Strawberry Pretzel Salad

Salty, sweet, creamy, and crunchy this Strawberry Pretzel Salad has it all! With three unique layers this easy dessert makes the perfect potluck recipe.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Prep Time 20 mins

Cook Time 10 mins

Resting time 3 hrs

Total Time 30 mins

Servings servings

Calories 293

Author Michelle

Ingredients

For the Crust:

2 cups finely crushed pretzels
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
¾ cup salted butter, melted

For the Filling:

8 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
8 ounces Cool Whip

For the Strawberry Topping:

2 cups boiling water
6 ounce package Strawberry Jell-O
1½ cups cold water
4 cups sliced strawberries

US - Metric

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a medium bowl, stir together the pretzel crumbs and sugar. Pour the melted butter over top and stir with a fork until all of the crumbs are evenly moistened. Press into the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking pan. Bake for 10 min, then cool completely.
Using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold in the Cool Whip. Spread evenly over the crust and refrigerate while you prepare the topping.
Place the dry Jello in a large bowl and add the boiling water. Stir for at least 2 minutes, until the gelatin is completely dissolved. Stir in the cold water. Refrigerate for 1½ hours or until slightly thickened (will the consistency of egg whites). Stir in the strawberries and pour over the cream cheese layer. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours, or until the Jello layer is set. Cut into squares to serve. Leftovers should be stored, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Video

Notes

Pretzels: For this recipe, I suggest using small pretzel twists or sticks. They will be easier to measure and crush.
Cool Whip: I do not recommend substituting fresh whipped cream, as it's not as stable and can cause the filling to weep and create a soggy crust.
Recipe Variations: See the post above for ideas on different fruit/Jello combinations.
Serving: Serve plain or with a dollop of whipped cream!
Storing: Keep covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Make-ahead: This recipe is the ideal make-ahead dessert. Since it requires a minimum of 3 hours to set I would recommend making it the day before you plan to serve it.

Nutritional values are based on one serving

Nutrition