What can I do with too many mandarin oranges?

Here's how you can put your leftover mandarin oranges to good use in the week after Chinese New Year: Mandarin Orange Green Tea. Add a zesty spin to your usual cup of green tea! ... Mandarin Orange Potpourri. ... Mandarin Orange Jam. ... Mandarin Orange Salad Dressing. ... Orange-scented Vinegar Cleaning Solution.

What is pretzel salad made of?

It's made with a buttery pretzel crust that is topped with a light yet tangy cream cheese filling and finished off with a sweet strawberry Jell-O topping . This layered dessert is a classic recipe perfect for potlucks, summer BBQs, and more!

What does eating mandarin oranges do to your body?

Mandarin oranges have even more beta-carotene and beta-cryptoxanthin than common oranges, making them excellent additions to your diet. The body turns beta-carotene and beta-cryptoxanthin into vitamin A, which is essential for a healthy immune system, good vision, and normal growth and development .

Should you freeze mandarin oranges?

As long as the oranges are fresh and have a good flavor, freezing won't make a huge difference in their taste or texture . Keeping the mandarins whole results in the best taste and texture after thawing. Use frozen mandarins within 10 months.

What is the secret ingredient which makes a pretzel taste like a pretzel?

Lye. The dough is simple; take a basic yeast-risen dough that can be readied in an afternoon. But the trick to great pretzels is dipping the pretzels in a liquid wash before baking — and not just any wash, but a combination of water and lye . That's what gives pretzels their terrific color, texture and flavor.

What is the secret ingredient in pretzels?

Traditional Bavarian pretzels are dipped in a lye solution before they are baked. Lye, also known as sodium hydroxide, is essentially the same stuff that's used to make soap and clean drains. It can even dissolve glass.

What makes a soft pretzel taste like a pretzel?

The answer lies in a brief dip in an alkaline water bath before baking . This bath essentially gelatinizes the outside of the pretzel, preventing it from fully “springing” during baking (as bread does) and giving pretzels their signature chewy crust. It also gives them their unique and indelible “pretzel” flavor.

How do you preserve fresh mandarin oranges?

Cut top and bottom off so that it sits flat on cutting board. Following the curve, cut away pith and peel around the citrus. Then cut into segments between membranes. Collect fruit in the bowl, drain, and place into a Freezer Zipper bag or FreezerWare™.

Can you preserve mandarin oranges?

These days, many modern varieties of mandarins, clementines, and tangerines are bred for easy peeling so this job is not so hard. All citrus fruit is sufficiently high in acid, so it can be canned in plain water . This same method can be used to preserve other types of citrus.

How long do mandarin oranges last in the fridge?

They are usually picked ripe, and they will continue to ripen after they are picked. They can be kept at room temperature for a few days, and then they should be stored in the refrigerator to keep them fresh for a longer time. When stored in the refrigerator, mandarin oranges can last for up to 2-3 weeks .

Can you freeze leftover canned mandarin oranges?

These are perfectly juicy little morsels and are so good on salad; just to eat; or in some Asian dishes. I've even added them to smoothies. I like the pull top lid and you can always freeze extra if you don't eat the whole thing .

Mandarin Orange Pretzel Salad Recipe (2024)

Mandarin Orange Pretzel Salad makes an appearance at most family parties. It could easily double as a dessert, but we consider it a Jello side dish. Either way, it's a family favorite and don't plan on any leftovers.

We love making this delicious orange pretzel salad during the hot summer months, but it also shows up at family parties in the winter as well. It’s so easy to make and feeds a crowd.

When summer is in full swing . . . we have the hot temperatures going on, swimming lessons, fireworks, and many family BBQ’s. We love every minute of it! I would much rather have a hot summer than a freezing cold winter!

We had a fun get-together for the 4th of July and I was planning on making my mom’s Raspberry Pretzel Salad, but I completely forgot to buy raspberries at the store. I started looking for something that I could use in place of it and I saw some cans of mandarin oranges in my pantry . . . the rest is history! It turned out awesome!

It’s so easy to swap out the jello and fruit for another flavor. So we have this salad in raspberry and orange flavor.

can you make this salad ahead of time?

We have often made this Mandarin Orange Pretzel Salad a day early. Or even the night before.

Just be sure to cover it well and keep it in the fridge. We have eaten the leftovers for an extra day and it’s still delicious.

After a few days the pretzel crust can start to get a little soggy. But it actually holds up well for about 2 days. And if you have any leftovers you are very fortunate. This salad gets devoured fast.

how to make Mandarin orange pretzel salad

This salad uses everyday ingredients you may have on hand in your fridge and pantry. The ingredients for this salad are fairly inexpensive.

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9 x 13 inch baking dish.
Combine the pretzel pieces, melted butter, and sugar. Stir together until well blended.
Press into a 9 x 13 inch baking dish.
Bake for 7 minutes and cool completely.
For the 2nd layer, combine the sugar and cream cheese and beat until smooth. Fold in Cool Whip until well blended.
Spread cream cheese mixture over the pretzel layer. Be sure to seal the cream cheese layer snug against the pan on all 4 sides so the jello layer doesn’t leak through.

Then mix orange Jell-o and boiling water together. Stir until completely dissolved.
Add drained mandarin oranges and let cool until slightly set. Place it in the fridge for about 10 minutes to speed up this step.
Gently spoon the Jell-o mixture over the cream cheese layer and refrigerate until firm.
Slice and serve.

helpful items used in this recipe:

9 x 13 Glass Baking Dish– We love this baking dish and it comes with an airtight cover.
4 Cup Glass Measuring Cup– We use this to boil our water and so many other uses.
Hand Mixer– A favorite hand mixer for so many recipes.

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here are more Jell-o recipes:

Raspberry Cream Cheese Jell-o Salad
Caramel Apple Jell-o Salad
Frozen Creamy Lime Jell-o
Strawberry Jell-o Fluff Salad
Homemade Jell-o Fruit Snacks

Serves: 20

Mandarin Orange Pretzel Salad Recipe

5 from 1 vote

Mandarin Orange Pretzel Salad makes an appearance at most family parties. It could easily double as a dessert, but we consider it a Jello side dish.

Prep Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 7 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 37 minutes mins

PrintPin

Ingredients

2 cups pretzels sticks (broken into fourths)
½ cup butter melted
3 Tablespoons sugar
8 ounces cream cheese
8 ounces Cool-Whip (non-dairy whipped topping)
1 cup sugar
1 (6 ounce) box orange jello
2 cups boiling water
2 (11 ounce) cans mandarin oranges (drained)

Instructions

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
For the first layer, combine broken pretzels, melted butter and sugar. Stir together until well blended. Press in 9 x 13 inch baking pan and bake at 350 degrees for 7 minutes. Cool completely.
For the second layer, beat sugar and cream cheese together until smooth. Fold in Cool Whip.
Spread cream mixture over pretzel layer (be sure to seal the cream cheese layer against the sides of the pan so that the jello mixture will not be able to leak through when added).
For the Jell-o layer, mix orange Jell-o and boiling water together until Jello is completely dissolved. Add mandarin oranges and let cool until slightly set.
Pour Jell-o over cream cheese layer and refrigerate until firm.
Cut into squares and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 175 kcal · Carbohydrates: 27 g · Protein: 2 g · Fat: 7 g · Saturated Fat: 4 g · Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g · Monounsaturated Fat: 2 g · Trans Fat: 1 g · Cholesterol: 20 mg · Sodium: 144 mg · Potassium: 94 mg · Fiber: 1 g · Sugar: 25 g · Vitamin A: 437 IU · Vitamin C: 8 mg · Calcium: 43 mg · Iron: 1 mg

Recipe Details

Course: Dessert, Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

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Gwen M says:

I have made this salad with the frozen strawberries, thanks for the mandarin orange idea!!! Whats the recipe for raspberries? Love the website!!
Lora Wells says:

OMG!!!! I've always LOVED "normal" pretzel salad, but while I like strawberries, mandarin oranges are my absolute FAVE fruit!!! This is just SO AWESOME!!!!
Cyd says:

Yummy!
Tammy Dotson says:

This looks delicious! One question, do you drain the oranges? Thanks for the recipe!
Cyd says:
See Also
Maialino's Olive Oil Cake Recipe on Food52

Yes, drain the oranges.
tatum says:

i was so exicited to make this! followed the directions sealed the cream cheese and then when i went to pour the jello on top it seperated and one little section bubbled and it soaked to the bottom now:( i put it in the fridge hoping it will still be ediable ? will it??
Cyd says:

It should still be edible. Not sure what went wrong. We let the jello cool slightly before pouring it over the cream cheese layer. Sometimes it cools to the point that it starts to thicken just slightly. Hope this helps for a future attempt. :)
www.shopcharlestonhouse.com says:

Add Sprite for 1/2 of the water (or even all of it!) and you will be amazed! My grandmother made this without the pretzels and it was incredible, I can't imagine how delicious they make it!
Marsha Milton says:

I make a Blueberry dessert that is very similar but uses powdered sugar instead of regular sugar. for me it makes it a little creamier! I love these kinds of recipes because there is no end to the choice of fruits and jello combinations you can use! (-:
April says:

Hi! I've had this since I was a little kid. Unfortunately my son and I both have health concerns. Both of us don't eat gluten and I don't eat lactose. I'm taking a big risk because I miss this desert so much. I changed the cream cheese to 8ozs. of goat cheese and whipped topping to coconut cream topping and I used Quntino gluten free pretzels. So far both of those steps/layers has set up beautifully! Yay! When I got to the last step and it didn't say 'Add.. 2 cups cold water' does this mean it will be a firmer set, like jigglers? I'm so excited to see if my risk has paid off. Altering foods is challenging but better than being sick. Thanks for sharing the recipe.?
Cyd says:

You add two cups boiling water to the jello, stir until dissolved. When it is completely set up it's not as firm as jigglers, but it is more like jello.
Danielle says:

Thank you so much for asking that question! I was sitting here wondering the same thing myself.
Karen Williams says:

Do I make the jello as directed or do I leave off the one cup of cold water and just use one cup of boiling water? Thanks, this is my favorite!!!
Momma Cyd says:

You just add the jello to the 2 cups boiling water just as directed in the recipe.

About The Author:

Camille Beckstrand

Camille Beckstrand is married to Jared and they have 4 kids. She loves a good true crime podcast, a big plate of cheesy loaded nachos, and going on adventures with her family.

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