Strawberry Pretzel Salad is always a hit at parties. It’s dangerously good! The combination of sweet, salty and tart make it irresistible. This layered strawberry pretzel dessert is loved by adults and kids.
Jello recipes are the perfect potluck dessert because they keep well and are easy to make which is why this Strawberry Pretzel salad is so popular during the holidays. Our jello cake and classic raspberry pretzel jello are also reader favorites this time of year.
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Why is it Called “Pretzel Salad”?
There is a massive debate on Facebook as to why this is called a “salad” and it really is a passionate debate (very entertaining to read). can a pretzel jello salad be a salad? I just want to put it out there that I did NOT name this dish. So, what do you think: Salad? or Dessert?
Can I Substitute Cool Whip?
Cool Whip provides the best results because it doesn’t soften the pretzels and keeps better overnight. You may substitute with more natural version like “True Whip“.
If using whipped cream (by beating 1 cup heavy whipping cream until stiff and fluffy) and although this substitution tastes good, it softens the pretzel crust so the crust isn’t as crisp. If using whipped cream, add 2/3 cup sugar to the cream cheese to reach the same sweetness and refrigerate the cream portion for 45 minutes for it to set better.
What Kind of Pretzels are Best for Pretzel Jello?
Use small, SALTED pretzels (either sticks or traditional pretzel twists). Salted hard pretzels add the salty element which is surprising but so good. Smaller pretzels are easier to crush and measure.
Tips for Strawberry Pretzel Salad:
- Dissolve the jello according to recipe instructions (NOT package instructions)
- Use softened cream cheese and thaw cool whip in the refrigerator
- Measure 2 1/2 cups of whole pretzels
- Spread cream portion all the way to the edges for a tight seal before adding jello
- Pour room temperature jello gently over the top to prevent cracks in the cream layer
Watch How to Make Strawberry Pretzel Salad:
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Strawberry Pretzel Salad
Ingredients
- 6 oz strawberry Jell-O
- 2 cups boiling water
- 2 1/2 cups salted pretzels, (measured before crushing)
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 8 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 8 oz package cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 8 oz cool whip, thawed in the fridge
- 1 lb fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
Instructions
- Dissolve - Pre-heat oven to 350°F. Combine strawberry Jell-O with 2 cups boiling water and stir until completely dissolved. Set aside to cool to room temperature.
- Crush 2 1/2 cups pretzels in a sturdy ziploc bag, using a rolling pin.
- Pretzel layer - In a medium saucepan, melt 8 Tbsp butter, then add 1/4 cup sugar and stir. Mix in crushed pretzels. Transfer to a 13x9 glass casserole dish, pressing the pretzel mix evenly over the bottom of the dish, and bake for 10 minutes at 350°F, then cool to room temperature.
- Cream layer - When pretzels have cooled, use an electric hand mixer to beat 8 oz cream cheese and 1/2 cup sugar on med/high speed until fluffy and white. Fold in 8 oz Cool Whip until no streaks of cream cheese remain. Spread mixture over cooled pretzels, spreading to the edges of the dish to create a tight seal. Refrigerate 30 min.
- Jell-O layer - Hull and slice 1 lb strawberries, then stir them into your room temperature Jell-O. Pour and spread the strawberry Jell-O mixture evenly over your cooled cream cheese layer and refrigerate until Jell-O is set (2-4 hours).
Notes
Nutrition Per Serving
Filed Under
If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen
Tools We Used for this Strawberry Pretzel Jello (affiliate links):
2 Quart Ovenproof Glass Batter Bowl
Glass baking dish
Breville Stainless Steel Electric Kettle
Glass mixing bowl
Stainless Steel Saucepan
Le Creuset Silicone Spatula
Wusthof Classic Ikon 6-inch Utility Knife
OXO Good Grips Nylon Flexible Turner
I hope this pretzel ‘salad’ becomes a new favorite for you! If you have a suggestion for something you want to see on our blog, I’d love to hear about it in a comment below.
This is one of my most favorite deserts but can you use SF jello? Thanks.
Sharyn, that should work fine if you like SF jello and thank you for the nice review.
So easy to make and so delicious!! I also added walnuts to it! So good! Yumm! Thank you for the recipe!
Mmm what a great idea! Walnuts in the crust – sounds delicious!!
How about nutritional information?
Hi Christina, I don’t typically include calorie counts, but if you go to caloriecount.com you can plug in the ingredients and servings and figured out pretty easily that way. I hope that helps!
I have not made it yet.. BUT i am for Easter weekend . This looks amazing
I hope you love it! It’s a great choice for Easter.
Can I use something else instead of cream cheese?
Thank you!
Hi Jean, to be honest, I haven’t experimented with anything else. Did you have something specific in mind?
Instead of cream cheese. Could we not use a package of Vanilla pudding mix?
Could possibly make low carb by substituting walnuts for pretzels and Splenda for sugar?? Watch portion size!
I made it for a Valentine’s Day at church. Everybody loved it. Thanks for sharing
That’s awesome! thank you for sharing that with me 🙂
question-Is the pretzel part suppose to be crumbly? When I put the cream cheese mixture on top of the bottom layer, the pretzels were more crumbly than crust like.
Hi Connie, they are somewhat crumbly. I found it’s easier to spread the cream over the top when you scoop it all over the surface and then spread. I hope that helps!
I am not going to make this anymore, it is soooo dangerously good😋I couldn’t stop eating it😫
I know exactly what you mean. I have the same problem! 🙂
Nice recipe. Thank you for sharing.
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it 😀
I made this jello and it is the best I have tried in my life. In my family, jello is my least favorite dessert, but in this recipe, you made me fall in love with it!!!!!😍😍😍Although it is a little bit sweet but I like it so much!!! In order enjoy it myself fully I need to make 2 portions of it…its that good!😃You are right, it is dangerous to eat it if there no guest coming over…if for my family, I’d probably eat it all. You Definitely should make more of these soooo gooood!!👍🏼
Oh I’m so happy to hear you love the recipe! If you want, you can cut the sugar down even more and it will still taste great 🙂
Oh em gee! This thing is very dangerous!!! I made it today for a MOPS’ potluck and left only enough for my hubby, sister and me (tiny portion). I made it with frozen raspberries as I couldn’t find fresh strawberries. So good and addicting! Couldn’t stop eating once I started. It’s still a little too sweet for me. Do you think I can reduce more of the sugar? Thanks for your NO FAIL recipes! Love everything I made from your recipes! Blessings to you and your family!
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review! :). You can easily go with less sugar, just use 1/4 cup for the pretzels and 1/4 cup for the white layer.
Hi Natasha, this jello is sooooo good!!!! My whole family loved it! thank you and
Please have more jello recipes!;) 🙂
Mariana, thank you for such a nice review ?. Click here to see our other jello recipes on the site.
Thank you for posting this yummy and very addicting dessert 🙊 my family loved it! Although I had to add more pretzels to cover the entire bottom of my 13×9 pan and I cooked the sugar/butter a liittle too much but it was still delicious! GodBlessYou!
I’m so happy you all loved it. Thank you and blessings to you also! 🙂
hi natasha, i was wondering how long do i have to stir the butter with the crushed pretzels because i followed your video but the sugar was visible right before i put it into the oven & even after.
I stirred it for maybe 30 seconds. It doesn’t all dissolve in the butter and that’s normal. 🙂
this recipe is so goooooooood =). so yummy. i ate most of it & my mom was like enough already lol. thank you so much for this delicious heavenly recipe. i print a lot of your recipes for my ukrainian/russian recipe binder.
That’s so great Valentina! It sounds like you have a new favorite! 😁
My children just said mom please leave a comment. That was very good, we loved it so much. Thanks Natasha.
Awww that is so sweet! Please tell them thank you and I’m so happy they loved it! 🙂 I’m all smiles. 🙂
Is it necessary that the butter is unsalted, or is that just a preference of yours?
I always use unsalted butter because I have more control over the saltiness of my food, but I think it would work with salted butter – you’d have a little more of that salty contrast, which is fine 🙂
Hello, Making this for a potluck…any reason why I can’t you a disposable aluminum pan. Just asking since you specified glass. I would use glass for home but don’t want to worry about bringing my dish home at the end of the event. 🙂
I haven’t tried it myself but I can’t think of any reason why not 🙂
Just made this and it was so delicious. Definitely will do it again.
Thank you for all your recipes.
You’re welcome Dina :). I’m so happy you enjoyed it 🙂
Can I use frozen strawberries?
Hi Beth, it’s not as pretty with frozen but yes. I’ve seen people also use frozen strawberries to chill the jello quickly so you don’t have to wait on that step.
I was just wondering if it would still be just as tasty if a person used Stevia in the raw instead of sugar?
Hi Marcia, to be honest, I haven’t tried with any sugar substitutes and I’m not a fan of the flavor of sugar substitutes. Sorry I’m not much help with your question. I think it’s worth trying though if Stevia is something you enjoy 🙂