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This Pretzel Salad is sure to be a hit at your next family gathering. The delicious orange and cranberry jello makes it perfect for the holidays.
Thanksgiving for us usually means a trip to Utah for a Wilkes Family Thanksgiving. 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. 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.
How to Make Pretzel Salad
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
Ingredients
- 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
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9 x 13 pan with cooking spray
- Put pretzels in a plastic bag and crush with a rolling pin.
- Put into bowl and combine with brown sugar and pumpkin pie spice.
- Stir in butter.
- Press mixture into bottom of pan and bake for 9 mimutes. Cool
- In a large pan bring 2 C water to a boil. Add gelatin and stir until dissolved.
- Add in enough cold water to reserved juice to equal 2 cups. Stir in to gelatin.
- Refrigerate until partially set and thickened about 2 hours.
- In a mixer beat cream cheese and granulated sugar until smooth and fluffy.
- Fold in whipped topping.
- Spread mixture over pretzel crust
- Chop mandarin oranges and add into thickened gelatin.
- Carefully pour over cream cheese mixture.
- Return to refrigerator and allow to totally set up.
Liz Fourez says
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!
Leigh Anne says
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.
Allie | Baking a Moment says
I love this holiday twist on the classic jello pretzel salad! Awesome flavors! I hope you have a really fun Thanksgiving in Portland 🙂
Leigh Anne says
Thanks Allie – enjoy!
Samantha @ Five Heart Home says
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!
Leigh Anne says
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.
Amy | Club Narwhal says
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!
Leigh Anne says
Thanks Amy – it is a perfect flavor combo!!
heather @french press says
my kids would LOVE to see this on the table! it’s so festive
Leigh Anne says
Heather, Hope you’ll try it. You’re kids will love it!