October 21, 2023
Review RecipeMandarin Orange Pretzel Salad
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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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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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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Mandarin Orange Pretzel Salad
The perfect mix of sweet and salty, this mandarin orange pretzel salad is a refreshing dessert to add to your menu.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Servings 12
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
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray the bottom and sides of a 9×13 pan with nonstick baking spray.
- Place the pretzels in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until the pretzels are crushed into small pieces but not pulverized. Add ¾ cups 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 mixture into the bottom of the 9×13 pan.
- Bake the pretzel base for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, the remaining ¾ cup of sugar, and the vanilla until well combined. Fold in the Cool Whip until the mixture is evenly combined.
- Spread the cream cheese mixture on top of the cooled pretzel crust. 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 jello from seeping down into the pretzel base and making it soggy.
- Drain the mandarin oranges, reserving 2 cups of juice. If your mandarin oranges are in syrup, use 2 cups of water instead. Add ice cubes to the juice or refrigerate it.
- In a medium bowl, dissolve the gelatin/jello in two cups of boiling water. Once it is completely dissolved, add the chilled mandarin juice (or water.) Add the mandarin oranges to the mixture and stir to combine. Place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or until the jello is just starting to thicken but has not yet set.
- Carefully pour the mandarins and jello over the cream cheese layer. Cover and refrigerate for two hours or until the jello is set. Slice into squares to serve.
Notes
- 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.
- Make sure that your cream cheese is at room temperature, so you don’t have lumps in your cream cheese filling.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Nutrition
Calories: 593kcal | Carbohydrates: 90g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 64mg | Sodium: 687mg | Potassium: 344mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 58g | Vitamin A: 869IU | Vitamin C: 22mg | Calcium: 86mg | Iron: 2mg
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Comments
Eileen E says
This looks amazing and I’d love to try a berry in it. I noticed that a change up noted was strawberries yet wonder if blueberries, raspberries could work beautifully too.
Thanks.
Pam says
This looks and sounds really delicious. I’d love to try it.
Connie Haggermaker says
I haven’t tried a recipe like this before but i would definitely use the cool whip
Krystal says
I would use homemade whipped cream!
Jackie Sweeten says
I have eaten a strawberry pretzel salad. Now I can’t wait to try the orange. Sounds delicious.
Rebecca McKnight says
I would definitely use Cool Whip–I like it for salads and desserts.
Judy says
I never geard of this recipe but it looks great soI may try it for the holidays!
Joan Henslee says
I think the recipe is completely perfect the way it is. I wouldn’t change anything about it.
George Burke says
I would use homemade whipped cream.
Mary says
I would try it with mangoes or kiwis. I think Cool whip is better unless you are a specialist in homemaking whipped cream. I would serve it as a dessert. I have never tried it but now I had to do it soon.
Kinshell says
I think I would like to try cherries or passion fruit in this salad. It looks delicious!!!
Stephanie says
I have never made a Fruity Pretzel Salad before but I definitely look forward to trying this recipe as is & then later on maybe trying pineapple or peaches with real whipping cream😋😋😋😋
C says
I have made the strawberry version and I think peach would be good also. The orange is delicious. Thanks for the recipe.
Alcia Manek says
I have not tried this yet, but we love fruit in our Pretzel Salad. Since Mandarin Oranges are our favorite – this is going to our next family pitch-in! So glad to “follow” and get these yummy recipes.
Maureen says
I have had strawberry pretzel salad before but the mandarin oranges sounds so refreshing. I would also like this made with peaches. I would definitely use cool whip. My husband is addicted to it. This would go over big at a cookout. Absolutely a refreshing dessert. Would make this recipe. My husband loves mandarin oranges too.
jennifer cornman says
This looks really good I wonder if it would bee good with cherry or blueberries
Cal Abriola says
I want to try it with raspberries.
Joyce Marshall says
I would use cool whip
Antonette C Nyman says
I can tell from reading the recipe that it is a winner. I have had something similar with strawberries, but I do love mandarin oranges soooo much
Amy says
I have made pretzel salad with cool whip for bbq at friends house
Julie says
I loved this to answer your questions, this tasted almost like a cream cyclic, I would like to try Mangos with this. I first tried it with after dinner dessert, now I can take it to Church and have them try it we have a small buffet of dessert types treats to give you that after church
lift. You know instead of a after church nap. I only tried it with cool whip, I don’t trust having my whip cream to come out right. Even through heavy whipping cream works for everything else. I couldn’t really come up with other fruits I would try. Maybe add a cherry pie filling on top with cherry jello.
Another great recipe to add to my collection Thank you so much I do appreciate your hard work.
Pennie Taylor says
This recipe sounds yummy. We can’t wait to try it. I would prefer a whipped cream but cool whip is quick, easy, and holds up without melting as quickly. I think a peanut butter filling would be great too. The kind of filling you would make for buckeyes. Thank you, Pennie
Christy says
This recipe sounds delicious. I have had pretzel salad made with strawberries; I think the mandarin oranges would make a lighter and more refreshing version of pretzel salad.
Elise says
What fruit would you like to try in a pretzel salad? Raspberries! They are my favorite!
Carol Clendenen says
I’ve had strawberry pretzel salad before and loved it, but I’m over the moon about the mandarin orange.
KIMBERLY DUDEK says
GUAVA! It is so underrated. There are very few desserts that use guava. It’s such an exotic fruit and should be used more.
Nancy says
I would love to try this! I will make it for a group of us musicians that get together once a week. We always bring food! Thanks for sharing. It does sound really good.
Connie Jenkins says
What fruit would you like to try in a pretzel salad?
I would use Kiwi 🥝