Orange Gelatin Pretzel Salad

This salad is really more of a dessert bar, with a sweet and salty pretzel crust, a cream cheese filling, and a top layer made from orange Jello and canned mandarin oranges.

What is a Pretzel Salad?

If you’re looking for lettuce and tomatoes, you’re in the wrong place! This recipe is clearly not for an actual salad. It is a perfect fruit salad dessert for parties and potlucks – do not plan on any leftovers.

How to make Orange Gelatin Pretzel Salad

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup butter, melted
• 1 tablespoon plus 3/4 cup sugar, divided
• 2 cups finely crushed pretzels
• 2 cups boiling water
• 2 packages (3 ounces each) orange gelatin
• 2 cans (8 ounces each) crushed pineapple, drained
• 1 can (11 ounces) mandarin oranges, drained
• 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
• 2 cups whipped topping
• Optional: Additional whipped topping and mandarin oranges

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Mix melted butter and 1 tablespoon sugar; stir in pretzels. Press onto bottom of an ungreased 13×9-in. baking dish. Bake 10 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack.
2. In a large bowl, add boiling water to gelatin; stir 2 minutes to completely dissolve. Stir in fruit. Refrigerate until partially set, about 30 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, in a bowl, beat cream cheese and remaining sugar until smooth. Fold in whipped topping. Spread over crust.
4. Gently spoon gelatin mixture over top. Refrigerate, covered, until firm, 2-4 hours. To serve, cut into squares. If desired, top with additional whipped topping and oranges.

Recipe tips

• Switch up the fruit. You can use any flavor of Jello that you want in this recipe. Try strawberry, raspberry, or lemon. You can leave the mandarin oranges in, leave them out, or replace them with another fresh or canned fruit instead.
• Keep it Cold. Leave pretzel salad in the refrigerator until just before you serve it. Leaving Jello out for too long may cause it to melt.
• You can make this pretzel salad a day before or the night before. Make sure to cover it well, and keep it stored in the refrigerator. We have eaten the leftovers (if there are any) for an extra day, and it is delicious. After a few days, the pretzel crust becomes soggy.