Description
Strawberry Pretzel Salad blends sweet, salty, and creamy layers in a classic dessert that surprises with each delightful bite. Crisp pretzel crust meets silky cream cheese and luscious strawberry jello, creating a crowd-pleasing treat you cannot resist.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 lb (454 g) Strawberries, sliced
- 8 oz (226 g) Cream Cheese, softened
- 6 oz (170 g) Strawberry Jello
- 2 cups Pretzels, crushed
Base and Binding Ingredients:
- 8 tablespoons (113 g) Unsalted Butter
- 1/2 cup (100 g) Sugar
- 1/4 cup (50 g) Sugar
- 2 cups Boiling water
Topping Ingredient:
- 8 oz (226 g) Whipped Topping, thawed
Instructions
- Craft a sturdy foundation by crushing pretzels and combining with melted butter and sugar to create a crisp, golden base.
- Distribute the pretzel mixture evenly across a 9×13 baking pan, pressing firmly to form a compact crust. Bake until lightly toasted and aromatic, then allow to cool completely.
- Whip cream cheese with sugar until silky smooth, then gently incorporate whipped topping to create a luscious, creamy layer.
- Carefully spread the cream cheese mixture over the cooled pretzel crust, ensuring a complete seal to prevent sogginess.
- Chill the layered dessert briefly to set the cream cheese surface.
- Dissolve strawberry jello in boiling water, stirring until completely integrated. Allow to cool to room temperature.
- Fold fresh strawberry slices into the slightly cooled jello, creating a vibrant, fruity suspension.
- Gently pour the strawberry jello mixture over the cream cheese layer, covering the entire surface with a translucent ruby-red glaze.
- Refrigerate the dessert for several hours until the jello sets completely and the layers become harmoniously integrated.
- Slice and serve chilled, revealing the beautiful stratified texture that balances salty, sweet, and creamy elements.
Notes
- Seal the cream cheese layer completely to prevent the jello from seeping through and making the pretzel crust soggy.
- Use room temperature ingredients like cream cheese for smoother, lump-free mixing and better incorporation.
- Crush pretzels to a consistent medium-fine texture to ensure an even, crispy crust that holds together well.
- Swap whipped topping with homemade whipped cream for a fresher, less processed alternative that enhances the dessert’s flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg