Description
Strawberry Pretzel Salad is a delightful no-bake dessert featuring a crunchy pretzel crust, a creamy sweet cream cheese layer, and a vibrant topping of strawberry gelatin mixed with juicy strawberries. This refreshing and crowd-pleasing treat is perfect for summer gatherings and potlucks.
Ingredients
Scale
Crust
- 2 cups crushed pretzels
- 3/4 cup melted butter
- 3 tablespoons sugar
Cream Cheese Layer
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 8 oz whipped topping
Strawberry Gelatin Topping
- 2 (3 oz) packages strawberry gelatin
- 2 cups boiling water
- 2 (10 oz) packages frozen strawberries
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F to prepare for baking the pretzel crust.
- Make Crust: In a bowl, combine the crushed pretzels, melted butter, and 3 tablespoons of sugar. Press this mixture evenly into a 9×13 inch baking dish. Bake the crust for 8 minutes until set and fragrant. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.
- Prepare Cream Cheese Layer: In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with 1 cup of sugar until it becomes smooth and creamy. Gently fold in the whipped topping to keep the texture light. Spread this creamy mixture evenly over the cooled pretzel crust.
- Make Strawberry Gelatin: Dissolve the two packages of strawberry gelatin in 2 cups of boiling water, stirring until fully dissolved. Add the frozen strawberries to the gelatin mixture and stir to combine. Let it set briefly until it starts to thicken slightly.
- Assemble and Chill: Pour the strawberry gelatin and strawberry mixture evenly over the cream cheese layer. Refrigerate the salad for several hours or until the gelatin is fully set before serving.
Notes
- Ensure the pretzel crust is completely cooled before spreading the cream cheese layer to prevent melting.
- For best results, use whipped topping that is thawed and cold.
- You can use fresh strawberries instead of frozen if preferred; just adjust gelatin setting time accordingly.
- This dessert is best served chilled and tastes better after sitting overnight.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
