Strawberry Pretzel Salad
Add Preferred SourceStrawberry Pretzel Salad is a fun, sweet, and salty dessert that always hits the spot. It layers a crunchy pretzel crust, a creamy middle, and a fruity strawberry Jell-O topping. It’s refreshing, simple to make, and perfect for any get-together or a treat-yourself moment.
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Strawberry Pretzel Salad has quickly become one of my favorite desserts to make and share. The flavor is a perfect mix of tangy, sweet, and salty, with a texture that keeps every bite interesting. I love making this dessert for afternoons when I want something light but still packed with flavor. Trust me, once you slice into it, it’s hard to stop at just one square!
Ingredients You’ll Need
You’ll need all the ingredients in the photograph below.
How to Make Strawberry Pretzel Salad
A complete printable recipe and the measurements in both US customary and metric are available in the recipe card below.
I’m here to walk you through how to make this easy and delicious Strawberry Pretzel Salad. Follow these steps and you’ll have a delicious dessert chilling in your fridge in no time!
Crush the pretzels and make the crust
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (180°C). Crush the pretzels in a Ziplock bag using a rolling pin until they’re broken into small pieces.
In a bowl, stir together the crushed pretzels, melted butter, and brown sugar. Press this mixture firmly into the bottom of a lined 8×8-inch baking pan.
SERIOUSLY GOOD
DESSERTS!
Dessert First is a collection of 61 RECIPES to show you that you can make beautiful, impressive desserts right in your own kitchen, no matter your skill level.
Immediate eBook download. No physical book available.
∙ Lemon Pound Cake
∙ Starbucks Cake Pops
∙ Boston Cream Pie
∙ Chocolate Mousse
∙ Matcha Tiramisu
...and much more!
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Bake and cool the crust
Pop the pretzel crust into the oven and bake it for about 10 minutes. Once it’s done, let it cool completely while you move on to the next steps.
Make the strawberry Jello
In a medium bowl, stir the strawberry Jello into the boiling water. Set it aside and let it cool to room temperature. (You don’t want it hot when you pour it later!)
Whip the cream cheese layer
In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla together until smooth using an electric mixer. Gently fold in the Cool Whip to keep it fluffy.
Spread the cream cheese layer
Evenly spread the cream cheese mixture over the completely cooled pretzel crust. Make sure to get all the way to the edges to seal the crust underneath. Then refrigerate for 30 minutes to firm it up.
Add the strawberries and Jello
Stir the sliced strawberries into the cooled Jello. Carefully pour the Jello mixture over the cream cheese layer, spreading it out evenly.
Chill until set
Refrigerate the whole thing for 3–4 hours until the Jello layer is fully set. Once it’s ready, slice it into squares, serve chilled, and enjoy every sweet and salty bite!
Ingredients
- 2-3 ounces box strawberry jello choose the vegetarian version
- 2 cups boiling water
- 2 cups pretzels
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup butter
- 8 ounces block cream cheese
- ⅓ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 8 ounces Cool Whip
- ½ pound fresh strawberries
Video
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C) and line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- Crush the pretzels in a Ziplock bag using a rolling pin. In a bowl, mix the crushed pretzels, melted butter, and brown sugar. Press the mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 10 minutes, then let it cool completely.2 cups pretzels, ¼ cup butter, ¼ cup brown sugar
- Stir the strawberry Jello into boiling water in a medium bowl. Set aside to cool to room temperature.2-3 ounces box strawberry jello, 2 cups boiling water
- Beat the cream cheese, granulated sugar, and vanilla in a large bowl until smooth. Gently fold in the Cool Whip until fully combined. Evenly spread the mixture over the cooled pretzel crust. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to set.8 ounces block cream cheese, ⅓ cup sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 8 ounces Cool Whip
- Stir in the sliced strawberries into the cooled Jello. Pour the Jello mixture over the cream cheese layer. Refrigerate for 3-4 hours until fully set.½ pound fresh strawberries
- Serve and enjoy by slicing into squares and serving chilled.
Notes
- Go fresh: Use fresh strawberries for the best flavor and texture.
- Whipped cream: For an extra fluffy middle layer, whip some heavy cream to stiff peaks and fold it into the cream cheese mixture instead of cool whip.
- Chill it: Don’t skip chilling time — it’s what gives the layers their perfect texture.
- Adjust sweetness: If you prefer a little less sweetness, cut the sugar in the cream cheese layer slightly.
- Switch it up: For a fun twist, you can swap in peaches, mandarin oranges, or frozen berries with different Jell-O flavors.
- Use unsalted butter: It balances the salty pretzels better without making the crust too salty.
- Crush, don’t pulverize: Crush the pretzels into small pieces but not crumbs — you want a little texture!
Storage Instructions
Cover the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap or transfer the slices into an airtight container. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The layers stay firm and delicious, but after a few days, the pretzel crust can start to soften a little — still tasty though!Nutrition
SERIOUSLY GOOD
DESSERTS!
Dessert First is a collection of 61 RECIPES to show you that you can make beautiful, impressive desserts right in your own kitchen, no matter your skill level.
Immediate eBook download. No physical book available.
∙ Lemon Pound Cake
∙ Starbucks Cake Pops
∙ Boston Cream Pie
∙ Chocolate Mousse
∙ Matcha Tiramisu
...and much more!
Includes ad-free recipes like:
Recipe Notes and Tips
I have a few extra tips to help you get the best Strawberry Pretzel Salad every time:
- Go fresh: Use fresh strawberries for the best flavor and texture.
- Whipped cream: For an extra fluffy middle layer, whip some heavy cream to stiff peaks and fold it into the cream cheese mixture instead of cool whip.
- Chill it: Don’t skip chilling time — it’s what gives the layers their perfect texture.
- Adjust sweetness: If you prefer a little less sweetness, cut the sugar in the cream cheese layer slightly.
- Switch it up: For a fun twist, you can swap in peaches, mandarin oranges, or frozen berries with different Jell-O flavors.
- Use unsalted butter: It balances the salty pretzels better without making the crust too salty.
- Crush, don’t pulverize: Crush the pretzels into small pieces but not crumbs — you want a little texture.
- Make it patriotic: Add some blueberries or use blue jello to make it red, white, and blue!
How to Store Leftover Strawberry Pretzel Salad
Once your Strawberry Pretzel Salad is fully set, you’ll want to keep any leftovers fresh and tasty.
Cover the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap or transfer the slices into an airtight container. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The layers stay firm and delicious, but after a few days, the pretzel crust can start to soften a little — still tasty though!
Our Top 3 Money Saving Tips for This Recipe
I’m here to help you save a few extra dollars while making this delicious Strawberry Pretzel Salad! Here are my best tips:
- Buy Store Brand Ingredients: Store brands of cream cheese, butter, and Jell-O work just as well.
- Use Frozen Strawberries: They’re often cheaper than fresh and still taste great. Just thaw and drain them, and it may be easier to dice them up rather than slice them.
- Use What’s in Season: Fresh strawberries are cheaper when in season, and you can swap them for cheaper fruits when they’re out of season.
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