Strawberry Pretzel Salad

Here’s a classic Strawberry Pretzel Salad recipe—a perfect combination of salty, sweet, and creamy layers that’s a showstopper for parties.

Ingredients

For the crust:

• 2 cups pretzels, finely crushed
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar

For the cream cheese layer:

• 8 oz (225g) cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 8 oz (1 cup) whipped topping (like Cool Whip), thawed

For the strawberry topping:

• 1 package (3 oz) strawberry gelatin (Jell-O)
• 2 cups boiling water
• 4 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced

Instructions

1. Prepare the crust
   • Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
   • In a bowl, combine crushed pretzels, melted butter, and sugar.
   • Press mixture firmly into the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish.
   • Bake 10 minutes, then let cool completely.
2. Make the cream cheese layer
   • Beat cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth.
   • Fold in whipped topping.
   • Spread evenly over the cooled pretzel crust.
3. Prepare the strawberry layer
   • Dissolve strawberry gelatin in 2 cups boiling water. Let cool slightly (but not set).
   • Arrange sliced strawberries over the cream cheese layer.
   • Pour cooled gelatin evenly over the strawberries.
4. Chill
   • Refrigerate at least 4 hours, or until gelatin is fully set.
5. Serve
   • Slice and serve chilled.

✅ Tips:

• For extra crunch, lightly toast pretzels before making the crust.
• Use fresh, ripe strawberries for best flavor.
• Can substitute raspberries or blueberries for a fun variation.

I can also give a shortcut version with no-bake pretzel crust if you want to skip the oven. Do you want me to provide that?