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Strawberry Pretzel Salad Recipe

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★★★★★

4.7 from 331 reviews

This classic Strawberry Pretzel Salad is a delightful layered dessert featuring a crunchy salted pretzel crust, a creamy sweetened cream cheese and whipped topping middle, and a fresh strawberry Jell-O layer on top. It’s perfect for potlucks and family gatherings, offering a harmonious balance of sweet, salty, and fruity flavors with contrasting textures.

Ingredients

Scale

Jell-O Layer

  • 6 oz strawberry Jell-O mix
  • 2 cups boiling water
  • 16 oz fresh or frozen strawberries, hulled and sliced

Pretzel Crust

  • 2 1/2 cups salted pretzels (measured before crushing)
  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter
  • 3 tbsp granulated sugar

Cream Cheese Layer

  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 8 oz Cool Whip, thawed in refrigerator

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Jell-O mixture: In a small bowl, combine the strawberry Jell-O mix with 2 cups of boiling water. Whisk thoroughly until the Jell-O is completely dissolved. Set aside to cool to room temperature.
  2. Preheat the oven and crush pretzels: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the salted pretzels in a zip-top bag and crush them into small crumbs using a mallet or rolling pin.
  3. Melt butter mixture: In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the unsalted butter and stir in 3 tablespoons of granulated sugar until the sugar is completely dissolved. Remove from heat.
  4. Combine pretzels and butter: Add the crushed pretzels to the butter and sugar mixture and stir well until evenly combined.
  5. Create pretzel crust: Press the pretzel mixture evenly into the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish to form a crust layer. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. Remove and allow to cool to room temperature.
  6. Make the cream cheese layer: Using a hand or stand mixer, beat the softened cream cheese and 1/2 cup granulated sugar in a mixing bowl until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 2 minutes, scraping down the sides as needed.
  7. Fold in whipped topping: Gently fold the thawed Cool Whip into the cream cheese mixture with a spatula until fully combined and no white streaks remain.
  8. Spread cream cheese layer: Carefully spread the cream cheese and Cool Whip mixture evenly over the cooled pretzel crust, making sure to seal the edges to prevent the Jell-O from seeping through. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
  9. Add strawberries: Distribute the sliced strawberries evenly over the chilled cream cheese layer.
  10. Pour cooled Jell-O: Gently pour the room-temperature Jell-O mixture over the strawberries. The dish should be filled completely; if your dish is shallow and the Jell-O overflows, omit some of the liquid accordingly. This will not affect the final texture or taste.
  11. Chill until set: Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 to 4 hours, or until the Jell-O has fully set.
  12. Serve: Slice the salad into square portions and serve cold. Store any leftovers covered in the refrigerator.

Notes

  • Make sure the Jell-O mixture has cooled to room temperature before pouring over the cream cheese layer to prevent melting.
  • Seal the cream cheese layer around the edges to prevent the Jell-O from leaking through to the pretzel crust.
  • This dessert is best served chilled and is perfect for make-ahead occasions.
  • For extra flavor, you can use salted butter instead of unsalted in the crust.
  • Use fresh strawberries when possible for best texture, but frozen strawberries can be used if thawed and drained well.

Keywords: Strawberry Pretzel Salad, layered dessert, pretzel crust, cream cheese dessert, Jell-O dessert, potluck dessert

Find it online: https://tastewithamy.com/strawberry-pretzel-salad-recipe/