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This Strawberry Pretzel Salad / Dessert came about from my baking with strawberry jello – I don’t bake with strawberry Jello often, but when I do, it’s because I’m throwing a 70’s theme party! What else would fit in other than a dessert with Jello? It was a must!
This is another great pan dessert like my chocolate slice or my date bars!
How to Make Strawberry Pretzel Salad
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F .
- Combine the pretzels, the white sugar and melted butter.Press into the bottom of a 9×13 inch pan.
- Bake in the oven for 10 minutes. Set the pan aside to cool completely.
- Beat the sugar and cream cheese until smooth. Fold in the whipped topping and then spread evenly over the cooled crust.
- Refrigerate until set, about 30-40 minutes.
- Stir together the jello mix and boiling water in a bowl.
- Mix in the frozen strawberries and then stir until thawed. Pour over the cream cheese layer and then refrigerate for 2-3 hours. You need this to be firm and set!
Now, when I made this dessert, it was a winter 1970’s theme party. A Rhinestone Cowboy theme party, to be exact. So really, when it comes down to the 70’s, baby, you gotta have jello – and the strawberry pretzel dessert salad is one of those quintessential wiggly, wobbly desserts of that era that had to grace the table. Granted, it couldn’t hold a candle to my brother’s shirt that he thrifted from Value Village, in the photo above.
Ingredients in Strawberry Pretzel Salad
Not only is this Strawberry Pretzel Salad dessert pretty, it’s delicious as all-get-out. There is a reason that this is one of the desserts that are picnic perfect!
- pretzels.
- fresh strawberries
- strawberry jello.
- cream cheese middle layer.
The Layers in Strawberry Pretzel Salad
First you have to start with the pretzel crust, then you do a cream cheese layer in the middle. Once you are done with those, it’s time for the fresh strawberry and strawberry jello!
This classic dessert should be your go-to this summer. Everyone knows about strawberry pretzel salad or strawberry pretzel dessert or slice or whatever it’s called. I don’t quite understand why it’s called a strawberry pretzel SALAD, because well, that looks like a dessert to me but I am guessing it’s all the 70’s fault.
Or the 1960’s? Is that when they called everything with jello in in a “salad”? Earlier even? Now this spring-like, summery strawberry pretzel dessert wasn’t alone (it’s up there in the right hand corner.) Oh no, there were three birthdays that we were also celebrating that evening. Those two cakes down there are two AMAZING CAKES THAT I HAVE TO REDO BECAUSE MY FRIENDS ARE SUGAR ADDICTS AND ATE IT ALL! Sorry to yell there. I got a little carried away. There was nothing left but crumbs to photograph the next day and I don’t want to give away what they are yet. Trust me when I say that these two babies are going to be baked up ASAP for you all!
The birthday girl and guy, Nicole from The Spirited Thrifter and her husband Duane. Duane’s actual birthday was that night while Nicole was born on Valentine’s Day, so we combined the two. My friend Karen that was unable to come still had a cake care package sent home for her! This Rhinestone Cowboy attire was complete foreshadowing as these two are leaving us here in Edmonton and moving to Houston! I’ll be buying my place tickets soon to go visit!
These two were trouble all night long. Pretty sure that when Twyla and I take a girls trip to Houston to see Nicole, we’ll need bail money. Should I start the Go Fund me now or wait a while? Twyla made up this album cover from a photo taken during their cocktail party shenanigans and it’s pretty much the best thing I’ve seen.
I realize writing this up that I took SO FEW photos this last cocktail party and will totally rectify it the next time. Some other posts you should check out:How to Throw a Mad Men Party, Watergate Salad
And back to the dessert, who has tried this jiggly deliciousness from the mid-century? What are your thoughts?
Happy Baking everyone!
Love,
Karlynn
Strawberry Pretzel Salad
Ingredients
Pretzel Crust
- 1 1/2 cups crushed pretzels - really crush them well
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup butter - melted
Cream Cheese Filling
- 1 cup white sugar
- 2 8 ounce packages cream cheese
- 1 8 ounce container frozen whipped topping, thawed
Strawberry Jello Topping
- 1 6 ounce package strawberry flavored Jell-O®
- 2 cups boiling water
- 1 16 ounce package frozen strawberries
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F .
- Combine the pretzels, the white sugar and melted butter until they are combined thoroughly.
- Press into the bottom of a 9×13 inch pan.
- Bake in the oven for 10 minutes, or until it’s lightly toasted.
- Set the pan aside to cool completely.
- For the cream cheese layer, beat the white sugar and cream cheese until smooth. Fold in the whipped topping and then spread evenly over the cooled crust.
- Make sure that the cream cheese reaches all the edges and seals it up, or you will have a soggy crust! Form a barrier with this layer between the crust and the jello.
- Refrigerate until set, about 30-40 minutes.
- Stir together the jello mix and boiling water in a bowl.
- Mix in the frozen strawberries and then stir until thawed. Pour over the cream cheese layer and then refrigerate for 2-3 hours. You need this to be firm and set!
Nutrition
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Carol says
Can sugar free jello be used???? For strawberry pretzel salad??
Carol Jackson says
Have made this before and used the frozen berries, would fresh berries mashed work as well since it’s strawberry season?
Nancy says
Can you make this the night before?
Marie says
I noticed that this recipe is made with 2 bricks of cream cheese, whereas other recipes only call for 1. Is this correct?
Bev Stepniak says
it was great except when serving the pretzel crust fell apart,do i need to make it finer to stick together.
Judy Myers says
Are the frozen strawberries sweetened?
Juli Johnson says
Hi! I made this yesterday and used frozen sliced strawberries that are unsweetened. It came out great! I also found that the pretzel mixture for the bottom was not enough so I made a half cup more than the recipe and it worked for my 9×13 pan. I cooked it for 12 minutes and it was perfect. It was a great dessert!
Linda Leslie says
If I use frozen strawberries in juice, do I drain the juice before added to the jello? Thanks.
Jocelyn says
Question! Can you use fresh strawberries? Also, in the past I’ve made this and it told me to let jello mixture reach room temp and when I added strawberries it started to jellofy! Putting them in right after jello moisture dissolves, I’m assuming keeps it from doing this? Thanks
Sarah says
Should include the 2-3 hour setting time for the jello in the total time. Picked this recipe because I only had an hour. Nothing like getting to the last line of the instructions and reading “refrigerate for 2-3 hours” when you’re in a hurry.
Sarah says
A classic for a reason! THanks for the great recipe, it was scarfed up by company!
Karlynn Johnston says
Glad you liked it!
TONI says
This was totally awesome! I haven’t eaten it in years, now it’s going to be a summer time regular at my barbecue’s!
Karlynn Johnston says
Awesome to hear!
JoAnne says
Can u use like a different fruit and jello?
April says
This is the best strawberry pretzel salad everrrr! Some of the other recipes don’t seem to set, this one sets perfectly! Thanks for another 5 Star recipe!
Rick Tomlinson says
This was seriously amazing, so delicious and easy to make. Thanks Karlynn!