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This strawberry pretzel salad is an old fashioned dessert that never gets old! From the sweet and salty pretzel crust to the layers of cream cheese and strawberry jello, it’s a creamy and delicious dessert dish that is perfect for any potluck or party!
What is Strawberry Pretzel Salad?
Strawberry pretzel salad is actually not so much a salad, it is more of a layered dessert recipe. I am a sucker for sweet and salty combination desserts and with the addition of cream cheese and fresh strawberry fruit flavors, it is absolutely a classic summer dessert!
To start, you’ll use pretzels, sugar, and melted butter to make a crunchy sweet and salty crust. Then comes the creamy layer; a mix of cream cheese and cool whip. Finally, it’s topped off with the fruity flavor of strawberry jello mixed with freshly sliced strawberries.
This recipe is so simple to make. It’s a perfect ending to a family meal or a great dish to pass at a potluck or gathering. People always rave about this dessert. If only they knew just how quick and easy it is. It’s cool and refreshing, yet creamy and rich! The perfect combination for any dessert.
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups of pretzels, crushed
- 1 ½ cups sugar, divided
- ¾ cups butter, melted
- 12 ounces cream cheese (room temperature)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 12 ounces cool whip (thawed in the refrigerator)
- 3 to 4 cups fresh strawberries, sliced
- 6 ounces strawberry jello (2 packages) note: you can use sugar-free if you like
- 2 cups water, boiled
Substitutions
Jello: If you like, you could change the flavor of this salad altogether, by switching up the jello flavor. Some other jello flavors that would be delicious in a pretzel salad include cherry, raspberry, strawberry banana, or lime.
Fruit: If you’re changing up the jello flavor in your recipe, you might also want to change up the fruit. Strawberries would still be great with strawberry-banana jello, but if you’re changing the jello to a flavor like raspberry you might want to use raspberries in place of the strawberries.
How to Make Strawberry Pretzel Salad
- Preheat oven: to 350 degrees.
- Make the crust: Combine in a medium bowl, crushed pretzels, sugar, and melted butter. Press into the bottom of a 9×13 pan. Bake for 10 minutes. Cool completely.
- Make the Jello: In a medium bowl, mix boiling water and jello. Stir until jello is completely dissolved. Stir in sliced strawberries. Chill in the fridge until the jello is partially set (for about 1 hour.)
- Make the Cream Cheese Layer: In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, remaining sugar, and vanilla, until well combined. Fold in the cool whip.
- Layer: Spread the cream cheese mixture on top of the pretzel crust, (make sure it completely covers the crust and touches the sides of the pan). Let chill in the fridge for a few minutes)
- Layer the Jello: Carefully pour or spoon the strawberry jello over the top of the cream cheese mixture. Cover and refrigerate until the jello and dish are firm (about 3-4 hours).
Tips
- To crush your pretzels and easy way, place them in a Ziploc bag and use a rolling pin, wooden spoon, or your hand to crush them!
- Be sure to spread the cream cheese layer all of the ways to the edges of the pretzel crust. This will keep the jello from seeping through and making the crust soggy or mushy.
- When serving your strawberry pretzel salad, if you have any extra cool whip you can top each serving with an extra dollop of whip cream.
- This dish is meant to be served cold so the longer it can be in the refrigerator the better. You can keep it up to 3 days in the fridge.
- We always prefer using fresh fruit, but you can use frozen strawberries if you are in a crunch!
Make Ahead Dessert
We love make-ahead desserts and this one is perfect if you are entertaining! Strawberry Pretzel Salad is better the longer it chills, so it is great to make the day or even 2 days before entertaining!
How to Store
Before serving, along with any leftovers, your strawberry pretzel salad can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Make sure to put it back in the fridge (or freezer) in between servings, you are bringing this to a potluck or serving it at a gathering. If the cream cheese layer melts, it will lose its form and become a huge mess.
You can also store your strawberry pretzel salad in the freezer! This will help it to really firm up and stay a bit more study if you have to travel with it.
More Strawberry Desserts
Strawberry Crisp | Skinny Strawberry Cake | Strawberry Shortcake Trifle | No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake | Fruit Salsa with Cinnamon Chips | Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries | Strawberry Lemonade Cream Cheese Cookies | Strawberry Fluff Salad
Strawberry Pretzel Salad
Ingredients
- 2½ cups pretzels crushed
- 1½ cups sugar divided
- ¾ cup butter melted
- 12 ounces cream cheese
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 12 ounces cool whip
- 3-4 cups fresh strawberries sliced
- 6 ounces strawberry gelatin 2 packages
- 2 cups water boiled
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a medium bowl, combine crushed pretzels, 3⁄4 cup sugar, and melted butter. Press into the bottom of the 9×13 pan. Bake for 10 minutes. Cool completely.
- (TIP: Crush pretzels by putting them in a ziploc bag and using a rolling pin, wooden spoon, or your hands to crush them.)
- In a medium bowl, add the 2 cups of boiled water to the jello and stir until jello is completely dissolved. Stir in sliced strawberries. Chill in fridge until the jello is partially set (about an hour).
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, remaining 3⁄4 cup sugar, and the vanilla until well combined. Fold in the cool whip.
- Spread the cream cheese mixture on top of the pretzel crust, making sure it completely covers the crust and touches the sides of the pan. (This will help “block” the jello from going into the crust and making it soggy.) Place in the fridge until chilled.
- Carefully pour or spoon the strawberry jello over the top of the cream cheese mixture. Cover and refrigerate until the jello and dish is firm. (best is about 3-4 hours)
Jenn’s Notes
- To crush your pretzels and easy way, place them in a Ziploc bag and use a rolling pin, wooden spoon, or your hand to crush them!
- Be sure to spread the cream cheese layer all of the ways to the edges of the pretzel crust. This will keep the jello from seeping through and making the crust soggy or mushy.
- When serving your strawberry pretzel salad, if you have any extra cool whip you can top each serving with an extra dollop of whip cream.
- This dish is meant to be served cold so the longer it can be in the refrigerator the better. You can keep it up to 3 days in the fridge.
Video
Nutrition Info
The sweet and salty combination of pretzels, fresh strawberries, and jello, combined with the creamy whipped topping and cream cheese filling, make this strawberry pretzel salad unlike any other dessert. It is so delicious. This fun dessert is also so easy to make. It’ll be the perfect dish to complete your next family dinner or to bring to pass at a potluck!
Amazing!!
When i make the Strawberry pretzel salad i always have problems with the crust not firm.what am I doing wrong?