Old Fashioned Strawberry Pretzel Salad
This sweet and salty "salad" is a nostalgic treat that's a tasty side dish OR dessert!
Ingredients
For the pretzel layer:
- 2⅔ cups pretzels crushed into very small pieces
- ¾ cup melted butter (1½ sticks)
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
For the cream cheese layer:
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 carton (8 oz) whipped topping (such as Cool Whip)
For the strawberry layer:
- 1 large box (6 oz) strawberry gelatin (such as Jell-o)
- 2 cups boiling water
- 16 ounces frozen sliced strawberries
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- In a large bowl, stir together 2⅔ cups pretzels (crushed), ¾ cup melted butter, and 3 tablespoons granulated sugar.
- Press into a 9x13-inch pan and bake for 10 minutes. It may seem very wobbly even after baking. Let cool completely—it will firm up as it cools.
- Beat 8 ounces cream cheese (softened) and 1 cup granulated sugar together until smooth. Fold in 1 carton (8 oz) whipped topping (defrosted).
- Spread on top of the cooled pretzel crust.
- In a large bowl, stir together 1 large box (6 oz) strawberry gelatin and 2 cups boiling water until dissolved. Stir in 16 ounces frozen sliced strawberries. Let sit for 2 minutes only, to cool down slightly (don’t walk away, it’ll thicken too much if you let it sit). If using fresh strawberries, put it in the fridge for 10 minutes (set a timer!). Either way, make sure it's room temperature or slightly cool before pouring onto the cream cheese layer so it doesn't make the cream cheese layer runny.
- Spread the cooled strawberry mixture over the cream cheese layer. Refrigerate for at least two hours, or until set.
- Cut into slices or serve straight from the casserole dish.
Video
Notes
You can substitute fresh strawberries for the frozen strawberries. Wash, hull, and cut into slices before using.
You can also substitute fresh or frozen raspberries for the strawberries. You could also swap the gelatin for raspberry flavor in that case. I've tried this and it's really delicious!
Want to use whipped cream instead of whipped topping? Beat 1½ cups of heavy cream with 2 tablespoons powdered sugar until stiff peaks form. Use that in place of the whipped topping.
If you're going to cut it into slices, I recommend freezing the whole pan for 30 minutes, then cutting with a sharp knife, wiping the knife in between cuts for the prettiest slices.
Hungry for more sweet "salads"? I have 12 sweet salads on my site, from fluff to gelatin!
Nutrition
Calories: 378kcalCarbohydrates: 51gProtein: 4gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 11gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 50mgSodium: 438mgPotassium: 127mgFiber: 1gSugar: 35gVitamin A: 613IUVitamin C: 23mgCalcium: 33mgIron: 1mg
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