Gelatin Pretzel Salad Dressed Up for Thanksgiving

By izzie

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups pretzel sticks
• 3 tbsp. packed brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
• 2/3 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 2 cups boiling water
• 2 pkgs. (4 serving size each) cranberry-flavored gelatin
• 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 cups cold water
• 1 can (11 oz.) mandarin orange segments, drained, juice reserved
• 1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 container (8 oz.) frozen whipped topping, thawed

Details

Servings 16

Preparation

Step 1

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 13 x 9 inch (3 qt.) glass baking dish with cooking spray.

Place pretzels in resealable food-storage plasdtic bag; smash with rolling pin or flat side of meat mallet until crushed. In medium bowl, mix crushed pretzels, brown sugar and pumpkin pie spice. Stir in butter. Press mixture onto bottom of baking dish. Bake 9-11 minutes or until set. Cool on cooling rack.

Meanwhile, in large heatproof bowl, pour boiling water on gelatin; stir until gelatin is dissolved. Add enough cold water to reserved juice to equal 2 cups; stir into gelatin. Refrigerate until partially set, about 1 hour 45 minutes.

In medium bowl, beat cream cheese and granulated sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Fold in whipped topping. Spread mixture evenly over pretzel crust.

Finely chop mandarin orange segments; gently stir into partially set gelatin. Carefully pour over cream cheese layer. Refrigerate 8 hours or overnight. Cut into squares.

PER SERVING: Calories 300; total fat 15 g; sodium 230 mg; dietary fiber Og Exchanges: 2 Other Carbohydrate, 1/2 Low-Fat Milk, 2 1/2 Fat CARBOHYDRATE CHOICES: 2 1/2.