Description
Strawberry Pretzel Salad is a delightful dessert featuring a crunchy, salty pretzel crust, a smooth and creamy cream cheese filling, and a refreshing strawberry gelatin topping studded with real fruit. This layered salad combines sweet, salty, and fruity flavors with contrasting textures, making it a perfect treat for potlucks, holidays, and family gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Crust
- 2 cups crushed pretzels
- 3/4 cup melted butter
- 3 tablespoons sugar
Filling
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 8 oz whipped topping
Topping
- 2 (3 oz) packages of strawberry gelatin
- 2 cups boiling water
- 2 (10 oz) packages of frozen strawberries
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (204°C) to prepare for baking the pretzel crust.
- Prepare Crust: In a bowl, combine the crushed pretzels, melted butter, and 3 tablespoons of sugar. Press this mixture firmly into the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish. Bake for 8 minutes until set and slightly golden. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely to ensure the filling won’t melt.
- Make Filling: In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and 1 cup of sugar together until smooth and creamy. Gently fold in the whipped topping until well combined, creating a light and fluffy filling. Spread this mixture evenly over the cooled pretzel crust.
- Prepare Topping: Dissolve the two packages of strawberry gelatin in 2 cups of boiling water, stirring thoroughly to ensure complete dissolution. Stir in the frozen strawberries. Allow the gelatin mixture to set and thicken slightly at room temperature for a few minutes.
- Assemble and Chill: Carefully pour the strawberry gelatin and fruit mixture over the cream cheese layer. Transfer the entire dish to the refrigerator and chill until the gelatin is fully set, approximately 3-4 hours for best results.
Notes
- For a more intense pretzel flavor, use pretzels with coarse salt as the base.
- Make sure the pretzel crust is fully cooled before adding the cream cheese layer to prevent melting.
- Allow the gelatin to cool slightly before pouring to avoid mixing layers.
- Use fresh strawberries if preferred; reduce gelatin amount by one package if using fresh fruit to avoid watery topping.
- Chill the salad for at least 3 hours or overnight for the best texture and flavor.
