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Easy Creamy Strawberry Pretzel Salad Recipe 5-Ingredient Vintage Dessert

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A nostalgic and crowd-pleasing dessert salad featuring a crunchy pretzel crust, creamy filling, and fresh strawberry topping. Quick and easy to make with simple ingredients.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups crushed pretzels (small twists preferred, salted or unsalted)
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup (115g) unsalted butter, melted
  • 8 oz (225g) cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
  • 8 oz (225g) whipped topping (e.g., Cool Whip or homemade whipped cream)
  • 4 cups sliced fresh strawberries, hulled
  • 1 package (3 oz) strawberry-flavored gelatin (Jell-O mix)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Crush 2 cups pretzels in a food processor until finely crushed but not powdered. Alternatively, crush in a zip-top bag with a rolling pin.
  3. Mix crushed pretzels, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, and 1/2 cup melted unsalted butter until evenly moistened and crumbly.
  4. Press the crust mixture firmly into the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish to form an even layer.
  5. Bake crust for 8-10 minutes until golden and fragrant. Remove from oven and let cool completely (about 20-30 minutes).
  6. In a large bowl, beat 8 oz softened cream cheese with 1 cup sifted powdered sugar until smooth and creamy (2-3 minutes).
  7. Gently fold in 8 oz whipped topping until fully combined and fluffy. Avoid overmixing.
  8. Spread the creamy filling evenly over the cooled pretzel crust using a spatula.
  9. Layer 4 cups sliced strawberries evenly over the filling, ensuring berries are dry.
  10. Sprinkle the strawberry gelatin powder evenly over the strawberries.
  11. Refrigerate the salad for at least 4 hours or overnight to set the layers and meld flavors.
  12. Slice into squares and serve chilled.

Notes

Ensure cream cheese is fully softened to avoid lumps. Crush pretzels to a coarse but consistent texture. Bake crust until golden but not burnt. Cool crust completely before adding filling to prevent sogginess. Use dry strawberries and pat if overly juicy. Chill at least 4 hours or overnight for best results. Variations include using different berries, gluten-free pretzels, or dairy-free substitutes.

Nutrition

Keywords: strawberry pretzel salad, creamy dessert, vintage dessert, easy dessert, no-bake dessert, pretzel crust, summer dessert, crowd-pleaser

Find it online: https://flurpchef.com/easy-creamy-strawberry-pretzel-salad-recipe-5-ingredient-vintage-dessert/