Orange Gelatin Pretzel Salad

My neighbor brought me some of this and I fell in love!!  It is just like the Strawberry Pretzel Salad

only orange. I also noticed that I normally had crushed my pretzels to the point of making a crust. She had just broken hers and they tasted more like pecans. I loved this and did mine this way too. 

2 cups broken pretzels

3 teaspoons sugar

3/4 cups sugar 

3/4 cups butter, melted

2 pkgs. 3oz. orange gelatin

1 cup boiling water 

1 cup reserved juice of mandarin oranges

2 cans 8 oz. each crushed pineapple, drained

1 can 11 oz. mandarin oranges, drained (reserve juice)

1/4 teaspoon orange flavoring (optional)

2 cups whipped topping

Whipped topping for garnish, optional 

In a small bowl, combine pretzels and 3 teaspoons sugar, stir in butter. Press into and ungreased 13x9x2 baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Cool. 

In a large bowl, dissolve gelatin in boiling water and add reserved juice and orange flavoring. Add pineapple and oranges. Chill until partially set, about 30 minutes. 

In a small mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and 3/4 cup sugar until smooth. Fold in whipped topping. spread over crust. Gently spoon gelatin mixture over cream cheese layer. cover and refrigerate fro 2-4 hours or until firm.

 If you want a prettier dish you can totally crush your pretzels and make a crust. As far as flavor they are delicious just like this as a crust. This is broken with sugar, butter and baked.

Cut into squares. Garnish with additional whipped topping if desired. Yield: 15 servings. 

Let me know how you like this!!! Try it out!!