Mandarin Orange Pretzel Salad

I recently read a recipe on one of my favorite Blog's...,,,,,,,,,http://www.sixsistersstuff.com
and my sister in law asked us to bring a salad to our nephew's mission homecoming.  It was easy to make and so yummy.  I am not sure how inexpensive it is to make as I sent my Hubby to the grocery store for the ingredients and it wasn't our usual Winco or Walmart store,  To tell you the truth I didn't even ask how much it cost.
Any way, it was a hit at the luncheon.

Mandarin Orange Pretzel Salad

Ingredients:


2 cups pretzels, crushed
1/2 cup butter, melted
3 tablespoons sugar
1 (8 oz) package cream cheese
1 (8 oz) container Cool-Whip (non-dairy whipped topping)
1 cup sugar
1 large box (6 oz) orange Jell-o
2 cups boiling water
1 can (11 oz) mandarin oranges

Directions:
For the first layer, combine broken pretzels, melted butter and 3 tablespoons sugar. Stir together until well blended.  Press in  9 x 13″ baking pan and bake at 350 degrees for 7 minutes.  Cool completely.
For the second layer, beat 1 cup 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 (3rd layer) will not be able to leak through when added).
For the third 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 (makes about 12 servings).