Description
Strawberry Pretzel Salad is the ultimate potluck party dessert ! It’s crunchy, salty, tart and beautiful !
Make it up to 24 hours ahead for easy party planning.
Ingredients
6 oz strawberry Jell-O
2 cups boiling water
12 Tbsp unsalted butter
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 cups crushed salted pretzels, (about 4 cups whole pretzels)
8 oz package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
8 oz cool whip, thawed in the fridge
1 lb fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
Instructions
1) Dissolve – Pre-heat oven to 350°F. Combine strawberry Jell-O with 2 cups boiling water and stir until completely dissolved. Set aside to cool to room temperature.
2) Crush pretzels in a sturdy ziploc bag, using a rolling pin.
3) Pretzel layer – In a medium saucepan, melt 12 Tbsp butter, then add 1/4 cup sugar and stir. Mix in crushed pretzels. Transfer to a 13×9 glass casserole dish, pressing the pretzel mix evenly over the bottom of the dish, and bake for 10 minutes at 350°F, then cool to room temperature.
4) Cream layer—When pretzels have cooled, use an electric hand mixer to beat 8 oz cream cheese and 1/2 cup sugar on med/high speed until fluffy and white. Fold in 8 oz Cool Whip until no streaks of cream cheese remain. Spread mixture over cooled pretzels, spreading to the edges of the dish to create a tight seal. Refrigerate 30 min.
5) Jell-O layer – Hull and slice 1 lb strawberries, then stir them into your room temperature Jell-O. Pour and spread the strawberry Jell-O mixture evenly over your cooled cream cheese layer and refrigerate until Jell-O is set (2-4 hours).
Notes
Make Ahead – Make the dessert and cover with plastic wrap. Store in the fridge for up to 3 days until ready to serve (best after 24 hours).
Storage – Store leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 3 days. This recipe does not keep well in the freezer.
Substitute for Cool Whip* – Whip 1 cup of heavy cream with 2 Tbsp powdered sugar until stiff peaks form. You’ll need to increase the sugar in the cream cheese to 2/3 cup sugar. Whipped cream will make the pretzel layer softer and takes longer to set. Let it chill in step 4 for 45 minutes, and serve within the first 24 hours.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
Nutrition
- Calories: 288 KCAL
- Fat: 15 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Protein: 4 g