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Strawberry pretzel salad is a long-time family favorite! Crunchy pretzel crust, layered with smooth cream cheese filling, and rich strawberry-flavored gelatin layer.
Table of Contents
- Ingredients for Strawberry Jello Pretzel Salad
- How to Make the Best Strawberry Pretzel Salad
- Recipe Tips
- Variations for Pretzel Salad
- More Flavor Combinations to Try
- Make it Gluten Free and Less Sugar
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Storing and Making Ahead
- More Strawberry Recipes
- How to Make Strawberry Pretzel Salad
- Strawberry Pretzel Salad Recipe
This strawberry pretzel jello salad may have the word “salad” in its name, but it definitely tastes more like a dessert. Although the combination of crushed pretzels, a strawberry Jell-o topping, cream cheese, and whipped topping may seem pretty strange, once you try it, you will be hooked!
Every bite holds crunchy, salty, sweet, and creamy flavors which complement each other so well! Additionally, this dessert is versatile enough to serve during the warm summer months on the patio after a cook-out, or as a holiday dessert for a Christmas buffet. Also, I love eating a big bowl of it the next day when the pretzels have softened a bit.
Ingredients for Strawberry Jello Pretzel Salad
Strawberry jello pretzel salad will satisfy all your cravings! It has sweet, salty, and fruity flavors all rolled into one bite. You can’t go wrong with this dessert salad at your next get-together!
- Pretzels – Use either pretzel sticks or twists, and crush them in a food processor. You can also use a rolling pin to crush them in a baggie.
- Butter – Melt the butter in the microwave ahead of time. The melted butter is warm but not hot when added to the pretzels. Make sure to blend the butter evenly with the pretzels.
- Sugar – You will use the sugar a couple of different times in the layering process. This will caramelize and hold together with a sweet flavor.
- Cream cheese – Make sure the cream cheese is softened to room temperature before adding to the mixture. This will avoid lumps in the texture.
- Whipped topping – I like to use eight ounces of regular Cool Whip to make it easy on myself. Or, you can whip up your own homemade whipped topping using heavy cream too.
- Strawberry gelatin – Use either a sugar-free or regular strawberry Jell-O package. This will form on top of the whipped topping layer with the fresh strawberries.
- Strawberries – I love to top this salad with fresh strawberries when they are in season. Frozen berries will work too. Sliced strawberries are added to the top of the Jello.
How to Make the Best Strawberry Pretzel Salad
This sweet strawberry pretzel salad is a layered dessert or side dish that is easy to assemble and takes a few hours to chill in the fridge. Watch this pretzel salad disappear at your next get-together!
- Pretzel layer – Mix the first three ingredients and press in the bottom of a baking dish. Bake in the oven. Then, let cool completely before adding the next layer.
- Mix together – For the middle layer, use an electric mixer and beat the sugar, cream cheese, and Cool Whip on medium speed in a medium bowl. Spread cream cheese filling over pretzel crust.
- Jell-O layer – Boil cups of water in a large mixing bowl. Mix Jello and boiling water in a large bowl and stir until dissolved. Add strawberries. Pour over the cream cheese mixture for the strawberry jello layer.
- Chill – Refrigerate at least 4 hours before serving.
Recipe Tips
Create the best strawberry pretzel salad recipe for your family! This is perfect for potlucks, holidays, or any function. Follow these helpful tips to make the dessert or side dish just the way you want it!
- Crushing pretzels – Crush the pretzels in a food processor or use a plastic bag with a rolling pin. Try to crush them evenly for the best results.
- Thawing strawberries – If using frozen strawberries make sure to thaw them and drain them before adding to the gelatin layer.
- Soggy layers – To avoid soggy pretzels, make sure the cream cheese layer covers the pretzels completely before adding the strawberry jello mixture. That way, the cream cheese filling creates a buffer for the liquid before it sets up.
- Double layers – Typically, I like to double the cream cheese layer, especially if I want to serve a crowd or serve it as more of a dessert than a salad.
- Flip layers – A sweet reader suggested actually making this strawberry pretzel salad upside down, with the jello on the bottom, the cream cheese layer, and the salty pretzel crust on top to keep the pretzels nice and crunchy. Great suggestion!
- Pineapple layer – For extra texture and flavor, you could mix in a can of crushed pineapple with the jello.
- Time – Give yourself time to make this strawberry pretzel salad. It is an easy recipe that takes a bit of time to allow each layer to set up before adding the next layer.
“The strawberry pretzel salad is a family favorite! I make it several times a year, especially when I have extended family coming! I think that’s why some of them come, just for the salad!”
-Linda
Variations for Pretzel Salad
Mix and match variations of pretzel salad each time you make it! You will love trying new creations of strawberry pretzel salad with a different fruit, type of crust, or even adding chocolate. The options are endless and delicious for everyone to enjoy!
- Fruit – Raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, oranges with mandarin oranges are all colorful as well as delicious!
- Citrus – Add lemon or orange zest in the cream cheese layer for a refreshing taste.
- Nuts – Try pecans or almonds for the crust layer. It still has a thick, crunchy, crust base.
- Chocolate – For those chocolate lovers, drizzle melted chocolate overtop the whipped topping layer for an extra touch!
- Cream cheese – Try other flavors of cream cheese like strawberry or honey walnut for another flavor layer.
- Crust – Want a softer crust, try graham cracker crust melted with butter. It has a sweeter and softer taste and texture.
- Mint – Add finely chopped fresh mint leaves over the top of the gelatin. You can even fold a small amount of mint extract into the cream cheese for a minty flavor.
- Caramel – For an amazing combination, drizzle melted caramel over the top of the whipped topping.
More Flavor Combinations to Try
One of the things that makes this strawberry pretzel jello really fun is all the opportunities for customization. We have made this dessert several different ways, as well as gotten some great suggestions from readers. Here are some delicious options to try!
- Berry flavors – My family loves making this using raspberry or blueberry jello with an assortment of fresh fruit on top. Also, this is a great way to use a leftover fruit salad.
- Tropical – Give this dessert a tropical twist with tropical-flavored jello and crushed pineapple with mandarin oranges. Also, don’t forget the fresh whipped cream and some coconut shavings!
- Raspberry Jello – Raspberry jello and fresh raspberries also make an excellent substitution for the strawberry pretzel jello.
Make it Gluten Free and Less Sugar
Make this strawberry pretzel salad recipe gluten-free with gluten-free pretzels, and use sugar-free gelatin, and whipped topping for dietary restriction preferences. For non-dairy options, you can substitute the cream cheese and whipped topping for lighter options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Farmers’ Almanac reports the strawberry pretzel salad was first introduced in “The Joys of Jell-O” cookbook first published by General Foods in 1963. And the Washington Post called it a “salty sweet retro dessert.”
Good question! Honestly, this dessert resembles more of a cheesecake with a pretzel crust. I think it’s just an excuse to eat dessert on your dinner plate with no judgment.
It is best to use unsalted pretzels for the crust. The salted pretzels tend to make the dessert a bit too salty and you will be able to control the saltiness with the unsalted pretzels.
Yes, you can substitute the two ingredients. Make sure the whipped topping is stabilized or your strawberry pretzel salad may not hold up as well.
If you are making homemade whipped cream, add a tablespoon of gelatin to the cream while whipping it.
This pretzel salad dessert can be made up to 24 hours in advance. Any longer than that, the layers will begin to melt together and not hold its form.
Of course! Strawberry is a classic and easy to add fresh strawberries on top. Try raspberry, blueberry, cherry, orange, or even lime! These are all great with or without fruit in them for the topping. Changing the flavor of gelatin and possibly the fruit, will alter and change the flavor and texture of the pretzel salad dessert.
Sure thing! This is a fun opportunity to share the strawberry pretzel salad for showers or get-togethers. Divide the layers evenly into individual serving dishes or glasses you are serving it in.
Storing and Making Ahead
Get ready to have the best dessert side dish at your next get-together! It is so easy to make ahead and store for the next day. This strawberry pretzel salad is the perfect dish to serve chilled and prepared for any gathering!
- Making ahead – Leftovers will stay good in the fridge for three to four days. Any longer than that and the pretzels can get too soggy.
- Refrigerator – Store any leftover strawberry pretzel salad in an airtight container or cover the pan with plastic wrap. It will last in the fridge for two to three days.
Read More: 30+ Best Strawberry Recipes
More Strawberry Recipes
Strawberries are a popular fruit that everyone loves! It is the perfect fruit to enjoy year-round either fresh or frozen. These strawberry recipes are the best way to share an appetizer, breakfast, or dessert with these sweet and savory recipes!
How to Make Strawberry Pretzel Salad
Strawberry Pretzel Salad
Ingredients
- 2 cups pretzel sticks crushed
- ¾ cup butter melted
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 8 ounces Cool Whip
- 6 ounces strawberry gelatin unprepared
- 2 cups boiling water
- 3 cups fresh strawberries
Instructions
- Mix the first three ingredients and press in the bottom of a 9 x 13 pan. Bake at 375 degrees for 8 minutes. Let cool completely.
- While the crust is baking, wash and slice fresh strawberries.
- Beat sugar, cream cheese, and Cool Whip in a medium-sized bowl.
- Spread cream cheese filling over pretzel crust. Be sure to cover all edges of the pan to keep the jello from seeping into the pretzel crust.
- Mix Jello and boiling water until dissolved. Add strawberries.
- Carefully spoon and arrange the strawberries first over the the cream cheese cool whip filling. Pour Jello over the strawberries.
- Refrigerate at least 4 hours before serving.
Video
Notes
- Use fresh strawberries for this recipe. Frozen strawberries (even thawed) create too much liquid with the jello and it will not set properly.
- The cream cheese layer of this Strawberry Pretzel Salad can be doubled. This makes it more of a creamy dessert.
- Fresh raspberries and raspberry gelatin can be used instead of strawberries and strawberry gelatin.
Great recipe, my mom used to make this for church picnics, or family dinners. It was even in the church cookbook. But my copy burned in a fire, now I can make it again. Thank you.
That’s awful about the fire. So glad you found our recipe!
Thank you so much for this recipe. It was a big hit at our Easter dinner and everyone loved it!
I absolutely love this recipe and my 9 year old daughter loves it also
I’m so happy you both like it! Thank you for your comment!
Loved this dessert
The strawberry pretzel salad is a family favorite! I make it several times a year, especially when I have extended family coming! I think that’s why some of them come, just for the salad!
I’m so happy you like this salad as much as we do! Thank you!
Oh my does this dessert look delicious! I’ve never heard of strawberry pretzel jello salad, but I’m pinning and saving for the upcoming holidays!
My family loves jello salad. I can’t wait to take this for Thanksgiving.
Love this recipe! It’s the perfect sweet treat for any occasion! My kids and husband go crazy for this… YUM!!
Love the pretzel crumb crust!
YAS! This is the very best side dish for our Thanksgiving dinner. SO good!
This is such an amazing dessert. It incorporates the sweet and salty perfectly! Yum.
this is the best dessert ever
Oh my goodness, amazing so so yummy! We have a family gathering this weekend and I plan on making this again!
I’ve made this with raspberries, so I’m excited to try it with strawberries. Thanks for the recipe.
This looks so yummy! A perfect blend of textures and sweet and salty. 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
I make this upside down so much easier and the pretzels stay crispy on the top.
What a great idea! I’ve never tried it that way before. Thank you, Colleen!
Great idea but I’m confused about the pretzels–are they still combined with the butter and sugar? Are they baked and then broken up and sprinkled on top? Or is the top layer just crushed pretzels?
BTW made this the original way and it was really good. I’m just curious about this new version.
I stir in a can of drained, crushed pineapple to the cream cheese mixture. Yummy!!! So good!!!
I made this a few weeks ago, but when I poured the strawberry/jello topping on top, the jello just drained down to the pretzel crust. :o( The ladies still loved it! Can you tell me how long I need to let the strawberry jello mixture “set” before I pour it on top? Do I just stir until it thickens a little more?
You want to make sure the cream cheese layer really covers all the crust and all the way to the edges of the pan before you pour on the jello. If that still doesn’t work, try doubling the cream cheese layer (this is really good!) and the jello shouldn’t get through.
I know I am replying over two months later. Put the cream cheese mixture on top of the pretzel crust and seal it really well .. Leave no spaces at the edges. Then it helps to refrigerate it for like a half hour before putting the jello/ strawberries on top. I also let it cool til it gets like to egg white consistency and some people add a couple ice cubes to cool it down. Then pour it over. In my opinion makes a great difference!
I am making this for a local function. I am letting the jello set just a little before I add it . It sure looks yummy and I think it will be a big hit.
I have the same recipe, but it only calls for 1 cup boiling water and not 2 cups. you can try this, to see if it works for you.
I’ll have to try it with 1 cup next time. I’m guessing there isn’t much difference in taste, but the strawberry layer probably is set up more firm with 1 cup than 2. Thank you for the suggestion!
One cup of boiling water to a 6 ounce box of Jell-O isn’t going to give you very much Jell-O volume to cover up the top of a 9X13″ pan. Two cups is already half normal volume since you’re leaving out the cold water completely. Be careful with that, because your strawberry layer may not have enough Jell-O to hold it all together.
Your are right, Shari. It’s best to use two cups. If the jello sets a little before adding it to the cream cheese layer, it works just fine every time.
oH my gosh, we love this dessert!! It's so easy to make!!!www.lifeofamodernhousewife.com
I LOVE this salad/dessert! It's also really good with raspberry Jello and raspberries instead of strawberries.