Creamy Strawberry Pretzel Salad Dessert Recipe Easy Homemade Cool Whip Delight
A creamy, crunchy, sweet-and-tart dessert featuring a salty pretzel crust, luscious strawberry layer, and fluffy Cool Whip topping. Perfect for potlucks and easy to make with simple ingredients.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours 25 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 1/2 cups crushed pretzels
- 6 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup (115 grams) unsalted butter, melted
- 8 ounces (225 grams) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup (120 grams) powdered sugar
- 8 ounces (226 grams) Cool Whip, thawed
- 4 cups sliced fresh strawberries (about 1 pound / 450 grams)
- 1 package (3 ounces / 85 grams) strawberry gelatin (Jell-O)
- 1 cup (240 ml) boiling water
- 1 cup (240 ml) cold water
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Crush the pretzels and combine with granulated sugar in a bowl. Stir in melted unsalted butter until crumbs are evenly coated.
- Press the pretzel mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Bake the crust for 10 minutes until edges are golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool completely.
- In a large bowl, beat softened cream cheese with powdered sugar until smooth and fluffy.
- Gently fold in thawed Cool Whip using a spatula to keep the mixture light and airy.
- Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over the cooled pretzel crust.
- Arrange sliced strawberries evenly over the creamy layer.
- Dissolve strawberry gelatin in boiling water, stir until completely dissolved. Add cold water and let cool until slightly thickened (about 15-20 minutes).
- Pour the slightly thickened gelatin gently over the strawberries to avoid disturbing layers.
- Refrigerate the assembled dessert for at least 4 hours or overnight to set.
Notes
Let the pretzel crust cool completely before adding the creamy layer to prevent sogginess. Fold Cool Whip gently to maintain airiness. Pour gelatin when slightly thickened to avoid melting the topping. Chill overnight for best results. Use a sharp knife dipped in warm water for clean slices.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/12 of rec
- Calories: 275
- Sugar: 22
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 32
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 3
Keywords: strawberry pretzel salad, creamy dessert, Cool Whip dessert, easy potluck dessert, pretzel crust dessert