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Strawberry Pretzel Salad is not a salad at all, but a delicious dessert made with simple, store-bought ingredients like jello, cool whip, pretzels, and strawberries. Always a hit at potlucks and picnics. Fancy another fresh strawberry dessert? Try my strawberry shortcake (with jello!). It’s a Dream!
What is Strawberry Pretzel Salad?
Strawberry Pretzel Salad is actually a DESSERT! It’s made in layers, starting with a crust of crushed pretzels, a creamy layer of a mixture of cream cheese, sugar, and whipped cream, and a layer of strawberry gelatin and fresh strawberries. The pretzel crust provides a salty and crunchy base, while the creamy layer provides a rich and smooth texture, and the strawberry layer adds a sweet and fruity flavor. It’s the perfect side dish for summer picnics and potlucks!
variations
There are many variations you can try with this classic dessert. So feel free to experiment with different fruits, jello flavors and toppings to create your own unique take on the Strawberry Pretzel Salad. Here are some common flavors:
- Raspberry Pretzel Salad: Replace the strawberries with fresh raspberries or a berry mix.
- Blueberry Pretzel Salad: Use fresh blueberries instead of strawberries and add lemon zest to the cream cheese layer for a flavor boost.
- Peach Pretzel Salad: Replace the strawberries with diced fresh peaches and sprinkle a pinch of cinnamon on top of the cream cheese layer.
- Pineapple Pretzel Salad: Use chopped pineapple in place of strawberries and add shredded coconut to cream cheese layer.
- Chocolate Pretzel Salad: Add a layer of chocolate ganache between the pretzel crust and cream cheese layer for a decadent twist on this classic dessert.
- Cheesecake Pretzel Salad: Swap out the cream cheese layer for a no-bake cheesecake filling and top with a layer of fresh fruit or fruit compote.
- Nutella Pretzel Salad: For a chocolatey twist, mix Nutella into the cream cheese layer and top with sliced ​​bananas or chopped hazelnuts.
How to make Strawberry Pretzel Salad
Full recipe details, including required ingredients and measurements, are on the printable recipe card below. Here’s what you can expect when preparing this recipe:
Prepare the Jell-O layer
Add to Pack of Jell-O put in a small bowl. fill in 2 cups boiling water, stir until everything is completely dissolved. Leave to cool to room temperature.
Make the pretzel layer
Location pretzels in a zip bag. Crush into small crumbles with a mallet or rolling pin.
Add to butter And Sugar place in a small saucepan and cook over medium heat Melt the butter, stirring occasionally to completely dissolve the sugar. Remove from the stove and add pretzel crumbsmix while stirring.
baking + cooling
Pour pretzel mix in a 9×13 casserole dishpush down to form an even layer on the bottom of the bowl.
Bake for 10 minutes. Cool to room temperature.
Make the layer of cream cheese and whipped cream
In a mixing bowl, beat using a hand mixer or food processor cream cheese And Sugar Whisk until fluffy for about 2 minutes. Scrape the rim of the bowl as needed.
Fold with a spoon or spatula Cool whip in the cream cheese mix until there are no more white streaks.
Spread on the cooled pretzel layer
Equally distributed Cream Cheese/Cool Whip Mixture above chilled pretzels Be sure to seal the baking pan all the way around so the jelly doesn’t leak through and you get nice clean layers.
Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Can I use homemade whipped cream instead of Cool Whip?
Alternatively, you can use fresh, homemade whipped cream, but this is not recommended as it will make the pretzels soggy. Cool Whip is more stable and a better choice for this recipe.
mount
Spread evenly sliced ​​strawberries tower over cream cheese layer.
Pour evenly jello tower over strawberries. This should completely fill the bowl. However, if the bowl isn’t deep enough, you may need to leave out some of the Jell-O mixture to avoid overflowing. This does not affect the final result.
Cover the bowl with it plastic wrap And Refrigerate for 2-4 hours or until Jell-O is discontinued.
Note: I like to set the casserole dish on a baking sheet first to make it easier to transfer, as the jelly won’t set and will fill the dish to the brim.
Cut + serve
Serve cold in square portions and store in the fridge.
Storing Strawberry Pretzel Salad
If you have leftovers, cover the bowl with plastic wrap or foil to keep it from drying out in the fridge. Find a flat spot in the fridge for this. We don’t want everything to come to an end.
Can I do this in advance?
Yes! You can prepare this 1-2 days before serving.
Can I Freeze Strawberry Pretzel Salad?
No, I would not recommend freezing it. The pretzel crust becomes mushy and the texture of the cream cheese layer changes and becomes grainy.
More potluck side dishes to try!
I hope you love this salad aka dessert! It’s a good one, and always one that quickly disappears at potlucks and get-togethers. Remember to print, save, bookmark and share this recipe. The printable recipe card is below. Have a great day, friends! 🙂
Strawberry Pretzel Salad
Not a salad at all, Strawberry Pretzel Salad is a delicious dessert made with simple, store-bought ingredients like jelly, cool whip, pretzels, and strawberries. Always a hit at potlucks and picnics.
Ingredients
for cream cheese/whipped cream layer
instructions
for cream cheese/whipped cream layer
Remarks
**I like to place the casserole dish on a baking sheet first to make it easier to transfer, as the jello won’t set and will fill the dish to the brim.
Nourishment
Calories: 3021kcal | Carbohydrates: 240G | Protein: 25G | Fat: 229G | Saturated Fatty Acids: 140G | Polyunsaturated fat: 10G | Monounsaturated fatty acids: 59G | trans fats: 6G | Cholesterol: 631mg | Sodium: 1976mg | Potassium: 1282mg | Fiber: 10G | Sugar: 203G | Vitamin A: 7752IU | Vitamin C: 267mg | Calcium: 580mg | Iron: 2mg