

2 sm pkgs of orange Jell-O (usually it’s about 3 oz size)

1 sm can of mandarin oranges (drain and SAVE the juice)

2 bananas, sliced into bite-size pieces

1 can of crushed pineapple (drain and SAVE the juice)

Optional:

10 maraschino cherries, halved

2 cups of mini marshmallows

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

See below for pineapple topping ingredients and instructions . . . .

How to Make the Jell-O

Make the Jell-O according to the directions on the box. This is the first step to this recipe, and so important. We don’t make Jell-O as often these days, so here’s the most common instructions for make Jell-O.

To make Jell-O: Making Jell-O involves mixing the Jell-O powder with equal parts of boiling water and cold water. So for instance, you would boil 2 cups of water for this recipe (because it calls for 2 boxes). Then add the boiling water to your Jell-O contents. I usually do this directly in the casserole dish that I want it to set up in. Then make sure all the gelatin dissolves in the hot water. Then add 2 cups of very cold water and stir. Chill in the fridge until it is completely set, usually about 3-4 hours.

Except when adding fruit like this recipe, there is an additional step . . .

2. When your orange Jell-O has chilled for about 90 minutes and is starting to set up slightly, it’s time to add the fruit. Add the crushed pineapple, the mandarin oranges, and the sliced bananas directly into your Jell-O dish. If desired, add the maraschino cherries and the marshmallows as well. Recover it and return it back into the fridge to chill until set.

How to make pineapple cream topping for Jell-O:

3. While the Jell-O is chilling, you can make this pineapple topping. This is like a homemade pineapple pudding. Super easy and adds the perfect flavor to make your orange Jell-O top notch!

For Pineapple Cream Topping you will need:

1 egg

2 TB flour

1 cup of juice saved from the canned fruit (both pineapple and mandarin are good)

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup whipped cream or whipped topping

4. In a saucepan, beat the egg and add the flour, sugar and juice. Whisk together making sure there are no flour clumps. There may be some pineapple pieces from the juice and that is ok. Cook of medium heat until it starts to thicken like pudding and bubble. Remove from heat and cool. When it’s cool, add the whipped cream and chill in the fridge until the orange Jell-O is set.

One thing about Jell-O is that it is so pretty! The colors are bright and the way the fruit stays suspended is just so cool. No wonder we grew up liking Jell-O. My family is not a fan of marshmallows or cherries so I did not add them to my Jell-O this time.

5. Spread the pineapple cream topping over your Jell-O and top with grated cheese if desired for a full retro experience! My kids were a little hesitant to put the cheese on, so we decided to let everyone add it on their own piece.