This Strawberry Pretzel Salad is an old-fashioned dessert recipe that still popular for a reason: it’s delicious!
For me the Super Bowl is all about the food. Honestly, I didn’t even know what teams were playing until kickoff. I went over to my brother’s house to watch the game commercials (which were disappointing) and the halftime show (which was amazing). My brother asked me to bring my Strawberry Jell-O Pretzel Salad.
I had some extra time, so I figured I’d take photos while I put everything together. If you haven’t ever made this dessert, it’s super simple and a crowd pleaser!
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If you have made this Strawberry Pretzel Dessert dessert and it turned out to be a runny, mushy mess, don’t worry. I have some great tips to prevent this. Are you ready? Let’s go!
How Do You Make Strawberry Jell-O Salad?
Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F. Then crush the pretzels!
You can use any kind of pretzels, but make sure they have some salt on them. The salty-sweet combination is part of what makes this dessert so amazing. I put the pretzels in a plastic baggie and crushed them with a rolling pin.
Combine the crushed pretzels, brown sugar, and melted butter and press into a lightly greased 9 x 13″ pan.
Bake for 10 minutes.
Remove from the oven. Once the pretzel crust is slightly cool, refrigerate it 30-60 minutes so that it gets really cold.
In the meantime, beat the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Use a mixer for this. You don’t want lumps of cream cheese.
Blend in Cool Whip with a spatula.
Spread over cooled crust.
How to Avoid Runny Strawberry Pretzel Salad:
Make sure you spread this layer completely to the edges. You want to create a seal so your Jell-O doesn’t leak through. Again, this is key to keeping your layers separate. Once this is completed, put your pan back in the fridge to chill.
Next, make the Jell-O (you want the larger box of Jell-O) according to the package directions minus 1/4 cup of water. This is a personal preference, but I find using less water allows the Jell-O to firm up better.
Put your bowl of Jell-O in the fridge to allow it to partially cool before putting it on top of your cream cheese layer.
While the Jell-O partially cools, slice the strawberries. Then, place them on top of the chilled layer of cream cheese and Cool Whip.
You can be as fancy as you wanted with this step.
I like to place the strawberries in alternating rows across the top. Feel free to scatter them randomly or in any fun pattern you choose.
Once your Jell-O is chilled and about the consistency of jam or pudding (about an hour or two in the fridge), you’re ready!
Spoon or pour the Jell-O over the cream cheese layer.
Return the pan to the fridge. Cool until the Jell-O is completely set (about an hour).
That’s it! As you can see, other than cooling time, this dessert is really effortless to put together. You could even try it with different berries or fruits! Your Strawberry Jell-O Pretzel Salad is ready!
Now it’s time for the best part … eating!
Strawberry Pretzel Salad
Here’s what you’ll need:
2 1/2 cup pretzels, crushed finely
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1 cup butter
1 package (6 ounces) strawberry Jell-O gelatin dessert
1 container (16 ounces) fresh strawberries, sliced
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 tub (8 ounces) Cool Whip
Please note: For best results, you must chill the layers between steps. This is an easy dessert to make but it does take time due to chilling. Allow enough time to complete the entire recipe.
Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl, combine the crushed pretzels, brown sugar, and melted butter and press into a lightly greased 9 x 13" pan.
Bake for 10 minutes.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely. Once the pretzel crust is slightly cool, refrigerate it 30-60 minutes so that it gets really cold.
In the meantime, with an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Then using a spatula, fold in the Cool Whip.
Spread over cooled crust. (Make sure you spread this layer completely to the edges. You want to create a seal so your Jell-O doesn’t leak through.) Return your pan to the fridge to chill.
Next, prepare the Jell-O according to the package directions minus 1/4 cup of water. This is a personal preference, but I find using less water allows the Jell-O to firm up better. Put your bowl of Jell-O in the fridge to allow it to chill. However, do not let it become completely firm
While the Jell-O cools, slice the strawberries. Then, place them on top of your chilled layer of cream cheese and cool whip.
Once the Jell-O is chilled to about the consistency of jam or pudding (about an hour or two in the fridge), it’s ready. Spoon or pour the Jell-O over the cream cheese layer.
Return the pan to the fridge. Cool until your Jell-O is completely set (about an hour).
Slice, serve, and enjoy!
PrintLike this recipe? Check out these strawberry-inspired recipes:
- Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble Pie
- Strawberry Hand Pies
- Strawberry Cheerio Treat Bars
- Strawberry Thyme Martini
This dessert combines the best of everything. You have the salty and sweet thing going on with the crust and Jell-O. Then you have the rich and creamy layer. And there’s even fresh fruit so you can feel a little better about eating dessert. This totally counts as one serving of fruit and vegetables, right?
Needless to say, I left my brother’s party with an empty pan. Delish!
I hope the pictures and tips for creating this Strawberry Jell-O Pretzel Salad dessert were helpful!
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this is a total church potluck dish around here. love it! oh and yes, the halftime show was fab-u-lus!
yum yum yum yum yum – I always make this with RASPBERRIES – so nice to have that bit of tart with the sweet! (ha just like me!)
plus we planted a boatload of raspberry bushes last year so hopefully I’ll yield some this year….raspberry pretzel yum here we come! xo
http://www.NorthernCottage.ent
You are taking your posts to a whole new level… The Pioneer Woman Cooks is going to have some stiff competition! Lookit these photos! I don’t like to bake and you have me believing I can make that and win an award while I’m at it!
You smoke at this.
Donna
Sounds delish! I will definitely have to give this a try!
your photos are not helpful…they are much more…they are art. Congrats for your lovely blog :).
This is super yummy! I prefer to make mine in a 9×9 so it comes out thicker (like the photo), otherwise it can fall apart when you serve it.
Awesome tutorial and BEAUTIFUL pictures!!!! I look forward to your blog everyday…You just keep on surprising us. Thanks so much for sharing.
Cindy B.
I saw that you were making this on your Twitter yesterday, and I’m so glad you posted the recipe because I definitely want to try it out. I’m going to a scrapbook party this weekend where I’m supposed to bring a snack to share, so I might have to whip this up. YUM!
Some of my favorites all together. YUM!!!!! You never disappoint me 🙂
Yes, that is on the Chocolate Angel restaurant menu in Richardson, TX. LOVE it.
My mouth is totally watering right now. Yum! My mother-in-law makes this with raspberry and it’s just so good. Thanks for sharing.
This post makes me think of summer and the 4th of July. It’s tradition for my mom to make something very simliar for the
4th. Hot day, water ballon fights and jello salad ahhhhh makes me smile. Thanks
Oh Muh Gawd! I’m having a Valentines cookie decorating party with friends this weekend and I am so making this!!
So yummy!!! I need to find a gluten free pretzel, so I can make this! 🙂
What a pretty and delicious looking dessert!! I am going to try this some day, probably for Easter!
what, you couldn’t do the strawberries in a chevron pattern? 😉 this looks phenomenal. definitely making this someday soon. i think you need your own a tv show!
Oooh Michael! I haven’t had this in years, but it will be perfect for Valentine’s next week for the kids (and the adults).
(For the record, I didn’t see one second of the game, I stayed in the kitchen chatting and grazing. Wish I had had some of this.)
That looks so good! And now I know why mine is runny~I need to seal the edges better and omit a cup of water. Thanks!
I’ve seen this before on Pinterest…but your pics make it look so good. Making this this weekend. YUM!
I have made this out of our church cookbook for years but with white sugar and without the vanilla. I’d like to try your way next time and your pictures are amazing! Thanks for posting!
is it 2.5 cups of pretzels that you crush or 2.5 cups of crushed pretzels? It makes a difference.
As it says in the recipe … 2 1/2 cups of pretzels (crushed fine)
The pretzels should be crushed, then measured. Hope that helps.
This recipe sounds great. Awesome pictures! I found you on Pinterest.
Looks so yummy…and easy…definitely making this this week…thanks for the great pics
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I think I’m going to make a half batch of this recipe and keep it all for myself!
awesome tuturial.. pics are great, putting this on my “to make” list! 🙂
Also try pineapple juice for the warm water and cold in the jello…. Then add frozen slices strawberries it will thicken quicker. Love this dessert!
Also try pineapple juice for the warm water and cold in the jello…. Then add frozen slices strawberries it will thicken quicker. Love this dessert!
I made this with gluten free pretzels. It was great.
i know I am old school, but it their a printer version that isn’t 12 pages long?
Yes – I couldn’t agree more. I’m working on a new website design that will allow you to print JUST the recipe. Stay tuned.
Thanks!
Michael
Thanks! It is cooling I’m the fridge now…I’m so excited
Oh, I like the pictures and the idea to mix salt and sweet!
Thank you for your help with my pretzel crust. I can already tell your recipe and tutorial is going to be spot on! Your directions and pictures are wonderful!
I want to try this! Looks yummy!! Wish you had a print option button to your recipes 🙂
I’m making this for my physics class (snack Fridays!) and it looks so good! I’d never heard of it before but a friend showed me the recipe and I decided to try it. I’m waiting for the Jell-o to cool now and then I’ll be done! I’m kind of impatient, so it’s only taken me about two hours total. Plus it’s about 5ºF outside here so it takes less time to cool each layer since I’ve been putting it in the garage!
Making this for our 4th of July party…. SO glad I found your recipe! mMmMmMM
great recipe.. The only thing I don’t get is how did you get that much jello when u only put half the water… I put only 1 cup of water per your recommendation and it barely spread… Gotta go back to the store for more.. :/
Does it sit well? If I make it on Saturday, can I serve it on Sunday, or will it be a yucky mushy mess?
Kate, I haven’t made it this way, but I honestly think it would hold up fine for the next day. There might be a little bleeding of layers, but I think it should do okay.
xo Michael
Can I use frozen berries
I think! But I’d try and use fresh if possible.
xo Michael
Do you think leftovers ( hard to imagine leftovers with this) can be frozen?
I honestly don’t know, but I wouldn’t freeze it. It should last a couple days in the refrigerator though.
xo Michael
Thank you for sharing such a lovely dessert! The tips are awesome and the pics are helpful. It’s always a crowd pleaser and definitely a fav of mine. Thanks ❤️