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Sweet and Salty No-Bake Strawberry Pretzel Salad

no bake strawberry pretzel salad - featured image
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A quick and easy no-bake dessert featuring a crunchy pretzel crust, creamy cream cheese layer, and fresh strawberry gelatin topping. Perfect for summer parties and potlucks.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups crushed crunchy salted pretzels
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature
  • 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
  • 8 ounces whipped topping (e.g., Cool Whip)
  • 1 (3-ounce) package strawberry gelatin
  • 1 cup boiling water
  • 2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced

Instructions

  1. Crush 2 cups of pretzels finely using a food processor or place them in a heavy-duty plastic bag and gently crush with a rolling pin until you get fine crumbs with some small pieces for crunch (about 5 minutes).
  2. In a medium bowl, combine crushed pretzels with 1/4 cup granulated sugar and 6 tablespoons melted unsalted butter. Stir until crumbs are evenly coated and mixture holds together when pressed. Add a tiny splash more melted butter if too dry.
  3. Press the pretzel mixture evenly into the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish using the back of a measuring cup to smooth and compact the crust firmly (about 5 minutes).
  4. Place the crust in the refrigerator to chill while preparing the cream cheese layer.
  5. In a large bowl, beat 8 ounces softened cream cheese with 1 cup powdered sugar until smooth and fluffy (3-4 minutes with an electric mixer).
  6. Gently fold in 8 ounces whipped topping with a spatula, being careful not to deflate the mixture.
  7. Remove the crust from the fridge and evenly spread the cream cheese mixture over the pretzel crust. Smooth the top with a spatula and return to the fridge for about 15 minutes.
  8. Dissolve 1 package (3 oz) strawberry gelatin in 1 cup boiling water, stirring until completely dissolved (about 2 minutes). Let cool to room temperature but not set.
  9. Stir in 2 cups sliced fresh strawberries into the cooled gelatin mixture. Pour evenly over the cream cheese layer quickly before it starts setting.
  10. Refrigerate the entire salad for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight, to allow gelatin to firm up and flavors to meld.
  11. Slice into squares and serve chilled.

Notes

Soften cream cheese to room temperature to avoid lumps. Chill the crust before adding cream cheese layer to prevent sogginess. Fold whipped topping gently to keep the mixture airy. Use fresh ripe strawberries for best flavor. Frozen strawberries can be used if thawed and drained well. For gluten-free, substitute pretzels with gluten-free crackers or nuts. For dairy-free, use vegan cream cheese and whipped topping substitutes.

Nutrition

Keywords: no-bake dessert, strawberry pretzel salad, summer dessert, easy dessert, party dessert, no oven dessert, sweet and salty dessert

Find it online: https://yumyep.com/sweet-and-salty-no-bake-strawberry-pretzel-salad-recipe-easy-and-perfect-for-summer-parties/