In a big bowl, mix the Orange Jell-O and Instant Vanilla Pudding powders together. This step makes sure that both flavors are spread evenly in the dish.
Add 1 cup of hot water. Stir the mixture strongly until both the Jell-O and pudding powders are fully dissolved. The warm water helps make the gelatin work, so it becomes smooth.
Put half a cup of cold water in the bowl. Mix until everything is well combined. The cold water helps to lower the temperature of the mixture, getting it ready for the following steps.
Step 2: Add the Cool Whip.
Let the gelatin mixture cool for around 2 minutes. This is a very important step because it stops the Cool Whip from melting and keeps the salad light and fluffy.
Carefully mix in the Cool Whip. Use a spatula to mix the ingredients until they are smooth and creamy. This step makes the salad creamy, like a creamsicle.
Step 3: Put the fruit and marshmallows.
Once the Cool Whip is well mixed in and the mixture is smooth, carefully add the drained mandarin oranges and mix gently. Make sure to spread the oranges evenly in the salad so that each bite is full of citrus taste.
Put the small marshmallows in and mix them gently. The marshmallows give a fun and chewy texture that goes well with the smooth base.
