Orange Sherbet Jello
Throwback to mom's orange sherbet jello salad side for the holidays, orange gelatin with orange sherbet and mandarin oranges.
This is the jello salad that was always on the holiday table growing up, especially Easter. It's so refreshing and full of orange flavor and ridiculously easy to make.
Of course, every year my mom would forget how much water to add and it always turned out a little different each time, but always good.
I thought it was time this year to get the recipe written down, once and for all with the correct amounts, no more guessing. It's just three ingredients and water.
My mom always made it in a cut glass serving bowl, I made it this year in a mold. I think I prefer the crystal bowl, easier and familiar.
How to make orange sherbet jello salad
Step 1: In bowl, dissolve a box of orange jello in 2 cups boiling water, then stir in the juice from a can of mandarin oranges, adding water if needed to make 1 cup. So, 3 cups liquid total.
Step 2: Add one pint of softened orange sherbet by spoonfuls, stirring until sherbet melts.
Step 3: Pour the mixture into a jello mold or serving dish and gently scatter the mandarin orange segments into the gelatin mixture.
Step 4: Refrigerate overnight until set. Turn out mold on serving plate or just scoop and serve out of serving bowl.
I'm sure I'm not the only one who grew up in the 70's with this mandarin orange sherbet jello salad. My dad always thought the intense citrus flavor cut through and complimented all the rich food on the holiday table.
And we definitely never had whipped topping or pineapple or any other stuff in it. Just orange gelatin, sherbet and mandarin oranges... the way I liked it then and still love it now. Kelly🍴🐦
HUNGRY FOR MORE? Subscribe to my Newsletter and come hang out with me on INSTAGRAM, or give me a follow on FACEBOOK or see what I’m pinning on PINTEREST.
Orange Sherbet Jello
Ingredients
- 1 6-ounce box orange gelatin or two 3-ounce boxes
- 2 cups boiling water
- 1 15-ounce can mandarin oranges, drain and save the juice if necessary, add water to reserved juice to make 1 cup
- 1 pint orange sherbet, softened (2 cups)
Instructions
- In medium bowl, add orange gelatin powder and then 2 cups boiling water, stir until dissolved. Add 1 cup of reserved mandarin orange juice and combine.
- Add the softened orange sherbet by spoonfuls, stirring until melted.
- Lightly spray a jello mold (I used a Bundt pan) or serving bowl with nonstick spray. Pour gelatin mixture into mold or bowl, gently scatter orange segments over and into mixture.
- Refrigerate overnight until well set. Turn mold out onto a serving plate or scoop and serve out of the bowl. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
- Add enough water to the reserved mandarin orange juice to make 1 cup.
- I find it best to add the softened sherbet by spoonfuls, not all at once. Stir after each spoonful to melt. By the spoonfuls cuts down on excess foam.
- If using a mold, run a knife or spatula to loosen the sides, place plate on top and gently invert to flip it over. You can also place the bottom of the mold in hot water for a few seconds to help it ease out.
My mom made this for years.She made it in a 9x13 dish with a can of crushed pineapple drained,with the oranges and Two sliced bananas. The orange sherbet took the place of cold water in her recipe.It was always made for special occasions so the bananas never got a chance to turn brown.
It's such a nostalgic recipe, yours sounds yummy, too!
Tasted good and easy to make. I’ll use less liquid next time. It wasn’t as firm as I expected. It did sit overnight.
I took it to a holiday gathering to remind us of when there was always a congealed salad on the menu.
We have been making this recipe since I was a child every Easter, we all top our Easter ham with orange jello! At least three family members every year ask me if someone is making the jello.
Thank you for making the direction so easy to follow. I made this for my friends birthday, it was her absolute favorite and she used to make it for her two sons when they were younger. I bought a happy birthday candle set and hopefully she will be taken back to when her sons were small.
Could I do this in a glass baking dish (like a rectangular pyrex)? I wouldn't unmold it - just cut like brownies and serve from the dish. Would you still spray it with non-stick spray?
That should work just fine. My mom always made it in, and served it from, a glass bowl. No need to use a non-stick spray.
Can I substitute orange sorbet for the sherbet? ( Need non- fat alternative. )
I don't think this recipe would work with sorbet, the dairy in sherbet makes it creamy. I'm not sure what the end result would be with sorbet as I've never made it that way.
This salad is amazing. However, I went ahead and add some crushed pineapple to the mandarin orange sherbet mix.
Glad you liked it! I've never had it with pineapple, I bet it was good!
The orange sherbet jello salad didn't get thick when I made it. I followed the directions as they were in the recipe. The correct amount of water (2 cups boiling water and juice from mandarin oranges with added water to make 1 cup of cold liquid. Also used a pint of orange sherbet. Any idea why it didn't get thick?
Hi Barb. I'm not sure why it didn't set up. Did you refrigerate it overnight? It doesn't thicken right away but it has always set up for me after refrigerating over night.
What kind of sherbet do you use for this?
Hi Jamie, orange sherbet.
I increased servings to 14. guessing recipe adjusted for this. Will make in large jello mold.
used this many times for salad at church and thanksgiving cause of color.
Do I double this recipe for a 13x9 pan ?
Hi Vicki. I have never doubled the recipe so I'm not sure how it will turn out with just straight up doubling the ingredients.
@vicki roth,
Did you ever make this using 9x13 & doubling the recipe? If so how did it turn out? Wanting to do this for Easter
Thank you in advance 🤗
I made this orange sherbet salad when I was much younger. I had not made it in longer than I care to think about, started thinking about it. I looked for the recipe. It is amazing how many versions of this exist. I was very glad to find the original. My family and I really enjoy it. Debbie's idea for Christmas sounds great.Thank you.
I'm so glad you found the recipe! My mom has made it this way for years, enjoy!
I have been making this for many years and it is so good. For Christmas I make it with raspberry jello, raspberry sherbet & raspberries.
Yumm, that sounds good, too!
Throwback... all the way back! It's time for Jello.