Mandarin Orange Pretzel Saladrn

Name: Mandarin Orange Pretzel Salad
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 150 min
Ingredients: 5 cups pretzels, (crushed (2½ cups once crushed)); 1½ cups granulated sugar, (divided); ¾ cup butter, (melted); 12 ounces cream cheese; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 12 ounces Cool Whip; 6 ounce orange gelatin; 2 cups water, (boiling); 47.25 ounces mandarin oranges in fruit juice; 2 cups mandarin orange juice, (reserved from the cans of mandarins)

a close up shot of a slice of Mandarin Orange Pretzel Salad on a plate

The perfect mix of sweet and salty, this mandarin orange pretzel salad is a refreshing dessert to add to your menu.

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Table of Contents

Mandarin Orange Pretzel Salad Ingredients
Substitutions And Additions
How To Make This Mandarin Orange Pretzel Salad Recipe
How To Serve
Storage
More Recipes You’ll Love
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This oddly named but delicious mandarin orange pretzel salad will wow you with fun and vibrant layers. Not a salad in the traditional sense, this dessert features a crunchy layer of pretzels topped with cream cheese, orange Jell-O, and juicy mandarin oranges for a dessert that’s a delight.

Mandarin Orange Pretzel Salad Ingredients

Mandarin Orange Pretzel Salad raw ingredients that are labeled

The delightful combination of salty pretzels, juicy mandarin oranges, and tangy cream cheese blend in perfect harmony to create an irresistible flavor experience!

In one bite of this layered dessert, you’ll be showered with bursts of citrusy delight balanced by the savoriness of the pretzels.

You’ll need:

5 cups of pretzels, uncrushed (2½ cups once crushed)
1½ cups of granulated sugar, divided in half
¾ cup of butter, melted
12 ounces of cream cheese
2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
12 ounces of Cool Whip whipped topping
6-ounce package of orange gelatin
2 cups of water, boiling
3 (15.75-ounce) cans of mandarin oranges in fruit juice
2 cups of mandarin orange juice (reserved from cans of mandarins)

Substitutions And Additions

WHIPPED TOPPING: If you can’t get Cool Whip, an alternative to this whipped topping in this orange Jell-O pretzel salad would be softly whipped cream with a little sugar added. Check out our own homemade whipped cream recipe

PRETZELS: If you’re gluten-free, you can substitute the pretzels with a gluten-free variety. Alternatively, for a different flavor and texture, try using crushed graham crackers or vanilla wafer cookies.

VANILLA EXTRACT: For a different flavor profile, you could substitute the vanilla extract with almond extract. It will give the cream cheese layer a slightly nutty flavor that pairs well with the other ingredients.

How To Make This Mandarin Orange Pretzel Salad Recipe

To start making this sweet and unique recipe, you’ll bake the crushed pretzel crust and let it cool.

Next, you’ll create the layers. First, a cream cheese and whipped topping mixture is layered over top of the crust, while a Jell-O and mandarin orange layer adds plenty of citrus freshness.

These simple instructions will show you how to make this yummy dessert.

STEP ONE: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray the bottom and sides of a 9×13-inch pan with nonstick baking spray.

STEP TWO: Place pretzels in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until the pretzels are crushed into small pieces but not pulverized. Add ¾ cup sugar and the melted butter and pulse a few more times to combine the ingredients without breaking down the pretzel pieces too small. Press the pretzel mixture into the bottom of the pan.

crushed pretzel, sugar and butter combined and pressed into a baking pan

STEP THREE: Bake the pretzel base for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and let it cool completely.

OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS

Oven temperatures vary and may need to be recalibrated periodically to ensure they are accurate. Make sure to keep a close eye on your crust as the suggested baking time approaches.

STEP FOUR: In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese with a hand mixer, the remaining ¾ cup of sugar, and the vanilla until well combined. Fold in the Cool Whip until the mixture is evenly combined.

PRO TIP:

Make sure that your cream cheese is at room temperature, so you don’t have lumps in your cream cheese filling.

cool whip and cream cheese folded together in a bowl

STEP FIVE: Spread the cream cheese mixture on top of the cooled pretzel layer. When adding the cream cheese mixture to the pan, make sure that it goes all the way to the edges. This creates a barrier to prevent the Jell-O from seeping down into the pretzel base and making it soggy.

PRO TIP:

Be sure to really seal the cream cheese mixture all the way to the edges over the pretzels. I like to use an offset icing spatula and really press down the cream cheese mixture.

cream cheese spread over the top of the cooled pretzel crust

STEP SIX: Drain the mandarin oranges, reserving 2 cups of juice. If your mandarin oranges are in syrup, use 2 cups of cold water instead. Add ice cubes to the juice or refrigerate it.

STEP SEVEN: In a medium bowl, dissolve the gelatin/Jell-O in two cups of boiling water. Once it is completely dissolved, add the chilled mandarin juice (or water). Add the mandarin orange slices to the mixture and stir to combine. Place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or until the Jell-O mixture is just starting to thicken but has not yet set.

PRO TIP:

Cool the gelatin and mandarin mixture just until it starts to thicken. That way, it will still pour easily into the pan and form a smooth top.

mandarin oranges added to the jello mixture in a bowl

STEP EIGHT: Carefully pour the mandarins and Jell-O over the cream cheese layer. Cover and refrigerate for two hours or until the Jell-O is set. Slice into squares to serve.

PRO TIP:

You may have a little extra gelatin depending on the depth of the pan. Be sure to cover the mandarin oranges and fill to the top of the baking dish.

mandarin and jello poured over the cream cheese layer in a baking dish

How To Serve

A refreshing drink is a delicious accompaniment to your pretzel salad. Try a cold iced tea or pineapple lemonade for two great choices.

You can top this delicious dessert with a dollop of Cool Whip or a squirt of whipped cream and a pretzel twist if you’d like. A scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side would finish off your dessert perfectly.

For two variations on this orange pretzel dessert, our strawberry pretzel salad and peach pretzel salad are just as easy to make.

MORE FRUIT RECIPES

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Ambrosia (Fruit Salad)

Side Dishes

Watermelon Salad

Storage

Let’s dive into the details of how you can make this recipe ahead, and how to store it in the fridge or freezer for optimal freshness.

MAKE AHEAD: This recipe is a fantastic candidate for making ahead. You can prepare the pretzel crust and the cream cheese layer a day in advance. Store them separately in the fridge, covered tightly. The jello and mandarin orange layer, however, should be added just a few hours before serving to maintain the best texture and flavor. Remember to keep it refrigerated until it’s time to serve.

IN THE FRIDGE: Store leftovers of this pretzel salad with mandarin oranges covered in plastic wrap in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.

IN THE FREEZER: It’s not a good idea to freeze this delicious recipe. Freezing Jell-O destroys the chemical bonds in the gelatin, which means that it will become runny when you defrost it. The oranges and hard pretzels are likely to go a bit mushy too.

a close up shot of mandarin orange pretzel salad

You will enjoy the crunchy, salty crust, tangy cream cheese layer, fluffy whipped cream, and a bite of mandarin in every scoop of this mandarin orange pretzel salad. It would be a great addition to any summer menu or potluck.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can I use a different base for this Jell-O salad?

While pretzels are in the name of this easy orange pretzel salad dessert, you could replace the crushed pretzels with graham crackers or vanilla wafers for the crust.

Can I change the flavor of this orange gelatin pretzel salad?

This light dessert recipe is flexible. Change up the fruit and Jell-O flavor to whatever you prefer. Or mix and match. Try blueberries with lemon or black cherry Jell-O for fun combinations on top of the salty pretzel crust.

What kind of pretzels are the best choice for this easy recipe?

Salted pretzels should be used for the crunchy pretzel crust as they add that salty element. You can use either pretzel sticks or twists.

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