Strawberry Pretzel Salad with whipped cream and fresh strawberries on a dessert plate

Strawberry Pretzel Salad

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Why Make This Recipe

Strawberry Pretzel Salad is a delightful dish that combines the flavors of sweet, salty, and creamy in one amazing dessert. This recipe is great for potlucks, family gatherings, or just a special treat at home. It’s simple to make and always a crowd-pleaser. The crunchy pretzel crust perfectly balances the smooth cream cheese layer, while the fresh strawberries and gelatin add a refreshing touch.

How to Make Strawberry Pretzel Salad

Ingredients

  • 2 cups small salted pretzels (crushed)
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup salted butter (melted)
  • 8 oz cream cheese (room temperature)
  • 1/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
  • 6 oz strawberry flavored gelatin
  • 2 cups boiling water
  • 1 lb fresh strawberries (sliced)

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. In a food processor, pulse the pretzels and brown sugar until combined but still chunky.
  3. Add the melted butter and pulse until the mixture is evenly moistened.
  4. Press the mixture firmly into the bottom of a parchment-lined 8×8 baking dish and bake for 10 minutes until golden brown. Let it cool completely.
  5. In a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth.
  6. Pour the heavy cream into the cream cheese mixture and beat until fully combined. Spread this over the cooled pretzel crust and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
  7. Stir the gelatin powder into boiling water until dissolved, then refrigerate for 30 minutes until thick.
  8. Fold in the sliced strawberries and pour over the chilled cream cheese layer. Chill for another 2 to 4 hours until set.
  9. Slice and serve chilled. Enjoy!

How to Serve Strawberry Pretzel Salad

Serve Strawberry Pretzel Salad chilled as a sweet dessert. You can cut it into squares and place them on a platter for easy serving. It also pairs well with a dollop of whipped cream or extra fresh strawberries on top if desired.

How to Store Strawberry Pretzel Salad

You can store any leftovers in the refrigerator. Make sure to cover it tightly with plastic wrap or a lid to keep it fresh. It’s best to enjoy it within 3-4 days for the best taste and texture.

Tips to Make Strawberry Pretzel Salad

  • Be sure to let the pretzel crust cool completely before adding the cream cheese layer; this prevents melting.
  • Use fresh strawberries for the best flavor. Frozen strawberries can be too watery.
  • You can adjust the sweetness by adding more or less powdered sugar to the cream cheese mixture, depending on your preference.

Variation

For a twist on this recipe, you can try using other fruits, such as blueberries or raspberries, instead of strawberries. You can also experiment with different flavors of gelatin, like raspberry or peach.

FAQs

1. Can I make Strawberry Pretzel Salad ahead of time?
Yes, you can make it a day in advance. Just store it in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve.

2. Is it okay to use sugar-free gelatin?
Absolutely! Using sugar-free gelatin can help lower the calorie count if you prefer that option.

3. Can I substitute the heavy cream for a lighter option?
You can use whipped topping or a whipped light cream for a lower-calorie alternative, but the texture will be different.

Strawberry Pretzel Salad

A delightful dessert combining sweet, salty, and creamy flavors with a crunchy pretzel crust and fresh strawberries.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 3 hours
Servings: 9 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 250
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pretzel Crust
  • 2 cups small salted pretzels (crushed)
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup salted butter (melted)
Cream Cheese Layer
  • 8 oz cream cheese (room temperature)
  • 1/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
Strawberry Layer
  • 6 oz strawberry flavored gelatin
  • 2 cups boiling water
  • 1 lb fresh strawberries (sliced)

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. In a food processor, pulse the pretzels and brown sugar until combined but still chunky.
  3. Add the melted butter and pulse until the mixture is evenly moistened.
  4. Press the mixture firmly into the bottom of a parchment-lined 8×8 baking dish and bake for 10 minutes until golden brown. Let it cool completely.
Cream Cheese Layer
  1. In a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth.
  2. Pour the heavy cream into the cream cheese mixture and beat until fully combined.
  3. Spread this over the cooled pretzel crust and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
Strawberry Layer
  1. Stir the gelatin powder into boiling water until dissolved, then refrigerate for 30 minutes until thick.
  2. Fold in the sliced strawberries and pour over the chilled cream cheese layer.
  3. Chill for another 2 to 4 hours until set.
  4. Slice and serve chilled.

Notes

Be sure to let the pretzel crust cool completely before adding the cream cheese layer to prevent melting. For best flavor, use fresh strawberries; frozen strawberries may be too watery. Adjust sweetness by adding more or less powdered sugar to the cream cheese mixture as desired. For variations, other fruits like blueberries or raspberries can be used, or different gelatin flavors such as raspberry or peach can be experimented with.