This Orange Cranberry Pretzel Salad is sure to be a hit at your Thanksgiving table. Don’t let the ingredients fool you, this pretzel jello salad is delicious
Thanksgiving for us usually means a trip to Utah for a Wilkes Family Thanksgiving. We have lots of family in Utah and until recently all our children were in Utah too, so it was the obvious place to celebrate. We are changing things up a little this year. It is our year to have the married kids for Thanksgiving, so I decided I wanted to celebrate Thanksgiving at home in Portland. I am so excited that all the children will be coming home for Thanksgiving. I’ve been busy planning our Thanksgiving day menu.
One required menu item for any holiday meal at our home is Jello. I grew up on Jello. It made a frequent appearance at Sunday dinners and always on holidays. We usually made my grandma’s favorite jello. The Wilkes family likes jello too. At their Thanksgiving meal you will usually find a jello pretzel salad. I have changed it up a bit with some different flavors though. Usually this pretzel salad is made with raspberry or strawberry gelatin, butI love the combination of flavors in this orange cranberry jello salad! I also added some pumpkin pie spice into the pretzel crust for more holiday flavor.
The crust is made of crushed up pretzels, butter and pumpkin pie spice.
You bake that layer for a few minutes and let it cool. Then add the cream cheese and dairy whipped topping layer. Yum!
Then your thickened gelatin and fruit layer goes on top. I used mandarin oranges in mine.
Then just let it set up fully in the refrigerator.
Of course a little garnish of whip cream and more oranges on top will make it extra pretty.
Do you have any must have dishes at your holiday meals or do you change it up every year?
Pretzel Salad Recipe
This delicious pretzel salad recipe puts and orange cranberry spin on the original jello pretzel salad.
- 2 1/2 C pretzel sticks
- 3 Tbsp. brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
- 1/2 C butter melted
- 2 C boiling water
- 1 6 oz. pkg. cranberry flavored gelatin
- 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 C cold water
- 1 11 oz. can mandarin oranges drained and juice reserved
- 1 8 oz. pkg cream cheese softened
- 1 C granulated sugar
- 1 8 oz. container frozen whipped topping thawed
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Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9 x 13 pan with cooking spray
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Put pretzels in a plastic bag and crush with a rolling pin.
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Put into bowl and combine with brown sugar and pumpkin pie spice.
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Stir in butter.
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Press mixture into bottom of pan and bake for 9 mimutes. Cool
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In a large pan bring 2 C water to a boil. Add gelatin and stir until dissolved.
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Add in enough cold water to reserved juice to equal 2 cups. Stir in to gelatin.
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Refrigerate until partially set and thickened about 2 hours.
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In a mixer beat cream cheese and granulated sugar until smooth and fluffy.
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Fold in whipped topping.
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Spread mixture over pretzel crust
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Chop mandarin oranges and add into thickened gelatin.
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Carefully pour over cream cheese mixture.
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Return to refrigerator and allow to totally set up.
Recipe adapted from Pillsbury.com.
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my kids would LOVE to see this on the table! it’s so festive
Heather, Hope you’ll try it. You’re kids will love it!
Leigh Anne, I love this twist on pretzel salad! Cranberries and oranges is a match made in heaven. Good luck getting ready for your Utah trip!
Thanks Amy – it is a perfect flavor combo!!
I can see why this would be one of the first things to disappear from the holiday table, Leigh Anne…it’s sure to be a hit with kids of all ages! 😉 Have fun hosting your family at home this Thanksgiving. And thanks so much for sharing this yummy recipe as part of our Thanksgiving Menu Blog Hop!
I always feel a little guilty trying to pass it off as a salad! It really is more of a dessert and kids love it.
I love this holiday twist on the classic jello pretzel salad! Awesome flavors! I hope you have a really fun Thanksgiving in Portland 🙂
Thanks Allie – enjoy!
I haven’t had these in ages! I love the orange-cranberry combination you use! Can’t wait to try this for the holidays. Pinning!
It’s a fun flavor combo, something different than the usual way it is made. I especially love the pumpkin pie spice in the pretzel crust.
Love this one – I have heard it is a Utah specialty!
Yes, I believe they do eat a lot of jello in Utah 🙂