Strawberry Pretzel Salad

This vintage Strawberry Pretzel Salad recipe is a potluck favorite. It features layers of fresh strawberries encased in strawberry jello poured over a cheesecake-like layer with a buttery pretzel pecan crust. It’s most often served as a side dish, but could easily pass as a sweet and salty dessert!

Ingredients to Make Strawberry Pretzel Salad Recipe

Strawberry Pretzel Salad is a sweet, layered dessert that perfectly balances salty and sweet flavors. It starts with a buttery, salty pretzel crust, followed by a creamy, tangy cream cheese layer, and finishes with strawberry Jell-O packed with fresh strawberries. I love topping it with a dollop of whipped cream to make it feel extra indulgent. Whether you serve it as a dessert or a side dish, one thing’s for sure—it’s completely addictive! Key ingredients you’ll need to have on hand to make this simple Strawberry Pretzel Salad Recipe: (Scroll down for full printable recipe card).

• Crust – Crushed pretzels, chopped pecans, granulated sugar and melted butter.
• Jello – Strawberry jello mixed with frozen strawberries for the jello layer.
• Cream Cheese – Softened cream cheese forms the cheesecake-like layer.
• Liquid – Half and half gives the cream cheese a creamier texture and makes it dpreadable.
• Sugar – Powdered sugar for sweetness.
• Whipped Cream – Frozen whipped topping i.e. Cool whip for the cream cheese layer and garnishing.

How to Make the Best Strawberry Pretzel Salad Recipe

• Heat Oven and Prepare Dish – Lightly spray a 13×9-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
• Make the Pretzel Crust – Toss together pretzels, pecans and sugar with melted butter. Press onto the bottom of the prepared dish.
• Oven – Bake in a preheated 350°F oven per the recipe until set. Cool completely.
• Cream Cheese Filling – Whip together cream cheese and powdered sugar with half and half and vanilla, whipping until smooth. Fold in whipped topping by hand.
• Spread onto Crust – Spread over cooled crust. Pop it into the fridge to chill while making Jello topping.
• Strawberry Jello Layer – Mix together Jell-O mix and boiling water. Stir until completely dissolved. Add frozen strawberries to jello mixture. Stir to combine.
• Assemble – Pour strawberry Jell-O topping evenly over cream cheese.
• Refrigerate – Chill for 8 hours or overnight to set.
• Serve – Serve a dollop of whipped cream.

Kitchen Equipment to Make Southern Strawberry Pretzel Salad

• One 13×9-inch baking dish or cake pan.
• Measuring cups and spoons.
• Large bowl and medium bowl.
• Stand mixer or a hand mixer.
• Rubber spatula for scraping the sides of the mixing bowl.
• A plastic storage bag and a rolling pin to crush the pretzels or a food processor. 

Recipe Variations, Tips and Substitutions

• Frozen Strawberries – The strawberries used in the jello layer for this recipe are frozen. Choose firm, red strawberries for garnishing with bright green stems. Soft or mushy strawberries will continue to break down once served and will shorten the shelf life of the pretzel salad.
• Alternate Berries – You could adapt the recipe using cherries or raspberries.
• Press the Crust Firmly into the Pan – The crust for this strawberry pretzel salad isn’t solid and some may break apart when you cut it into squares for serving. It doesn’t mean that anything is wrong, it’s just the nature of this recipe.
• Whipped Topping – Feel free to frost the entire top of the pretzel salad with the reserved whipped topping, the choice is completely yours.
• Pour Carefully When Assembling the Layers – When pouring the jello layer over the cream cheese layer, do so gently to avoid disturbing it. Using the tip of a knife, gently move the strawberry slices in the jello so they’re evenly distributed throughout.
• Fresh Whipped Cream – You can use fresh whipped cream in place of Cool Whip for the cream cheese mixture and for garnishing. For the cream cheese layer, you’ll need two cups of sweetened fresh whipped cream.

Storage and Leftovers

• Make-Ahead Tip – This strawberry pretzel dessert can easily be made 1-2 days in advance of serving.
• Leftovers – Store Strawberry Pretzel Salad chilled in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
• Freezer – You can freeze strawberry-pretzel jello salad for up to 1 month. Thaw in the fridge and enjoy.

More Strawberry Recipes to Make

• This Strawberry Cheesecake Trifle is dressed to impress.
• Scratch made Strawberry Pound Cake is drizzled with a vanilla glaze.
• Strawberry Shortcake Layer Cake is sandwiched together with a creamy filling and fresh strawberries.
• Candy Coated Strawberry Carrots can be used as a topping for cakes, cupcakes and more.
• Black Bottomed Strawberry Cheesecake Pie is a decadent make ahead dessert option.
• No churn Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream.
• Strawberry Salsa from The Rachel Ray Show.

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Helpful Kitchen Items: 

• 13×9-inch Pan
• Mixer
• Measuring Set
• Mixing Bowls