Strawberry Pretzel Salad

What is pretzel salad?

Pretzel salad is a dish that consists of pretzels, fruit, and a creamy dressing. It is typically served as a side dish or dessert. The pretzels add a crunchy texture to the salad, while the fruit adds sweetness and flavor. The salad can be made with any type of fruit, but strawberries are the most popular.

Pretzel salad is believed to have originated in the United States. It is a popular dish at potlucks and picnics. The dish is also often served at church functions and holiday gatherings!

Bring back a taste of nostalgia with this delicious strawberry pretzel jello salad recipe that's easy to make and even more delicious to eat!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• The ingredients are simple and can be found in most any grocery store.
• The sweet and salty combination of pretzels and strawberry is a great combination along with giggly jello.
• It can be served as a spring or summer dessert or at a holiday feast!
• This easy dessert recipe is made with less than 10 ingredients!

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Crushed Pretzels - They give the salad a nice crunch and its classic salty flavor.
• Unsalted Butter - Used to coat the pretzels to crush down and make the perfect crust.
• Cream Cheese & Cool Whip - Makes up the base of the pretzel pie giving it a creamy, sweet, and tangy taste.
• Strawberry Jell-O - Used with strawberries, jello adds strawberry flavor along with a fun texture.
• Frozen Strawberries - This dessert would not be complete without the addition of strawberries suspended in the jello.
• Boiling Water - Used to activate the gelatin.

How To Make Homemade Strawberry Pretzel Salad

Prepare for baking: Preheat the oven to 400F and prepare a baking dish. Set aside.

Bake the pretzel crust: In a saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Turn off the heat and add the crushed pretzel and stir until completely coated. Add the pretzel to the bottom of a 13 x 9 baking dish and press it down with a spoon until firm and even. Bake for 5 minutes. Then, let cool to room temperature.

Prepare the cream filling: While the pretzels are cooling. Add cream cheese, sugar, and cool whip to a large bowl. Whip together with an electric hand mixer. Then, spread evenly over the top of the pretzel very carefully. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Make the strawberry mixture: Meanwhile, boil the water and add the Jell-O mix. Stir until well combined. Let cool to room temperature before stirring in the strawberries.

Assemble and serve: Pour the strawberry mixture over the top of the Jell-O salad. Refrigerate for 2 hours until Jell-O is completely set. Slice and enjoy!

Recipe Tips

• When baking the pretzel crust, do not cook too long as you do not want the pretzels to get too hard or burn.
• The cream filling should be spread evenly over the pretzel crust. If it is not, the Jell-O will not set properly.
• Do not add the strawberries to the Jell-O mixture until it has cooled to room temperature. Otherwise, they could get too mushy in the hot jello and change the texture.
• To make this recipe easier, you can use a store-bought pretzel crust. Simply follow the instructions above and spread the cream filling over the pretzel crust. Then, continue with the strawberry mixture instructions.
• This recipe can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Variations

• Change up the jello flavor: Feel free to use a different flavor of jello such as raspberry, lime, or blueberry.
• Use a different type of fruit: You can use any type of berries you’d like in this recipe. Fresh or frozen both work great!
• Swap the crushed pretzels: If you’re not a fan of pretzels, you can use graham crackers or even vanilla wafers.
• Add some whipped topping: Top the salad with some whipped cream or cool whip for an extra special touch!

Storing & Freezing

Storing: Once chilled, this salad can be served and stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Freezing: We do not recommend freezing this salad as the pretzels will get soggy and the cream filling can separate.

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