You know, some fruit gets all the glory. We’re looking at you, strawberry, in all your short caked-up, whipped cream-topped, and red-seeded sassy glory. Well, look out because we’ve found some new fruit that has a date with destiny in a killer combination that will make you forget all about that other fruit. This Spring Pretzel Salad is juiced-up with marvelous mandarin oranges and crazy-good crushed pineapples, joining forces to create your newest favorite dessert! Swimming in an audaciously outspoken orange gelatin layer atop a creamy, cream cheese pillow, all resting in glory above the perfectly-perfected pretzel crust that everyone knows and loves… whew, that was a mouthful. Well, anyway, this dish will be your new dessert B.F.F. The tangy mandarin oranges and the tropical pineapples don’t mess around in this Spring Pretzel Salad. They want to make it clear that spring has sprung, there’s some new fruit in town, and that you’re going to love this new duo! They are proudly seed free and loving it! Umm, strawberry who?
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon plus 3/4 cup sugar, divided
- 2 cups pretzels, finely crushed
- 2 cups boiling water
- 2 (3-ounce) packages orange gelatin
- 2 (8-ounce) cans crushed pineapple, drained
- 1 (11-ounce) can mandarin oranges, drained, plus more, to taste, for serving
- 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
- 2 cups whipped topping, plus more, to taste, for serving
Directions
Step 1 –Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 2 –In a medium bowl, add the melted butter and 1 tablespoon of the sugar and stir to combine.
Step 3 –Add the crushed pretzels to the butter mixture and stir to combine.
Step 4 –Place the pretzel mixture in an ungreased 9×13-inch baking dish and evenly press it into the bottom.
Step 5 –Bake the pretzel mixture, uncovered, about 10 minutes.
Step 6 –Transfer the baked pretzel crust to a wire rack and let it cool completely.
Step 7 –In a large bowl, add the boiling water and the orange gelatin and stir until the gelatin dissolves, about 2 minutes.
Step 8 –Add the crushed pineapple and the mandarin oranges to the gelatin mixture and stir to combine.
Step 9 –Transfer the gelatin mixture to the refrigerator to chill until partially set, about 30 minutes.
Step 10 –While the gelatin mixture is chilling, in a medium bowl add the cream cheese and the remaining sugar and beat until smooth.
Step 11 –Add the whipped topping to the cream cheese mixture and fold until combined.
Step 12 –Spread the cream cheese mixture over top of the pretzel crust.
Step 13 –Spread the gelatin mixture over the top of the cream cheese mixture.
Step 14 –Tightly cover and transfer the pretzel salad to the refrigerator to chill until it is firm, about 2-4 hours.
Step 15 –Slice the pretzel salad into squares and serve with more of the whipped topping and the mandarin orange slices.
