This easy Strawberry Pretzel Salad recipe is the perfect sweet and salty dessert made with a buttery pretzel crust, cream cheese, Cool Whip, fresh strawberries, and strawberry Jell-O. It's easy to prepare and great for potlucks, BBQs, and family gatherings!
Looking for more easy desserts? Try my Key Lime Pie or Strawberry Brownies next!
About This Recipe
Treat yourself (and your friends and family!) to a good old-fashioned Strawberry Pretzel Salad! If you've never had it before, it's a classic dessert known for its sweet, creamy layers and crunchy pretzel crust. It reminds me of a strawberry cheesecake, but the pretzel crust gives it a subtle saltiness, and the Jell-O makes it much lighter and more refreshing. That's why it's so popular for summer gatherings!
The salty pretzel crust pairs perfectly with the whipped cream layer, while the strawberry gelatin and fresh strawberries add a bright, fruity sweetness. Each bite is creamy, crunchy, salty, and sweet at the same time. Whether serving it as a dessert at a holiday gathering or bringing it to a summer potluck, this dessert is always a hit!
Key Ingredients
Strawberry Jell-O: You'll need one large 6-ounce box or two smaller 3-ounce boxes. Make sure you do not use the amount of water that the box says, as we use half the amount. We want the gelatin to be a bit firmer than usual.
Pretzels: In total, we'll need 2 cups of crushed pretzels, which equals about 4 cups of whole pretzels. I used a food processor to crush mine, but if you don't have one, you can place them in a plastic bag and crush them with a rolling pin.
Butter: This helps the pretzels form into a crust. I recommend using unsalted butter here because pretzels already contain some salt.
Sugar: We'll need sugar for sweetening the crust and the cream filling.
Cream cheese: Let this soften to room temperature so it's easier to mix.
Cool Whip: Make sure you defrost it in the fridge beforehand.
Strawberries: Fresh or frozen will both work, but I prefer the taste of fresh strawberries.
Instructions
STEP 1: In a medium bowl, dissolve the strawberry Jell-O in boiling water. Let this cool to room temperature. Make sure you DO NOT cool this in the refrigerator, or else the Jello will firm up.
STEP 2: In a large bowl, combine the crushed pretzels, melted butter, and ¼ cup of sugar.
STEP 3: Press the mixture firmly into the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish. I used a burger press to press the crumbs into the dish. Bake for 8-10 minutes until golden brown. Remove it from the oven and allow it to cool to room temperature.
STEP 4: In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and ½ cup of sugar until soft, about 2-3 minutes.
STEP 5: Gently fold in the Cool Whip.
STEP 6: Spread the cream mixture over the pretzel crust.
STEP 7: Arrange the sliced strawberries evenly over the cream.
STEP 8: Pour the Jell-O mixture over the top. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or until completely set.
Strawberry Pretzel Salad
Ingredients
- 1 (6-ounce) package strawberry Jell-O
- 2 cups boiling water
- 2 cups crushed pretzels (about 4 cups whole pretzels)
- ¾ cup melted butter
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese (softened)
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 (8-ounce) container Cool Whip (thawed)
- 1 pound strawberries (fresh or frozen; sliced)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F.
- In a medium bowl, dissolve the strawberry Jell-O in boiling water. Let cool to room temperature.
- In a large bowl, combine the crushed pretzels, melted butter, and ¼ cup of sugar. Press firmly into the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes until golden brown. Cool to room temperature.
- In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and ½ cup of sugar until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Gently fold in the Cool Whip. Spread over the cooled crust.
- Arrange the sliced strawberries evenly over the cream.
- Pour the Jell-O mixture over the top. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or until completely set.
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