Strawberry Pretzel Salad

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If you are looking for the perfect salty sweet Spring or Summer dessert, this Strawberry Pretzel Salad combines the crunch of pretzels with sweet strawberries and a creamy cheesecake-like layer. It is the perfect dessert for your next potluck, Spring holiday, or BBQ!

Why We LOVE This Recipe

We love this strawberry pretzel salad recipe because it combines the perfect balance of sweet strawberry jello, creamy cream cheese layer, and crunchy pretzel crust. 

• The combination of the salty pretzel crust with the sweet strawberry layer on top is simply irresistible.
• The cheesecake-ish mixture adds a creamy texture that perfectly complements the strawberry gelatin.
• This strawberry pretzel salad is a great recipe that is sure to become a family favorite.

Ingredients:

Crushed pretzels
Butter
Granulated sugar
Cream cheese
Cool whip
Water
Strawberry Jello Mix
Fresh Strawberries

For detailed ingredients, see the recipe card below.

How to Make Strawberry Pretzel Salad

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a 9×13 pan with nonstick spray and set aside.

Step 2: For the crust, melt the butter by microwaving on 30 second increments. In a large bowl, combine crushed pretzels, melted butter, and 3 tbsp. sugar. Mix well.

Step 3: Press the crust mixture into the bottom of your pan and bake for 8-10 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow the crust to cool completely.

Step 4: Once the crust has cooled, in a large mixing bowl, mix the cream cheese and 1 cup sugar together until smooth. Add the cool whip, and mix until well combined. Spoon this mixture over the pretzel crust, and smooth out evenly. Take extra care to bring this mixture to the edge of the pan and smooth out along the edges to create a seal to hold our jello layer next.

Step 5: Move the pan to the refrigerator to allow this layer to set for 1 hour.

Step 6: Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, bring the 2 cups of water to a boil. Remove from the heat and whisk in strawberry jello mix. Allow the jello mixture to cool completely.

Step 7: For the strawberries, remove the tops and slice.

Step 8: After you allow the first layer to set, and the jello has cooled completely, carefully pour the jello mixture on top of the first layer. I used a spoon to spoon the jello mixture out at first, and then very slowly poured the rest. Take your strawberry slices and press them down into the jello, covering the whole dish.

Step 9: Move the pan back to the refrigerator to chill for 6 hours, or for best results, overnight.

FAQs

Can you use homemade whipped cream?

Yes! I know a lot of people prefer a homemade whipped cream over cool whip. You can definitely try that for this recipe, but it may not set up as well. If you have a whipped cream recipe that includes a stabilizer, like gelatin, it would be even better.

Could you substitute graham crackers crushed instead of pretzels?

If you don’t love the pretzel crust, you can certainly make a graham cracker crust for this dessert. You could opt to stir the pretzels into the cream cheese layer if you still wanted those included.

Could you use frozen strawberries for this recipe?

Yes! You can use frozen sliced strawberries, just thaw them slightly before preparing the dessert.

How far in advance can I make this recipe?

You can make this a day in advance and refrigerate it overnight. This dessert actually benefits from some time in the refrigerator as it allows the flavors to develop and the layers to set properly.

More Dessert Recipes to Try

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