Orange Gelatin Pretzel Salad
Sweet, salty, and perfectly refreshing, Orange Gelatin Pretzel Salad is a crowd-pleasing dessert that’s as beautiful as it is delicious. This classic layered treat begins with a crisp, buttery pretzel crust that provides the perfect salty contrast to the luscious cream cheese and Cool Whip layer. The final touch is a shimmering top of orange gelatin studded with juicy mandarin orange segments, creating a vibrant, fruity finish that’s hard to resist. Ideal for potlucks, holiday gatherings, or summer BBQs, this easy-to-make recipe combines texture and flavor in every bite. With just 20 minutes of prep time and a few simple steps, this no-fuss favorite is bound to become a household staple. Keywords: orange gelatin pretzel salad, mandarin orange dessert, layered pretzel dessert, sweet and salty dessert recipe, holiday potluck recipes.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 2 cups (crushed) pretzels
- 0.75 cups (melted) unsalted butter
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar (for crust)
- 8 oz cream cheese (softened)
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 8 oz cool whip (thawed)
- 6 oz orange gelatin mix (Jell-O)
- 2 cups boiling water
- 2 cups cold water
- 20 oz (canned) mandarin orange segments (drained)
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
In a medium mixing bowl, combine the crushed pretzels, melted butter, and 3 tablespoons of granulated sugar. Mix until evenly combined.
Press the pretzel mixture firmly into the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish to form an even crust layer.
Bake the crust in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. Remove and let it cool completely on a wire rack.
While the crust is cooling, make the cream cheese layer. In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and powdered sugar together until smooth and creamy.
Fold in the thawed Cool Whip gently until fully incorporated. Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over the cooled pretzel crust, making sure to seal the edges completely to prevent the gelatin layer from seeping through.
Refrigerate the dish while preparing the gelatin layer.
In a large mixing bowl, dissolve the orange gelatin mix in 2 cups of boiling water. Stir until the gelatin has completely dissolved.
Add 2 cups of cold water to the gelatin mixture. Stir well and let it cool to room temperature.
Once the gelatin has cooled, gently stir in the drained mandarin orange segments.
Pour the gelatin mixture evenly over the cream cheese layer in the baking dish.
Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 4 hours or until the gelatin is fully set.
Slice into squares and serve chilled. Enjoy this delightful combination of sweet, salty, and tangy flavors!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
4299 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 255.1 g | 327% | |
| Saturated Fat | 151.4 g | 757% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 625 mg | 208% | |
| Sodium | 2239 mg | 97% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 499.4 g | 182% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 8.8 g | 31% | |
| Total Sugars | 395.9 g | ||
| Protein | 42.4 g | 85% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 387 mg | 30% | |
| Iron | 5.4 mg | 30% | |
| Potassium | 930 mg | 20% | |
*The % Daily Value 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.
