Looking for a refreshing and sweet side dish for your summer barbecue? Look no further than strawberry pretzel salad. This easy to make dish is perfect for any outdoor gathering and is sure to be a crowd pleaser.
As the temperatures rise and the days get longer, it’s time to start planning your summer barbecues. And what’s a better way to cool down on a hot day than with a refreshing and sweet side dish? Look no further than this easy strawberry pretzel salad.
Ingredients For Strawberry Pretzel Salad:
- strawberry Jell-O mix
- boiling water
- mini pretzels, crushed
- Dixie Crystals Extra Fine Granulated Sugar
- unsalted butter, melted
- cream cheese, softened
- vanilla extract
- Cool Whip, thawed
- fresh strawberries, washed, hulled and sliced
Ingredient amounts and entire recipe directions in recipe card below with print option!
How To Make Strawberry Pretzel Salad:
- First We Need The Jell-O mixed
We’re going to need to whisk together the Strawberry Jello Mix and the boiling water together until the Jell-O mix is dissolved. Now just sit this to the side to let it come to room temperature.
Don’t stick it into the fridge because we don’t want this to turn into Jell-O quite yet. - The Base: A Salty-Sweet Pretzel Crust
We’re making an easy pretzel crust for this dessert with some crushed pretzels, butter and a bit of sugar (click here for ingredient amounts).
To crush the mini pretzels, I just pop them into a large Ziplock bag. -
Then roll them / beat them with a rolling pin.
-
Just mix those items together and then press them into a 9×13 baking dish.
Pop that into the fridge to chill while we work on the filling. Yes, we’re chilling this crust. There is no need to bake it or even turn the oven on. - The Creamy Layer: A Fluffy Cream Cheese Layer
To make the creamy layer, you’ll need to start with room temperature cream cheese to ensure it’s easy to mix. Beat the cream cheese until it’s smooth and free of any lumps. Then, gradually add in sugar and vanilla extract, and continue to mix until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
Once the cream cheese mixture is ready, it’s time to fold in a whipped cream topping. The whipped cream adds lightness and airiness to the filling, making it fluffy and light. Make sure to fold it in gently, so you don’t deflate the whipped cream.
Spread the cream cheese mixture over the chilled salty pretzel crust. Make sure to spread the cream cheese filling all the way to the edge to create a seal. You don’t want any of the Jell-O mixture to get down into those pretzels when we add it later.
Pop that into the refrigerator for about 30 minutes. - The Star of the Show: Sweet and Juicy Strawberries
Now its time to get our strawberries ready.
You’re going to want to go ahead and wash the berries, remove the tops and slice those.
Add the sliced strawberries in a single layer over the cream cheese mixture, pressing them gently into the mixture to ensure they stay in place. -
Finally, pour the Jell-O mixture evenly over the strawberries.
- Let it Chill
Once you’ve put together your Strawberry Pretzel Salad, place it in the fridge for at least four hours to set. This will allow the Jell-O to firm up and the flavors to meld together, resulting in a perfect balance of sweet and salty.
- Serving it
Using a spatula or spoon, scoop out the desired amount onto a plate or bowl.
The dessert is best served chilled, so if it has been sitting out for a while, pop it back in the fridge for a few minutes to ensure it’s at the perfect temperature.
I love to top it with whipped cream / whipped topping (or extra cool whip) and garnish it with a pretzel and sliced strawberry!
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. The Strawberry Pretzel Salad can last up to three days in the fridge, but it’s so delicious that it’s unlikely to stick around for that long!
How To Pick The Best Strawberries:
When selecting fresh strawberries for this recipe, look for firm, plump berries that are bright red all the way through. You want them to be ripe but not overripe, so they hold their shape when sliced.
Can I Use Frozen Strawberries For Strawberry Pretzel Salad?
I haven’t used frozen strawberries in this recipe before however, if I was going to give it a try, this is how I would do it.
- Thaw strawberries
- Dry thawed strawberries super well
- Top chilled cream cheese filling and pour Jell-O on top.
Can I Change Up The Flavors and Fruits?
Of course! Now that your Strawberry Pretzel Salad is complete, it’s time to experiment with some toppings and variations to make it your own.
One way to switch it up is to add different types of fruit to the mix, such as sliced bananas, mandarin oranges or blueberries. Another option is to swap out the strawberry gelatin for a different JellO flavors, like raspberry or peach.
If you’re feeling adventurous, you could even try using different types of pretzels, such as chocolate-covered or cinnamon sugar.
A perfect dessert for a church lunch, potlucks, cookouts, baby showers, bridal showers and more!
More Strawberry Recipes:
- Strawberry Simple Syrup
- Strawberry Jello Cream Cheese Pie
- Vintage Jello Strawberry Pie
- Strawberry Shortcake Truffles
- Strawberry Nutella Cupcakes
More Dessert Recipes:
- Summer Time Pool Party Brownies
- Cold Banana Pudding
- Lemon Blueberry Poke Cake
- Banana Cream Pie Poke Cake
Strawberry Pretzel Salad Recipe
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