🥨 Strawberry Pretzel Salad 🍓
Ingredients (Makes 12 servings)
Pretzel Crust:
3 cups crushed pretzels
⅓ cup granulated sugar
⅓ cup unsalted butter, melted
Cream Cheese Layer:
8 oz cream cheese, softened
⅓ cup granulated sugar
1 cup whipped topping (such as Cool Whip), thawed
Strawberry Topping:
2 packages (3 oz each) strawberry-flavored gelatin (Jell-O)
2 cups boiling water
1 cup frozen strawberries, slightly thawed
Instructions
Preheat Oven:
Set your oven to 250°F (120°C).
Make the Pretzel Crust:
In a medium bowl, mix crushed pretzels, sugar, and melted butter until well combined. Press the mixture firmly into the bottom of an ungreased 9x13-inch baking dish.
Bake Until Golden:
Bake for 10–12 minutes or until lightly golden. Let cool completely before adding the next layer.
Prepare the Cream Cheese Mixture:
In a large mixing bowl, beat softened cream cheese and sugar together until smooth and creamy. Fold in the whipped topping until fully incorporated.
Spread Over Crust:
Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over the cooled pretzel crust.
Make the Strawberry Jell-O:
In a large measuring cup or bowl, dissolve the strawberry gelatin packets in 2 cups of boiling water. Stir until completely dissolved.
Add Frozen Strawberries:
Stir the slightly thawed frozen strawberries into the Jell-O mixture.
Pour Over Cream Cheese Layer:
Carefully pour the warm Jell-O-strawberry mixture over the cream cheese layer.
Refrigerate Until Set:
Cover the dish and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, but preferably overnight, to allow all layers to firm up.
Slice and Serve Chilled:
Cut into squares and enjoy cold for the best texture and flavor.