Strawberry Pretzel Salad Recipe (+Video!) - Little Sweet Baker (2024)

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Jump To Recipe by Lily Ernst

Crunchy, creamy, sweet, and salty all come together in this fabulous strawberry pretzel salad. Don’t let the name fool you, this recipe is 100% a dessert!I know the name “strawberry pretzel salad” does not sound appealing to most people, but this dessert is shockingly wonderful and tasty in so many ways! I would compare it to a cheesecake. The creamy center is like a light and fluffy no-bake cheesecake that sits on top of a crunchy-salty pretzel crust. The topping is fresh, jelly, and loaded with strawberry flavor!I’ve also come to realize that strawberry pretzel salad is not a very well-known dessert in Canada, but very popular in the States. Canadians are missing out and that needs to change!

How to make strawberry pretzel salad:

You start by mixing some crushed pretzels with melted butter. Press the pretzel mixture onto a 9×13″ glass baking dish. Bake at 350F for 10 minutes and let cool completely.Then mix a brick of cream cheese with some sugar and cool whip. Spread the mixture on top of the pretzel layer and chill for 30 minutes.Lastly, dissolve two packs of strawberry jello in a cup of boiling water and a cup of cold water. Pour over a pound of sliced fresh strawberries. Stir to coat and spoon over the cream filling. Chill until jello is set.

Expert tips:

How to crush the pretzels:

Place the pretzels in a ziplock bag and crush using a rolling pin or finely chop the pretzels on a cutting board using a chopping knife.

How to spread the cream cheese layer:

Drop heaping spoonfuls of the cream cheese mixture all over the crust using a large spoon or ice cream scoop. Spread the mixture evenly over the crust using an offset spatula. Make sure to seal the edges so the jello doesn’t seep into the bottom causing the crust to be soggy. See video below for demonstration.

FAQ:

What is pretzel salad?

Pretzel salad is a popular Southern dessert often shared at potlucks and holiday dinners. It consists of a pretzel crust with a sweetened cream cheese and Cool Whip filling, topped with fresh fruit set in jello.

Can you make strawberry pretzel salad the night before?

Yes, you can certainly make this the night before, that way the jello has plenty of time to set.

Can you freeze strawberry pretzel salad?

No, you cannot because the jello layer will separate. Freezing will cause the gelatin to break down, and upon thawing it will become a liquid mess.

How long does strawberry pretzel dessert last?

It will last for 3 days if properly stored in the fridge. Any longer than that and the crust will start to soften.I’m telling you, if you have never tried this dessert before, you need to. It’s mind-blowing! A crunchy-salty pretzel crust, along with a light and fluffy creamy center, meets a jiggly, sweet and tart strawberry topping. It’s like a flavor and texture explosion in your mouth!