by Alyssa Rivers
Strawberry Pretzel Salad has a sweet and salty pretzel crust, cream cheese middle, and a jello strawberry layer on top. Perfection! Everyone loves this salad!
When I did my BBQ round-up idea and found this recipe, I knew I had to make it. I have seen it everywhere and it looks so amazing and perfect for summer! I was curious to know how a pretzel crust would taste and the result was fantastic!
Strawberry Pretzel Salad
I especially loved the layers in this dessert. The crunchy saltiness from the pretzel crust covered with a smooth and tangy cream cheese middle, and finished off perfectly with a fresh, sweet strawberry jello layer on top! This was everyone’s new favorite and it didn’t last long at all! I am so glad I finally gave this recipe a try because it is a keeper!
When I am in the mood for something sweet but not too rich, this is my first choice. There is just something about how perfectly balanced all the flavors and textures are that keeps me coming back for more! Adding big chunks of fresh strawberries to the jello is part of what makes this pretzel salad so special. That hint of freshness is just right! I also like to finish it off with a big swirl of whipped cream on top! Altogether, it is like heaven on my fork! This strawberry pretzel salad should be at the top of your list of new dessert recipes to try this week! Your friends and family will thank you!
Pretzel Salad Ingredients:
- Pretzels:Use small, salted pretzels (either sticks or twists are fine) so they will be easier to crush.
- Brown sugar: Gives a rich sweetness to the pretzel crust.
- Butter:The melted butter helps bind the pretzel crust together.
- Instant strawberry jello: You can use sugar free here if you would like without changing the flavors too much.
- Fresh strawberries: I love the fresh sweetness the strawberries add!
- Cream cheese: Room temperature so that it can beat together with sugar easily.
- Sugar: Adds sweetness to the creamy layer.
- Cool whip: Thaw in refrigerator and fold into cream cheese and sugar mixture.
How to make Strawberry Pretzel Salad:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Combine ingredients for the pretzel layer: In a mixing bowl, combine crushed pretzels, sugar, and melted butter.
- Cook pretzel crust: Press into a lightly greased 9×13 pan. Bake for 8 minutes and remove from oven. Let cool completely.
- Make the jello: Follow package directions to make jello. Once cool, mix in the fresh strawberries. Let refrigerate for an hour or so to let it partially set.
- Make creamy center: Beat the cream cheese and sugar together with a hand mixer until creamy. Fold in the cool whip with a spatula.
- Build finished layers: Spread the creamy mixture over the top of the pretzel crust completely to the edges so the jello won’t leak through. Then, pour the jello over the cream cheese layer and refrigerate for 2-3 hours before serving.
- Serve and Enjoy!
Can you make this ahead of time?
Strawberry pretzel salad is best when made at least half a day in advance. It needs at least four hours to set up, or preferably longer. It will keep for up to three days in the refrigerator. If you are making it ahead, be sure to use cool whip instead of whipped topping because it doesn’t soften the pretzels overnight.
Fruity Variations:
- Mix up your fruits and try an Orange pretzel salad with orange jello, crushed pineapple and mandarin oranges, or any fruit and jello flavors/colors you like!
- If you decide to use whipped cream (by beating 1 cup heavy whipping cream until stiff and fluffy), I would add 2/3 cup sugar to the cream cheese to add back in some of the sweetness. Also, refrigerate the cream portion for 45 minutes to give it more time to firmly set.
Tips to Make the Best Pretzel Salad:
- Measure 2 1/2 cups of whole pretzels
- Spread cream portion from edge to edge of the pretzel layer to keep the jello from seeping through to the pretzels and making your crust mushy.
- Gently pour room temperature jello over the cream layer to prevent cracks in the cream layer.
- Allow each layer to cool/chill completely before adding the next layer.
- The Jell-o needs to be room temperature before you pour in the fresh strawberries. Otherwise, the heat will cause them to wilt.
- You can use frozen strawberries instead of fresh.
More Fresh Strawberry Salads:
- Creamy Strawberry Broccoli Salad
- Mouthwatering Strawberry Spinach Salad
- Strawberry, Apple and Pear Spinach Salad with an Apple Cider Poppyseed Dressing
- Strawberry Avocado Spinach Salad with Creamy Poppyseed Dressing
- Avocado Strawberry Pasta Salad
Strawberry Pretzel Salad
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups pretzels crushed
- 3 Tablespoons brown sugar
- 3/4 cup butter melted
- 1 6 ounce box instant strawberry jello
- 1 16 ounce container of fresh strawberries sliced, or 1 10 ounce package frozen strawberries
- 1 8 ounce package cream cheese
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 8 ounce container of cool whip
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a mixing bowl, combine crushed pretzels, sugar, and melted butter. Press into a lightly greased 9x13 pan. Bake for 8 minutes and remove from oven. Let cool completely.
- Make the jello according to package directions. Mix in the fresh strawberries. Let refrigerate for an hour or so to let it partially set.
Beat the cream cheese and sugar together with a hand mixer until creamy. Fold in the cool whip with a spatula. Spread the mixture over the top of the pretzel crust completely to the edges so the jello won't leak through.
Pour the jello over the cream cheese layer and refrigerate for 2-3 hours before serving.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
Updated on May 9, 2020
Originally Posted on July 19, 2013
Strawberry pretzel salad is one of my husband’s summer favorites! I’ll have to make this for him again soon!
Just made it for Easter, and it was delicious.
I’ve been wanting to make a version of this for a while now. I need to get on it…this looks too good.
I can’t believe you hadn’t ever tried this salad. it is one of my favorites. A raspberry version is delicious too!
This looks incredible! I have to ask, what type of camera do you use?
Love this salad but recipe didn’t specify white or brown sugar for the crust and topping. Made it wrong the first time using this recipe.
That’s what I was wondering too! Which way is correct??
When I printed this recipe last week it said brown sugar. I am in the process of making it right now; the crust smells amazing.
I love this recipe we have used it for family picnics for years. It is always as good as the last time. Thanks for sharing/
My hubby would go nuts for this Alyssa! YUM!
I think pretzel salad is the greatest thing EVER!! This looks so yummy.
When I make the jello part instead of water I use two small cans of pineapple juice for it
WOW that sounds amazing!! I am going to have to try that!!’
Been making this for years. I use powdered sugar instead of reg. Sugar can’t imagine how it would be using plain sugar. Everyone loves it and is always requesting it. Just made it for our card night. Delicious and everyone wants the recipe. My question is can you freeze it.lois
It does not do the best frozen but it will work. When letting it thaw the strawberries and cream mix together instead of stay in layers.
Can you make this with fresh peaches and peach jello?
Oh my goodness! That sounds amazing! I am sure that it would be awesome that way!!
You can make it with just about any fruit and jello combination!
Can you freeze this dessert ahead of time?
I am not sure that the hello would freeze well but you can refrigerate it. 🙂
I haven’t made this yet. Do you use sweetened strawberries or unsweetened?
Hi Alyssa, can I substitute the cool whip for whipped cream?Thanks.
This is sooooo delicious!!!!!!
Thanks for the recipe! I would just make one suggestion – specify which sugar you are using in steps 1 & 3. I didn’t catch the brown sugar that was listed in the ingredients and ended up using too much sugar in the crust. 🙂
Agreed. I didn’t catch it though
What is instant jello?? I know of instant pudding…
It is in the same section at the grocery store. Instant jell-o is made quicker than other jellos or puddings. Hope you are able to find the jello. XOXO
Looking forward to trying this recipe!
Hi love your receipes want to know if I can freeze this pretzel crusted strawberry dessert?
Yes, of course! I have never tried it but I am sure it will taste great if properly stored correctly in the freezer. It may alter the taste and even the texture of the dessert.
Since I am obviously recipe illiterate, it would have been nice to know to mix brown sugar with pretzels and butter, but now I now the recipe goes in order and I shouldn’t have had all ingredients out at once. But, it was great!
This recipe is great but how can you keep the pretzels crisp? They get soggy so fast!! As soon as I fix it and refrigerate it a few hours the pretzels are soggy! I make sure that absolutely no jello seeps under the cream cheeese/cool whip layer. Help!!
When you put the cream cheese layer over the pretzel layer, make sure that you seal the cream cheese layer to the edges of your container and make sure that all areas on the pretzel layer are covered with cream cheese completely. Been making this for years. Turns out great every time. Sometimes I add an extra pkg of cream cheese – simply because I love cream cheese.
I can’t use cool whip, allergic. Could I fold in homemade whipped cream instead?
Thank you
Yes, that sounds delicious! XOXO
I’m looking forward to preparing this recipe, What brand of pretzel did you use for the bottom crust? There are so many brands and shapes.
I used just a generic pretzel brand at my local grocery store. If you have a preference that is great too! XOXO
I love the pretzel jellow salid
You need to fix the instructions! It says “combine crushed pretzels, sugar, and melted butter.”, so that’s exactly what I did… The WHOLE TWO CUPS! Reading down I realized I was supposed to mix the 3 tbl of BROWN sugar…
One cup, I should’ve said. It turned out OK though.
No where does it say 2 cups of sugar anywhere. And good rule of thumb is to probably read a recipe before starting it. I think it’s fairly common sense to add the ingredients in the order they r listed. Obviously the instructions aren’t the problem when others r executing this fabulous dish without any issues. Just gotta read through things first, it’s not someone else’s fault because you misread the instructions. Just saying
When you make the jello, do you add 2 cups boiling water and then 2 more cups cold water ?
Yes, you will make it according to the package recipe. Hope that helps! You will love this salad! XOXO
I make this recipe with a pecan crust instead of the pretzels and use pie filling for the strawberries. It’s always a big hit!
That sounds delicious! Thank you for sharing and following along with me! XOXO
I’ve had a variation of this where I work, but I do have one question? Can I use dream whip instead of cool whip? Dream whip is a powder that you add to milk and beat until consistency of whip cream I don’t really care for cool whip, it’s ok but prefer real whipped or dream whip.
Yes, that will work great! Let me know how you like it!
I tried your strawberry pretzel salad. It was great
The instructions told tell you how much sugar and what kind of sugar to mix into the crust or the cream. I mixed the 3 tbsp of brown sugar AND 1 cup of white sugar into the crust and it is backing. Now I get down to the whipped cream and cream cheese and it says to mix sugar in to that. How much? I think I may have ruined the crust :/
My mom made something similar. Her top layer was cool whip and lemon pudding over the 2 layers. She called it pretzel torte. It was my favorite part of summer when she made that. Thanks for the memory!
Frozen strawberries are they to be thawed
Can this be made the night before and assembled the next day?
Yes, this can be made in sections if needed. It is best to make it all at once and refrigerated over night before serving.
Do you think I could use fresh homemade whipping cream in place of cool whip?
Yes, that will work too.
Absolutely fabulous, The sweet and crunchy pretzel layer, combined with the creamy cream cheese & whip cream layer topped with the coolness of the fruit & jello. Makes your taste buds happy.
Love this recipe! A Pittsburgh favorite.
Delicious recipe, I love the pretzel crust. My son suggested using strawberry glaze instead of jello next time. Will give that a try next time. But was still easy to make and delicious.