Description
Mandarin orange pretzel parfait offers a delightful dessert fusion of sweet citrus and salty crunch. Creamy layers nestled between crisp pretzel crumbles create a refreshing summer treat you’ll savor with each spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups pretzels, crushed
- 1 can mandarin oranges, drained
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
Sweeteners and Flavoring:
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp honey
Garnish and Texture:
- 1/4 cup sliced almonds
- 2 tbsp orange zest
- 2 tbsp powdered sugar
Instructions
- Crush pretzels into fine, uniform crumbs using a food processor or rolling pin, ensuring a consistent texture for the base layer.
- In a mixing bowl, whip heavy cream until stiff peaks form, creating a light and airy foundation for the parfait.
- Blend softened cream cheese with granulated sugar, vanilla extract, and honey until smooth and fully incorporated, generating a rich, creamy mixture.
- Gently fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture, maintaining the voluminous texture while creating a harmonious blend.
- Drain mandarin oranges completely, patting them dry to prevent excess liquid from compromising the parfait’s structure.
- Layer crushed pretzels as the initial base in serving glasses, creating a crunchy foundation for the dessert.
- Carefully spoon the cream cheese mixture over the pretzel layer, ensuring even distribution and a clean presentation.
- Strategically arrange mandarin orange segments throughout the cream layer, providing bursts of citrusy freshness.
- Sprinkle sliced almonds and orange zest between layers for added textural complexity and aromatic intensity.
- Dust the top with powdered sugar, creating a delicate, elegant finishing touch.
- Refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow flavors to meld and parfait to set completely before serving chilled.
Notes
- Customize the pretzel base by experimenting with different types of pretzels like honey wheat or gluten-free varieties for dietary accommodations.
- Ensure cream cheese is at room temperature for smoother blending and preventing lumpy texture in the parfait mixture.
- Pat mandarin oranges thoroughly dry to maintain the parfait’s structural integrity and prevent unwanted liquid separation.
- Optimize whipped cream stability by chilling the mixing bowl and beaters beforehand, creating a more voluminous and stable cream.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: None
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 25 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg