I thought this was excellent although I couldn't find instant tapioca pudding so used the cook and serve kind which worked fine. The second time I made it I omitted the pineapple as I thought it gave good flavor but an odd texture. I used the same recipe again but instead of orange jello and mandarine oranges I substituted strawberry jello and frozen strawberries and it was delicious. I did not have any problems with either one of them setting up properly. I did stir them once while they were setting up as the fruit sunk to the bottom a bit at first. Love it!
This was so yummy! I took it to a church potluck and everybody loved it even my 10 year old who normally doesn't like jello salads! This is really sweet so be prepared for that. I used fruit in its own juice but put in some marshmallows which might have made it sweeter. You can't tell there's tapioca in here so don't let that scare you away. The marshmallows gave it a little texture which we all liked and I'd consider adding some chopped walnuts or pecans if you like nuts. Anyway it was really good and it'd be easy to sit and eat a bowl of it! I just made this for the 3rd time (for Easter) and couldn't find instant Tapioca anywhere so used the Jello cook and serve and it was just as good. If I hadn't added the marshmallows (about 2-3 cups)it might've been too runny but w/marshmallows it was perfect. As for the reviewer that said hers was too runny I wonder if she forgot to drain her fruit? That extra fruit juice would definitely make it too runny!
I made this for my parents using sugar free jello pudding and cool whip... since they are both diabetic. They loved it and insist that I make it for all family get-to-gethers. The great thing about sugar free cool whip is that is never breaks down... it's always creamy even after a couple of days.
I'm not a big fan of gelatin salads but I love this one. The flavor reminds me of a 50/50 ice cream bar. It's very sweet and fluffy more of a dessert than a side salad.
This recipe was great. I couldn't find instant tapioca pudding and substituted cook and serve as mentioned by another person. It worked out fine. The mixture takes a while to cool and the tapioca cooks while it is cooling. Even my picky 8yr old (who only likes plain jello) liked this!!!
I made this for a luncheon meeting. It got rave reviews. Everyone wanted the recipe. I have never seen instant tapioca so I used regular. I also added 2 cups mini marshmallows as others suggested. It made the salad go further and didn't take away from the flavor. Will definitely make again.
I love this recipe. I've been making this salad for years now and someone is always asking for the recipe. It is perfect as is but when I want to change it around a little I add peach flavored jello instead of the orange and throw in some sliced canned peaches too.
I got this recipe from a friend's mom and have been making it for years. The recipe I have uses two boxes of the tapioca instead of one of tapioca and one of pudding. I can't find the America Instant Tapioca that it called for anymore but the jello cook and serve tapioca works just as well. The best part is that you don't have to use the same jello and fruit flavors. One of my favorites is peach jello with peaches and blueberrys. I recently tried the new mango jello flavor and added crushed pineapple small chunks of mango coconut and macadamia nuts. It was a big hit at an office party. This is not relegated to salad staus either. One of my favorite things to do is to make it the night before when I have company. Then leave it out as a topping for waffles as a self serve breakfast. The combinations are endless. I have done strawberry and banana strawberry and raspberry black cherry and banana etc. To enhance the flavor if you want you can use the fruit juice instead of water. Just add water to make up the volume if there is not enough fruit juice. And don't ever use fresh pineapple as the jello will not set up it tastes fine its just sort of runny like pudding. I obviously learned this lesson the hard way.
This is a staple fruit salad for family functions. I have always used the cook and serve for all three jellos and not the instant. This is the first recipe I have seen with the instant. A couple tips: I double the oranges as I have had comments that there was not enough. The longer I waited to add the cool whip and oranges the more firm it was in the end. I usually do the jello the night before and then stir in the fruit and cool whip the morning of the lunch/dinner.
I don't know what I did wrong..but this didn't turn out well for me. It never did set up and was thick but runny. Taste was fantastic but not the texture. I might try it one more time just to see if it makes a second time. Very disappointing!
