Crunchy, creamy, sweet, and salty all come together in this fabulous strawberry pretzel salad. Don’t let the name fool you, this recipe is 100% a dessert! A slice of strawberry pretzel salad on a white and pink plate. I know the name “strawberry pretzel salad” does not sound appealing to most people, but this dessert is shockingly wonderful and tasty in so many ways! I would compare it to a cheesecake. The creamy center is like a light and fluffy no-bake cheesecake that sits on top of a crunchy-salty pretzel crust. The topping is fresh, jelly, and loaded with strawberry flavor! I’ve also come to realize that strawberry pretzel salad is not a very well-known dessert in Canada, but very popular in the States. Canadians are missing out and that needs to change! An overhead view of strawberry pretzel salad dessert on a wooden surface.

How to make strawberry pretzel salad:

Pretzel crust for a strawberry pretzel salad dessert. You start by mixing some crushed pretzels with melted butter. Press the pretzel mixture onto a 9×13″ glass baking dish. Bake at 350F for 10 minutes and let cool completely. Cream cheese and Cool Whip filling middle layer for strawberry pretzel salad. Then mix a brick of cream cheese with some sugar and cool whip. Spread the mixture on top of the pretzel layer and chill for 30 minutes. Jello and fresh strawberry top layer for pretzel salad dessert. Lastly, dissolve two packs of strawberry jello in a cup of boiling water and a cup of cold water. Pour over a pound of sliced fresh strawberries. Stir to coat and spoon over the cream filling. Chill until jello is set.

Expert tips:

How to crush the pretzels:

Place the pretzels in a ziplock bag and crush using a rolling pin or finely chop the pretzels on a cutting board using a chopping knife.

How to spread the cream cheese layer:

Drop heaping spoonfuls of the cream cheese mixture all over the crust using a large spoon or ice cream scoop. Spread the mixture evenly over the crust using an offset spatula. Make sure to seal the edges so the jello doesn’t seep into the bottom causing the crust to be soggy. See video below for demonstration.

FAQ:

What is pretzel salad?

Pretzel salad is a popular Southern dessert often shared at potlucks and holiday dinners. It consists of a pretzel crust with a sweetened cream cheese and Cool Whip filling, topped with fresh fruit set in jello.

Can you make strawberry pretzel salad the night before?

Yes, you can certainly make this the night before, that way the jello has plenty of time to set.

Can you freeze strawberry pretzel salad?

No, you cannot because the jello layer will separate. Freezing will cause the gelatin to break down, and upon thawing it will become a liquid mess.

How long does strawberry pretzel dessert last?

It will last for 3 days if properly stored in the fridge. Any longer than that and the crust will start to soften. A slice of strawberry pretzel salad topped with whipped cream and half a strawberry. I’m telling you, if you have never tried this dessert before, you need to. It’s mind-blowing! A crunchy-salty pretzel crust, along with a light and fluffy creamy center, meets a jiggly, sweet and tart strawberry topping. It’s like a flavor and texture explosion in your mouth!

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Strawberry Pretzel Salad

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 7 reviews
  • Author: Lily Ernst
  • Prep Time: 20 min
  • Cook Time: 10 min
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 18
  • Category: dessert
  • Method: bake
  • Cuisine: American

Description

Crunchy, creamy, sweet and salty all come together in this fabulous strawberry pretzel salad.


Ingredients

Base

  • 2 cups (120g) crushed salted pretzels
  • 1/2 cup (114g) unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar

Filling

  • 8oz or 250g pkg cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
  • 8oz container Cool Whip, thawed

Topping

  • 6oz or 170g strawberry Jello powder
  • 1 cup (250ml) boiling water
  • 1 cup (250ml) cold water
  • 1 lb (454g) strawberries, sliced

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350F.
  2. Mix the crushed pretzels, melted butter, and sugar together. Press the mixture onto the bottom of a 9×13″ glass baking dish. Bake for 10 minutes and let cool completely.
  3. Beat together the cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Fold in the Cool Whip until combined. Carefully spread on top of the baked pretzels. Make sure to seal all the edges so the jello doesn’t seep to the bottom and make the pretzels soggy. Chill for 30 minutes.
  4. Dissolve the jello powder in the hot water. Stir in the cold water and pour over the sliced strawberries. Gently stir the strawberries to coat. Carefully spoon the strawberry mixture on top of the cream filling. Refrigerate for 2-4 hours or until the jello is set.

Notes

Leftovers can be covered and stored in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Recipe slightly adapted from Natasha’s Kitchen.