Description
Strawberry Pretzel Salad is a delightful layered dessert featuring a crunchy salted pretzel crust, a creamy sweet cream cheese layer, and a fresh strawberry Jell-O topping. Perfect for potlucks and gatherings, this treat balances salty and sweet flavors with a fruity finish.
Ingredients
Scale
Jell-O Layer
- 6 oz strawberry Jell-O
- 2 cups boiling water
- 1 lb fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
Pretzel Crust
- 2 cups crushed salted pretzels (about 4 cups whole pretzels)
- 12 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
Cream Cheese Layer
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 8 oz Cool Whip, thawed
Instructions
- Dissolve: Preheat oven to 350°F. In a bowl, combine the strawberry Jell-O with 2 cups boiling water and stir until completely dissolved. Set aside to cool to room temperature.
- Crush Pretzels: Place the pretzels in a sturdy Ziploc bag and crush them using a rolling pin until finely broken.
- Pretzel Layer: In a medium saucepan, melt 12 tablespoons of unsalted butter over medium heat. Add 1/4 cup granulated sugar and stir until combined. Mix in the crushed pretzels thoroughly. Transfer the mixture to a 13×9-inch glass casserole dish, pressing evenly over the bottom to form a crust. Bake for 10 minutes at 350°F, then remove and allow it to cool to room temperature.
- Cream Layer: Once the pretzel crust has cooled, use an electric hand mixer to beat the softened 8 oz cream cheese with 1/2 cup sugar on medium-high speed until the mixture is fluffy and white. Fold in the 8 oz of thawed Cool Whip gently until no streaks remain. Spread this creamy layer evenly over the cooled pretzel crust, pushing the mixture all the way to the edges to seal. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to set.
- Jell-O Layer: Hull and thinly slice 1 pound of fresh strawberries, then stir them into the room temperature strawberry Jell-O mixture. Pour the mixture evenly over the set cream cheese layer, spreading carefully. Refrigerate the entire dish until the Jell-O is fully set, about 2 to 4 hours.
Notes
- For best results, allow the Jell-O mixture to cool completely before adding the strawberries to prevent them from becoming mushy.
- Press the cream cheese layer firmly to the edges of the pretzel crust to prevent the Jell-O from seeping underneath.
- This dessert can be made a day ahead and kept refrigerated to enhance flavor fusion.
- Use salted pretzels to balance the sweetness of the layers.
- Ensure cream cheese is softened at room temperature for easier mixing.
