Reesie's Orange Creamsicle Dessert

6 oz. box orange flavored jello
1 cup water
2 - 8 oz. pkgs. cream cheese
1/2 pint whipping cream
1 tsp. lemon flavoring
1/4 cup powdered sugar
16 oz. can mandarin oranges
2 sleeves Ritz crackers
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp sugar

Pull out a 9x13 pan. Heat over to 350 degrees.

In a small sauce pan, boil water and add jello. Whisk together until dissolved. Pour mixture into bowl and put into fridge until jello sets. 

Drain the juice from the can of oranges. Pat dry the oranges to remove some of the liquid. You can use a paper towel for this.

Using a hand mixer and a mixing bowl, beat whipping cream, powdered sugar and lemon flavoring. Keep beating until it looks like whipped topping. Add in cream cheese until combined, using the hand mixer on low (or folding in by hand). Add in set jello. Combine until it looks all orange. 

Melt butter in microwave. Using a food processor, crush up the crackers. You could also use a rolling pin to crush the crackers, making sure your crackers are in a zip lock bag. After crumbs are ready, add in cinnamon and sugar. Mix in the butter. Using your clean hands, push the crumbs evenly into the pan. Cook the crust for 10-12 minutes, making sure that the butter all looks absorbed.

Put cream cheese mixture into the pan on top of the crust. Spread out until smooth. Arrange oranges on the top. Put in refrigerator for 5-6 hours.

Suggestion:

• If you don't want to make your own whipped topping, substitute in an 8 oz. tub of prepared whipped topping.
• You can also use club crackers or vanilla wafers in substitute for the Ritz crackers.
• Make in individual containers instead of a one large pan. 
• Try making with different flavors. Use strawberry jello with fresh strawberries on top. Or raspberry jello with fresh raspberries on top.