Easy Strawberry Pretzel Salad Recipe

And don’t worry, there’s no lettuce or veggies in sight! Between the crunchy pretzel crust, creamy vanilla pudding, and juicy strawberries, this is no ordinary salad! So, why’s it called a salad? No clue! All I know is it’s bright, fruity, creamy, and salty-sweet. You’ll love the contrast of silky filling and crunchy base. And the fresh strawberries are a dream suspended in that jiggly jello. What are you waiting for? Make this crave-worthy sweet treat today!

Strawberry Pretzel Dessert Salad

This strawberry pretzel dessert salad is a delicious way to delight your sweet tooth. It starts with a layer of crunchy, crushed pretzels with butter, followed by a heavenly cheesecake filling. That alone is super tasty! But then you’ll add the strawberry jelly topping to really push it over the edge. It creates a flavor sensation you’ll crave again and again. With just 20 minutes of prep time, this recipe is a cinch to make. The hardest part is waiting for it to chill. Luckily, you can make it ahead of time and keep it in the fridge until you’re ready to serve.

Ingredients

Strawberries – The star of this dessert is the juicy, tart bite of strawberries. The OG recipe calls for frozen, sliced strawberries, but if you can find fresh, that’s always best.

Pretzels – For the crispy crust. Grab any pretzels you can find, from sticks to bites.

Butter – This holds the pretzel crust together and brings a nice rich flavor.

Cream Cheese – The filling is like a faux cheesecake. And what’s cheesecake without cream cheese? Get full fat for the best results.

Whipped Topping – You’ll fold this into the cream cheese, so it’s nice and fluffy. Feel free to use whipped cream if you prefer.

Sugar – For a touch of sweetness to the filling.

Strawberry Gelatin – For a sweet, jiggly topping dotted with strawberry slices. Be sure it’s cool before adding the fruit!

Recipe Tips and Variations

Tips for The Best Strawberry Pretzel Salad

Allow each layer to cool completely before adding the next layer. If you add layers when they’re still warm, the whole thing will become soggy.

Dissolve the gelatin as instructed below. Ignore the instructions on the pack.

Spread the cream cheese filling evenly from edge to edge of the pan. This will keep the gelatin from seeping into the crust and making it soggy.

Cool the strawberry gelatin mixture to room temperature. If you add it warm, it’ll melt the filling, and you’ll see it turn cloudy.

Beat the cream cheese with the sugar until fluffy before adding the whipped topping. This prevents lumps and ensures a silky-smooth finish.

Recipe Variations

Make Minis! If you want to get creative, you can easily turn this into individual servings! Use any size jar or ramekin, and carefully add the layers until it’s full. You don’t even need to bake the crust – just spoon it in the bottom! Try Different Fruit Flavors! Give the recipe a fun twist and try different flavor combos. For example, you could use peaches or mixed berries for the fruit. I don’t recommend melon or banana as they’ll turn to mush. But anything you would bake into a pie will work well. You can also change the jello flavors! Go for bright green lime or citrussy orange. Change the Cheesecake Flavor! The cheesecake layer is pretty simple – and tasty! But imagine how yummy it would be with some peanut butter or Nutella swirled through! Just keep in mind, the filling needs to pair well with the jello and fruit toppings.

Make Ahead Pretzel Dessert Salad

If you’ve got a party or dinner coming up, this is a terrific dish to make ahead. That way, you don’t have to stress on the big day. The recipe already needs a few hours to chill, so you can whip it up in the morning and leave it in the fridge until dessert. Or make it a few days in advance! It’ll hold well for up to three days in the fridge as long as it’s covered properly.