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Classic Grandma’s Irresistible Strawberry Pretzel Salad

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A nostalgic dessert featuring a crunchy pretzel crust, creamy cream cheese layer, and a sweet strawberry topping. Perfect for any occasion and easy to prepare.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups pretzels, crushed
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream, whipped to soft peaks (or 8 oz whipped topping)
  • 4 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 packet unflavored gelatin (about 2 1/2 tsp), dissolved in 1/4 cup hot water

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Crush the pretzels until fine but still a bit chunky.
  2. Mix the crushed pretzels, melted butter, and granulated sugar until evenly coated.
  3. Press the pretzel mixture firmly into the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish. Bake for about 10 minutes until golden and fragrant.
  4. Remove the crust from the oven and let it cool completely.
  5. In a medium bowl, beat softened cream cheese with powdered sugar until smooth.
  6. Gently fold in the whipped cream or whipped topping using a spatula, keeping it light and airy.
  7. Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over the cooled pretzel crust and smooth the top.
  8. Combine sliced strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice in a bowl. Let sit for 10 minutes to macerate.
  9. Dissolve the gelatin in hot water, stirring until clear. Stir the gelatin mixture into the strawberries gently.
  10. Pour the strawberry mixture over the cream cheese layer and spread evenly.
  11. Chill the dish in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight, to set.

Notes

Let cream cheese sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before mixing to avoid lumps. Ensure pretzel crust is completely cooled before adding cream cheese layer to prevent sogginess. Use hot but not boiling water to dissolve gelatin. Chill overnight for best flavor and texture. For dairy-free, use coconut-based cream cheese and cream alternatives. For gluten-free, substitute pretzels with almond flour and crushed nuts. Agar-agar can replace gelatin for vegetarian diets.

Nutrition

Keywords: strawberry pretzel salad, dessert, easy dessert, pretzel crust, cream cheese dessert, summer dessert, crowd-pleaser

Find it online: https://coracooks.com/classic-grandmas-irresistible-strawberry-pretzel-salad-recipe-easy-and-best-dessert-delight/