Description
Strawberry Pretzel Salad is a delightful layered dessert featuring a crunchy, salty pretzel crust topped with a creamy sweetened cream cheese layer and a fresh, tangy strawberry gelatin topping. This no-bake treat combines textures and flavors perfectly, making it an irresistible American classic for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Crust
- 2 1/2 cups crushed pretzels
- 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
Cream Cheese Layer
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream, whipped
Strawberry Topping
- 1 package (10 ounces) frozen strawberries, thawed and pureed
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon unflavored gelatin
Instructions
- Prepare the crust: Preheat your oven to 350°F. In a medium bowl, combine the crushed pretzels, melted butter, and 3 tablespoons of granulated sugar. Mix until the ingredients are evenly combined. Press this mixture firmly into the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish to form an even crust.
- Bake the crust: Place the baking dish in the oven and bake for 10 minutes. Once done, remove from oven and allow the crust to cool completely. This step is essential to ensure the crust is set and prevents the cream cheese layer from melting.
- Make the cream cheese layer: In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with 1/2 cup sugar and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy. Gently fold in the whipped heavy cream until fully incorporated, creating a light and fluffy mixture. Spread this evenly over the cooled pretzel crust.
- Prepare the strawberry gelatin topping: In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the pureed strawberries and 1/2 cup sugar. Sprinkle the gelatin over the strawberry mixture and stir continuously until the gelatin has completely dissolved. Remove from heat and allow the mixture to cool slightly but not set.
- Assemble the dessert: Pour the slightly cooled strawberry gelatin mixture evenly over the cream cheese layer. Be careful to pour gently to prevent disturbing the creamy layer beneath.
- Chill to set: Refrigerate the assembled dessert for at least 4 hours, or until the strawberry gelatin topping is fully set. This chilling time allows the layers to firm up and the flavors to meld beautifully.
- Serve: Once set, slice the salad into squares and serve chilled for a perfect balance of sweet, salty, creamy, and fruity flavors.
Notes
- Ensure the pretzel crust is fully cooled before adding the cream cheese layer to prevent melting and mixing of layers.
- For fresher flavor, substitute frozen strawberries with fresh strawberries pureed.
- This dessert is best consumed within 2 days to maintain optimal texture and freshness.
