Strawberry Pretzel Salad
Strawberry pretzel salad combines pretzels, creamy layers and a vibrant strawberry topping to make a midwestern dessert favorite. Perfect for potlucks, holidays or anytime you’re craving a sweet treat, our recipe will be a family favorite for years to come.
- Nutritional Analysis
- Per Serving
- Serving Size
- 1 of 12 servings
- Calories
- 308
- Total Fat
- 19 g
- Saturated Fat
- 11 g
- Carbohydrates
- 32 g
- Dietary Fiber
- 1 g
- Sugar
- 19 g
- Protein
- 4 g
- Cholesterol
- 54 mg
- Sodium
- 271 mg
Article by: Krissy Downey
Strawberry pretzel salad is a beloved midwestern dessert that balances sweet, salty and tangy flavors. Our classic rendition stays true to tradition, featuring a crunchy crust, a layer of whipped topping and cream cheese and a vibrant topping made with fresh strawberries. Simple to prepare and fun to eat, this nostalgic treat captures the essence of hometown comfort foods.
What Is Strawberry Pretzel Salad?
Strawberry pretzel salad is a layered dessert casserole that is salty, crunchy, creamy and sweet. It starts with a crumbled pretzel crust, which is baked to make a crunchy, sturdy base. Then it is crowned with whipped topping. Our rendition is a combination of whipped cream cheese and classic whipped topping, like Cool Whip. The final layer is a fruity mix of strawberry gelatin and fresh strawberries. It is a nostalgic classic in the American Midwest.
Why Is This Dessert Called a Salad?
This dessert is, obviously, not a salad at all. However, the term “salad” is traditionally used to describe dishes that combine various ingredients with different components like gelatin, fruit or something creamy. Think Jell-O salads or ambrosia, both often in the “salad” category, especially in the Midwest.
Can I Use Whipped Cream Instead of Whipped Topping?
You can make your own whipped cream for this, but it won’t hold up as well as whipped topping. This dessert takes at least four hours to set, and, over time, regular whipped cream can get runny or moist. To keep the dessert fully intact, we recommend using the whipped topping.
What Kind of Pretzels are Best for Strawberry Pretzel Salad?
We like mini pretzel twists for a few reasons. First, they are small and crumble well in the food processor. Second, they have just the right amount of salt, and the best part of strawberry pretzel salad is that unique mix of salty and sweet.
Can I Make Strawberry Pretzel Salad In Advance?
This dessert takes at least four and up to twelve hours to set, so it is the perfect dish to make in advance, keep in the fridge, and cut into squares when ready to serve.
How to Store Strawberry Pretzel Salad
Store the dish in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. This isn’t an ideal dish to freeze, as the layers may separate when they thaw.
Strawberry Pretzel Salad
- Level: Easy
- Total: 5 hr 20 min (includes chilling time)
- Active: 30 min
- Yield: 10 to 12 servings
-
- Nutritional Analysis
- Per Serving
- Serving Size
- 1 of 12 servings
- Calories
- 308
- Total Fat
- 19 g
- Saturated Fat
- 11 g
- Carbohydrates
- 32 g
- Dietary Fiber
- 1 g
- Sugar
- 19 g
- Protein
- 4 g
- Cholesterol
- 54 mg
- Sodium
- 271 mg
- Level: Easy
- Total: 5 hr 20 min (includes chilling time)
- Active: 30 min
- Yield: 10 to 12 servings
-
- Nutritional Analysis
- Per Serving
- Serving Size
- 1 of 12 servings
- Calories
- 308
- Total Fat
- 19 g
- Saturated Fat
- 11 g
- Carbohydrates
- 32 g
- Dietary Fiber
- 1 g
- Sugar
- 19 g
- Protein
- 4 g
- Cholesterol
- 54 mg
- Sodium
- 271 mg
Ingredients
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Add the pretzels, sugar and butter to a food processor and process until crumbled and well combined. Press the mixture into the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch glass baking dish. Bake until the pretzels are set and slightly more golden than before, about 10 minutes. Let cool slightly, about 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, clean the food processor, add the cream cheese and pulse 5 to 6 times to soften, scraping the bowl as needed. Transfer to a medium bowl and fold in the whipped topping until well combined. Spread the cream cheese mixture on top of the cooled pretzels, making sure that it goes all the way to the edges so that no pretzels can be seen, and refrigerate until chilled, about 30 minutes.
- Bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a small saucepan. Remove from the heat and stir in the strawberry gelatin. Continue to stir constantly until the gelatin has dissolved, about 2 minutes. Add 2 cups of cold water to the mixture and stir to combine. Stir in the strawberries. Use a ladle to carefully spoon the gelatin mixture on top of the chilled cream cheese mixture. Refrigerate until the gelatin is set, about 4 hours and up to overnight.
- Slice into squares and serve cold.
