Description
Sweet and salty strawberry pretzel salad dances between creamy layers of cream cheese, fresh strawberries, and crunchy pretzel crust. Summer dessert perfection brings classic comfort with a delightful twist you’ll savor to the last delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound (454 grams) strawberries, sliced
- 6 ounces (170 grams) strawberry jello
- 8 ounces (226 grams) cream cheese, softened
- 8 ounces (226 grams) whipped topping, thawed
Crust Ingredients:
- 2 cups crushed pretzels
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup sugar
Additional Ingredients:
- 2 cups boiling water
- 1/2 cup sugar
Instructions
- Prepare an oven-safe dish and heat to 350°F, ensuring precise temperature for the pretzel foundation.
- Dissolve strawberry Jello in boiling water, stirring thoroughly until completely integrated, then allow natural cooling to room temperature.
- Create a buttery pretzel base by melting butter and blending with sugar, then gently incorporating crushed pretzels into a uniform mixture.
- Distribute the pretzel combination evenly across a 9×13-inch baking pan, pressing firmly to establish a compact crust.
- Bake the pretzel layer for approximately 10 minutes, creating a crisp and golden foundation, then remove and permit complete cooling.
- Whip cream cheese with sugar using an electric mixer until achieving a silky, uniform consistency without lumps.
- Gently fold whipped topping into the cream cheese mixture, ensuring a light and airy texture.
- Spread the cream cheese blend uniformly across the cooled pretzel crust, creating a smooth intermediate layer.
- Refrigerate the layered dessert for half an hour to solidify the cream cheese component.
- Integrate sliced strawberries into the cooled Jello, stirring carefully to distribute fruit evenly.
- Delicately pour the strawberry Jello over the cream cheese layer, covering the entire surface.
- Chill the dessert for 2-3 hours, allowing complete Jello solidification and flavor melding.
- Serve directly from the refrigerator for optimal taste and texture.
Notes
- Crush pretzels finely to create a sturdy, crispy base that won’t become soggy quickly.
- Ensure Jello cools to room temperature before pouring to prevent melting the cream cheese layer.
- Chill each layer completely before adding the next to maintain distinct, clean layers in the dessert.
- Substitute graham crackers for pretzels if gluten-free option is needed, which creates a sweeter crust alternative.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 218
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 290 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 29 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg