Craving a salty and sweet, delicious, layered strawberry dessert with a buttery pretzel crust? Strawberry Pretzel Delight (aka Strawberry Pretzel Salad), with its luscious layers of cream cheese, whip, fresh fruit and gelatin, is just what you've been looking for.
The classic Strawberry Pretzel Salad recipe has been circulating for decades, but I decided to take things up a notch with some fresh changes.
Instead of frozen strawberries, this updated recipe uses a whole quart of fresh, sliced strawberries (so much better for you) and I've ditched the crushed pineapple found in the original.
This new version truly is a delight--so much so that I just couldn't resist using the word in its name!
Top it with some Easy Homemade Whipped Cream for the most refreshing and memorable summer treat.
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👪Why you'll love it
| Sweet berry flavor- With strawberry flavored gelatin AND fresh strawberries, this dessert is bursting with luscious, red berry flavor! Feeds a crowd- This layered dessert is made in a 13x9 pan, which is perfect for large gatherings. Fun to eat- Is it just me, or are layered desserts extra special and more fun--especially when a wiggly layer of Jell-O is involved? |
Looking for more summer strawberry ideas? Check out Patriotic Chocolate Dipped Strawberries, Strawberries and Cream Pie and Summer Berry Lush Pie!
🥘Ingredients
See the recipe card for quantities
For the pretzel crust:
- pretzels- chose a thin pretzel that's easy to crush, like sticks or pretzel thins
- sugar
- butter
For the delight layer:
- cream cheese- I use Philadelphia brand reduced fat; use at room temperature for best results
- sugar
- frozen non-dairy whipped topping (Cool Whip), thawed- do not use other kinds of whip in this layer; Cool Whip and similar products are much more stabilized and hold up better
For the strawberry glaze:
- strawberry flavored gelatin
- water
- fresh strawberries- hull and sliced thin; uniform slices are best
🔪Instructions
- Mix crushed pretzels with melted butter and sugar. Spread into a 13x9 metal pan lined with parchment paper. Bake for 7 minutes. Allow to cool for at least 30 minutes.
- Mix room temperature cream cheese and sugar with a hand mixer. Then gently fold in half of the whip. Spread this mixture over the cooled crust. Then cover and place in the fridge.
- Prepare the strawberry gelatin, but only use two cups of boiling water (do not follow package instructions). Then add the sliced strawberries. Have this bowl partially set in the fridge before adding it to the layers in the pan.
- After gelatin mixture is slightly set (minimum 2 hours), pour it over the cream cheese layer.
- Put the pan back in the fridge for an additional 2-3 hours or until the top layer is set.
Hint: If you have room, place the pan in the freezer for a bit after step #1 (after it has cooled slightly on your counter). This ensures that the pan and crust are both cold before adding the cream cheese layer.
🥣Substitutions
Cream cheese: Use strawberry flavored cream cheese for the ultimate strawberry delight! Make your own by pureeing ½ c strawberries; then mix with the softened cream cheese in a food processor or blender.
📖Variations
Mixed Berry Pretzel Delight: Use a combination of strawberries, blueberries and blackberries with berry flavored gelatin
Lemon Raspberry Pretzel Delight: Use raspberries and raspberry flavored gelatin; add lemon zest to the cream cheese layer
Vintage Strawberry Pretzel Salad: Use frozen strawberries and one small can of drained, crushed pineapple
🍽Equipment
- 13×9 nonstick pan, well greased or lined with parchment paper
- cutting board
- chef’s knife
- small pot with lid or microwaveable safe dish
- gallon-sized freezer bag
- mallet or rolling pin
- wire cooling rack
- 2 medium mixing bowls
- large mixing bowl
- mixing spoons
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- scraping spatula
- nonscratch serrated knife
- serving spatula
🍶Storage
Store in an airtight container. Enjoy within 3 days.
Keep in mind that the longer this dessert sits, the soggier the crust will be.
💭Top tip
Patience is key with this recipe. If you add the cream cheese layer to the crust before the crust is completely cool, the crust will get soggy. It's also important to spread the cream cheese layer all the way to the edges of the crust; otherwise the gelatin layer will sink down to the crust, making it red. Finally, make sure the gelatin layer is partially set before adding it on top. The more fruit you add to the gelatin, the longer this will take.
🗨️FAQ
This was a vintage recipe that first appeared in a Jell-O cookbook in the 1960s.
You need to allow the separate layers to cool and set (see Top tip above) before adding them, otherwise the crust will got soggy.
🥄Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
🍴Pairing
These are my favorite summer dishes to serve at a picnic with Strawberry Pretzel Delight:
📋Recipe
Strawberry Pretzel Delight
Ingredients
Pretzel Crust
- 2 cups mini pretzels crushed
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- ¾ stick (6 T.) butter melted
Delight Layer
- 8 oz (1 bar) cream cheese room temperature
- 1 cup sugar
- 4 oz Cool Whip I buy an 8 ounce container of the reduced fat version and then use the other half for a topping when I serve this!
Strawberry Glaze
- 6 oz (family size) box strawberry gelatin or 2 (3 oz.) boxes
- 2 cups boiling water
- 1 quart fresh strawberries hulled and sliced thin
Instructions
Prep:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Soften cream cheese on counter. Melt butter in microwaveable safe dish. Wash, hull and thinly slice strawberries.
Pretzel Crust:
- Place the pretzels in a gallon-sized freezer bag. Use a mallet or rolling pin to crush them.
- Empty the bag of crushed pretzels into medium mixing bowl. Add the butter and 3 T. of sugar; mix.
- Spread pretzel mixture into prepared 13x9 pan.
- Bake at 400 degrees for 7 minutes--do not overbake!
- Cool on wire rack.
Delight Layer:
- Place softened, room temperature cream cheese in large mixing bowl. Add 1 cup of sugar. Using a hand mixer, blend on medium speed until fully incorporated.
- Gently fold in 4 ounces of Cool Whip.
- Gently spread delight over cooled crust.
- Cover and place pan in fridge.
Strawberry Glaze:
- Boil 2 cups of water. Pour it into a medium mixing bowl. Add the gelatin and stir.
- Add the sliced strawberries to the gelatin bowl. Stir.
- Cover bowl and chill in fridge for 2 hours OR until gelatin is slightly set.
- After about 2 hours, pour slightly set strawberry mixture over delight layer.
- Put pan back in fridge for an additional 2-3 hours or until strawberry/gelatin layer is solidified on top. (You can test it out by lightly touching it.)
Serving Suggestion:
- Slice, serve and enjoy with more Cool Whip or whipped cream!
Storage:
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate. Enjoy within 3 days.
Helen H. says
This recipe takes me back! I love the updates with the fresh berries. Never was a fan of crushed pineapple. Can't wait to try this recipe.
Kitchen Ready Betty says
Crushed pineapple was a very popular dessert ingredient in the 1960s. I agree, not really my favorite either. Please come back and let us know what you think after you try this new version of Strawberry Pretzel Salad.