Strawberry Pretzel Salad Recipe - The Recipe Critic (2024)

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!

Strawberry pretzel salad is summer potluck perfection! If you love creamy and sweet fruit salads, here are a few other recipes you need to try out: creamy grape salad, red white and blue cheesecake salad, and pineapple fluff! Not only are they absolutely delicious and refreshing, but perfect for feeding a crowd!

Strawberry Pretzel Salad

If you’re looking for the perfect summer dessert salad, this is it. Each layer of strawberry pretzel salad is so delicious! 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 fruit salad 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.It’s the perfect hint of juicy freshness. I also like to finish it off with a big swirl of whipped cream on top!Altogether, it’s 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! Trust me, your friends and family will thank you!

Pretzel Salad Ingredients

Strawberry pretzel salad uses a bunch of simple ingredients, which is just another reason why it’s the perfect fruity side dish! You can find exact measurements in the recipe card below.

• 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: Both regular and sugar-free work!
• Fresh Strawberries:I love the fresh sweetness the strawberries add!
• Cream Cheese: Make sure it’s at room temperature so that it can beat together with the sugar easily.
• Sugar: Adds sweetness to the creamy layer.
• Cool Whip: Folded into the cream cheese layer for extra sweet, fluffy goodness.

How to Make Strawberry Pretzel Salad

This creamy, berry-filled dessert is so easy to make and only takes 10 minutes of prep! Just make sure you leave yourself enough time for it to chill in the fridge. This takes about 4 hours.

• Preheat Oven, Prepare Crust: Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. In amixing bowl, combine crushed pretzels, brown sugar, and melted butter. Press into a lightly greased9×13 pan. Bake for 8 minutes and remove from oven. Let cool completely.
• Make Jello: While the crust is baking, make the jello according to the package directions. Let the jello sit at room temperature for an hour or until it cools.Allow each layer to cool/chill completely before adding the next layer.
• Cream Cheese Layer: Beat the cream cheese and sugar together with ahand mixeruntil creamy. Fold in the cool whip with aspatula. Spread the mixture over the top of the pretzel crust completely to the edges so the jello won’t leak through. Chill in the fridge.
• Jello Layer: Once the jello has cooled, layer the sliced strawberries over the chilled cream layer and top with the room-temperature jello.
• Chill and Serve: Refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight before serving.