Description
A refreshing and delicious Strawberry Pretzel Jello Salad featuring a crunchy pretzel crust, creamy sweetened cream cheese layer, fresh strawberries, and a vibrant strawberry Jell-o topping. Perfect as a dessert or potluck favorite, this no-bake salad balances sweet, salty, creamy, and fruity flavors with a delightful textural contrast.
Ingredients
Jello Mixture
- 1 6-ounce box strawberry Jell-o
- 2 cups boiling water
Crust
- 2 cups crushed pretzels (about 5 cups of pretzel twists)
- 3 tablespoons (38g) granulated sugar
- ¾ cup (170g) unsalted butter, melted
Cream Cheese Layer
- 8 ounces (226g) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- 8 ounces Cool Whip
Topping
- 2 pounds fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
Instructions
- Prepare the Jello: Place the strawberry Jell-o powder in a medium-sized bowl. Carefully pour 2 cups of boiling water over it and stir until fully dissolved. Set aside and let it cool completely at room temperature.
- Make the Crust: In a bowl, combine the crushed pretzels, 3 tablespoons sugar, and melted butter. Mix thoroughly until well combined. Press this mixture firmly into the bottom of a 9×13-inch pan to form an even crust. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to set.
- Prepare the Cream Cheese Layer: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and 1 cup sugar using an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Fold in the Cool Whip gently until evenly combined.
- Assemble Cream Cheese Layer: Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over the chilled pretzel crust, ensuring it touches the pan edges completely to prevent the Jell-o from seeping through. Return to the refrigerator and chill for 1 hour.
- Add Strawberries and Jello: Arrange the sliced fresh strawberries in a single layer on top of the cream cheese layer. Slowly and carefully pour the cooled Jello mixture over the strawberries and cream cheese to evenly cover the top.
- Chill to Set: Place the entire dessert back into the refrigerator and chill for at least 3 hours until the Jell-o is fully set.
- Serve and Store: This dessert can be prepared up to 24 hours in advance. Serve chilled and enjoy within 3 days for best freshness.
Notes
- Use pretzel twists crushed by hand or in a food processor for a better crust texture.
- Ensure the Jell-o mixture is completely cooled before pouring over the cream cheese layer to prevent melting.
- Press the cream cheese layer firmly against the edges of the pan to avoid Jell-o leakage through gaps.
- For best results, chill the dessert overnight for full flavor melding and firm texture.
- Can be made gluten free by using gluten-free pretzels.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
