Description
This delightful Strawberry Pretzel Salad features a crunchy, salty pretzel crust topped with a creamy sweetened cream cheese layer and a vibrant strawberry gelatin topping packed with real strawberries. Chilled to perfection, this dessert beautifully balances sweet, salty, and fruity flavors with a luscious, layered texture, making it a crowd-pleasing treat ideal for gatherings and potlucks.
Ingredients
Scale
Crust
- 2 cups crushed pretzels
- 3/4 cup melted butter
- 3 tablespoons sugar
Cream Cheese Layer
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 8 oz whipped topping (such as Cool Whip)
Strawberry Gelatin Topping
- 2 (3 oz) packages strawberry gelatin
- 2 cups boiling water
- 2 (10 oz) packages frozen strawberries
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (204°C) to prepare for baking the pretzel crust.
- Prepare Pretzel Crust: In a mixing bowl, combine the crushed pretzels, melted butter, and 3 tablespoons of sugar. Stir until the mixture is well combined and evenly moistened. Press this mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish. Bake in the preheated oven for 8 minutes to set and lightly toast the crust. Remove from oven and allow it to cool completely.
- Make Cream Cheese Layer: In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with 1 cup of sugar until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Gently fold in the whipped topping until fully combined, creating a light, fluffy layer. Spread this mixture evenly over the cooled pretzel crust to form the creamy middle layer.
- Prepare Strawberry Gelatin: In a heat-safe bowl, dissolve the two packages of strawberry gelatin into 2 cups of boiling water, stirring well to ensure all gelatin granules are fully dissolved. Add the frozen strawberries to the gelatin mixture and stir to combine. Let the mixture sit briefly to begin to set but remain pourable.
- Assemble & Chill: Carefully pour the strawberry gelatin and strawberry mixture evenly over the cream cheese layer. Place the assembled dish in the refrigerator and chill for at least 4 hours or until the gelatin topping is fully set and firm.
Notes
- Ensure the pretzel crust is completely cooled before adding the cream cheese layer to prevent melting.
- Use softened cream cheese for easier mixing and a smoother texture.
- You can substitute fresh strawberries for frozen if preferred; just chop them before adding to the gelatin.
- Chilling time is crucial for the gelatin topping to set properly; avoid rushing this step.
- To crush pretzels, place them in a sealed plastic bag and use a rolling pin or food processor.
