Everyone's favorite childhood ice cream treat becomes a sophisticated potluck dessert in this refreshing and creamy Orange Dreamsicle Lush. Betty Crocker™ sugar cookie mix makes a perfect cookie crust, which gets topped with layers of creamy vanilla pudding, orange gelatin and whipped topping, then garnished with mandarin oranges for added flair. It’s guaranteed to be the favorite dessert at any potluck, and we recommend making it in a glass baking dish so everyone can see the pretty layers in its presentation.
Here's a look at the ingredients you'll need to create this irresistible Orange Dreamsicle Lush.
Sugar Cookie Mix: This convenient mix forms our perfectly golden, buttery cookie crust, providing an easy yet sturdy foundation for all the delicious layers.
Melted Butter: Essential for binding the cookie mix, this adds rich flavor and helps create that satisfyingly firm base.
Orange-Flavored Gelatin: The key to that iconic dreamsicle tang! This vibrant ingredient creates a refreshing, jiggly orange layer that balances the creamy components.
Vanilla-Flavor Instant Pudding & Pie Filling Mix: This whips up into a smooth, sweet vanilla layer, delivering the "cream" in dreamsicle and adding to the lush's decadent texture.
Softened Cream Cheese: For an extra touch of richness and a wonderfully smooth, stable filling, cream cheese adds a subtle tang and luxurious mouthfeel.
Powdered Sugar: This fine sugar sweetens the cream cheese layer, for a silky-smooth consistency and perfectly balanced flavor.
Frozen Whipped Topping: The ultimate airy finish! Thawed whipped topping provides a light, fluffy texture and delicate sweetness, crowning your lush beautifully.
Mandarin Orange Segments: These bright, juicy segments are the perfect garnish, adding a pop of color, a burst of fresh citrus, and lovely visual appeal.
Other Ingredients You'll Need: Butter, egg, boiling water, and cold milk.
This guide will help you create a stunning and delicious dreamsicle dessert, ensuring each layer is perfect and presentation-ready. See the full recipe below for all the details.
Make and completely cool your sugar cookies before crumbling them. This crucial step prevents a soggy crust. Once crumbled, mix them with melted butter. The mixture should feel moist and hold together when pressed, forming a sturdy and delicious base for your dessert.
For the gelatin layer, fully dissolve the orange gelatin in boiling water. Stir until it's completely clear and bright, which will ensure a vibrant color. Next, vigorously whisk the vanilla pudding with cold milk until it's visibly thick and entirely lump-free. When these two are combined, they will create a beautiful, pale orange hue, delivering that classic dreamsicle flavor.
For a silky-smooth, lump-free cream cheese layer, it's essential to use softened cream cheese. To quickly soften cream cheese, remove it from its wrapper and place it on a microwavable plate; microwave uncovered on High for about 15 seconds or just until softened. Once softened, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Then, gently fold in the whipped topping.
When assembling your dessert, gently spread each layer to keep them distinct and beautiful. Be sure to dollop mixtures on top of previous layers—it's much easier to spread evenly than trying to spoon the mixture directly into the center and then spreading it out. The full chilling time is absolutely crucial for all layers to set perfectly.
Just before serving, arrange bright mandarin orange segments on top of your chilled dessert. This adds a beautiful pop of color and a fresh, juicy burst that perfectly complements the creamy, sweet, and tangy layers. Mandarin oranges can be quite juicy, so be sure to drain them very well before placing them on top of the dessert to prevent excess moisture.
If you find yourself with any leftovers, here's how to store them.
Place any leftover Orange Dreamsicle Lush in an airtight container or cover tightly with plastic wrap. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Heat oven to 375°F.
Make and bake drop cookies as directed on the pouch. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
In a food processor, process half of the cookies to coarse crumbs. Remove to a medium bowl. Continue to process remaining cookies to coarse crumbs; add to bowl. Stir in melted butter until well blended. In an ungreased 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish, press cookie crumb mixture firmly in the bottom. Set aside.
In a small bowl, place gelatin, and add boiling water; beat with a whisk until blended. Stir occasionally for about 2 minutes or until mostly dissolved. In a medium bowl, beat dry pudding mixes and milk with a whisk for about 2 minutes or until thick. Stir in dissolved gelatin. Let stand 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and powdered sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth, scraping down the side of the bowl frequently. Beat in 2 cups of the whipped topping. Spread over the cookie crust.
Pour pudding mixture over cream cheese layer; spread evenly over the top. Drop remaining whipped topping by spoonfuls over pudding layer; carefully spread until even. Refrigerate for 5 hours.
When ready to serve, sprinkle orange segments on top. Cut into 6 rows by 3 rows.
| Food Component / Nutrient | Amount | % , Daily Value* |
|---|---|---|
| Total Fat | 19g | 29% |
| Saturated Fat | 12g | 59% |
| Trans Fat | ½g | % Value Not Available |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 4g | % Value Not Available |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | ½g | % Value Not Available |
| Omega-3 | 0g | % Value Not Available |
| Cholesterol | 50mg | 16% |
| Sodium | 410mg | 17% |
| Total Carbohydrate | 55g | 18% |
| Dietary Fiber | 0g | 0% |
| Soluble Fiber | 0g | % Value Not Available |
| Insoluble Fiber | 0g | % Value Not Available |
| Sugars | 41g | % Value Not Available |
| Protein | 4g | % Value Not Available |
| Vitamin D | Value Not Available | 6% |
| Calcium | Value Not Available | 6% |
| Iron | Value Not Available | 4% |
| Potassium | 85mg | 2% |
| Vitamin A | Value Not Available | 10% |
| Vitamin C | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Vitamin E | Value Not Available | 2% |
| Thiamin | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Riboflavin | Value Not Available | 8% |
| Niacin | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Vitamin B6 | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Folic Acid | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Vitamin B12 | Value Not Available | 4% |
| Pantothenic Acid | Value Not Available | 2% |
| Phosphorus | Value Not Available | 15% |
| Magnesium | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Zinc | Value Not Available | 2% |
| Manganese | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Selenium | Value Not Available | 6% |
| Copper | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Beta-Carotene | Value Not Available | % Value Not Available |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. | ||
