Creamy Orange Tapioca Salad

Tapioca salad is an old fashioned Jello salad dessert with an special ingredient that gives it the perfect texture. Instant Tapioca Pudding and Pie Filling is the perfect ingredient to make this simple salad delectably creamy.

Tapioca Fruit Salad Ingredients

Just when I thought I had made every version of Jello salad out there, my friend Nikki shared her favorite version.

She has raved about this special Jello salad many times around the holidays, and I finally begged her to share her recipe. Nikki makes this delicious dessert for all her family gatherings and potlucks.

• Instant Tapioca Pudding
• Water
• Orange Jello Mix
• Canned Mandarin Oranges
• Cool Whip
• Chopped Pecans (optional)

This creamy tapioca salad contains an ingredient I had actually never used before except as a thickener in Mom’s Beef Stew Recipe. The ingredient is instant tapioca pudding mix.

To be truthful, I thought that tapioca only came in the tall red boxes; I didn’t realize that there are small boxes of tapioca pudding in with the chocolate, vanilla and pistachio pudding mixes at the grocery store.

How to Make Tapioca Salad?

Step by Step instructions

1. In a medium saucepan, stir together dry orange jello mix, dry tapioca pudding mix and two cups water with a whisk.
2. Turn the heat to medium, and stir constantly until it begins a gentle boil.
3. Remove from heat, cover and refrigerate until set.
4. With a stand mixer or hand mixer, mix the set tapioca pudding mixture with the juices from the Mandarin oranges on slow to loosen up the mixture.
5. Mix in the Cool Whip until combined, and then add the Mandarin oranges, and mix on low until combined.
6. Spoon into a serving dish and cover tightly.
7. Refrigerate before serving. If desired, sprinkle with chopped pecans.

Storage Instructions

Cover leftovers tightly or transfer to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator.

For the full ingredient amounts and recipe steps for mandarin orange tapioca salad, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Why I Love this Recipe

Tapioca makes this jello salad recipe extra creamy. I love Cool Whip in my salad, but I never realized that it could be even creamier. It makes the dessert absolutely addictive. I also love the beautiful orange color; it makes for a gorgeous addition to your holiday meal.

Tapioca Salad Recipe FAQs

• Be sure to use instant tapioca pudding mix.
• Instant tapioca pudding mix is found with the jello and pudding mixes. Be sure to get 2 small boxes and not the large red box.
• I like to lighten it up with sugar free jello mix and reduced fat Cool Whip.
• Be sure to stir the tapioca pudding mixture on the stove top constantly. Don’t walk away. I repeat, do not walk away as it is heating.
• Do not discard the juices from the canned mandarin oranges. You’ll need it to loosen up the pudding mixture once it’s set.

Recipe Variations

• Substitute orange gelatin for any other flavor. Lime Jell-o would be such a fun twist, as would strawberry jello, raspberry jello, cherry, blue raspberry jello, etc.
• Canned mandarin oranges are also an easily substituted ingredient. Try mixed fruit cocktail, diced, canned peaches or pears, crushed pineapple, diced grapes, etc.
• Chopped nuts such as pecans are a welcome addition. Stir them in, or sprinkle them over top. Or try, chopped walnuts or any other nut you prefer.
• Add traditional jello salad ingredients such as shredded coconut, mini marshmallows, etc.
• Our friend, Liz, has this Old Fashioned Strawberry Tapioca Salad on her blog.

Equipment Needed for this Tapioca Salad Recipe

• Medium Saucepan
• Liquid Measuring Cup
• Whisk
• Electric Mixer or Stand Mixer
• Serving Bowl with Lid or Plastic Wrap

Fluff Salad Recipes

We love a good old-fashioned “salad” recipe. Check out some of our favorites below.

Pink Lady Salad

Oreo Fluff

Pumpkin Fluff

Cranberry Fluff

Red Hot Cinnamon Fluff