strawberry pretzel salad

Strawberry Pretzel Salad is a nostalgic, crowd-pleasing layered dessert featuring a buttery pretzel crust, creamy cheesecake-style filling, and a fresh strawberry gelatin topping. The sweet, salty, creamy, and fruity layers create the perfect balance — making it ideal for potlucks, holidays, BBQs, and family gatherings.

Despite the name “salad,” this is actually a chilled dessert — and it’s always one of the first dishes to disappear!

⏱️ Prep Time

• Prep: 25 minutes

• Bake crust: 10 minutes

• Chill time: 4 hours (or overnight)

• Total: About 4½ hours

🧰 Equipment Needed

• 9×13-inch baking dish

• Mixing bowls

• Electric mixer

• Spatula

• Measuring cups

• Saucepan or kettle (for boiling water)

🥨 Ingredients

🥨 Pretzel Crust

• 2 cups crushed pretzels

• ¾ cup melted butter

• 3 tbsp granulated sugar

🍰 Creamy Layer

• 8 oz (226g) cream cheese, softened

• 1 cup granulated sugar

• 8 oz whipped topping (Cool Whip), thawed

🍓 Strawberry Layer

• 2 (3 oz) boxes strawberry gelatin

• 2 cups boiling water

• 2 cups sliced fresh strawberries

📝 Ingredient Notes

✅ Crush pretzels finely but not into powder (small crunchy bits are best)
✅ Cream cheese must be fully softened
✅ Let gelatin cool slightly before pouring (important!)
✅ Fresh strawberries give best flavor and texture

👩‍🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1 — Make the Pretzel Crust

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).

2. Mix crushed pretzels, melted butter, and sugar.

3. Press firmly into the bottom of a 9×13 dish.

4. Bake for 10 minutes, then cool completely.

Step 2 — Prepare Cream Layer

1. Beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth and fluffy.

2. Fold in whipped topping gently.

3. Spread evenly over cooled crust.

👉 Important: Spread all the way to the edges to seal the crust. This prevents gelatin from leaking down.

Refrigerate 30 minutes.

Step 3 — Make Strawberry Layer

1. Dissolve gelatin in 2 cups boiling water.

2. Let cool for about 15–20 minutes (not fully set).

3. Stir in sliced strawberries.

4. Carefully pour over cream layer.

Step 4 — Chill

Refrigerate at least 4 hours until fully set.

🥗 Nutrition (Approx per serving)

• Calories: 320

• Carbs: 38g

• Fat: 17g