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
- 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.
- In a medium sauce pan, 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 min at 350°F, then cool to room temp.
- 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.
- Hull and slice 1 lb strawberries then stir into your room temperature jello. Pour and spread strawberry jello mixture evenly over your cooled cream cheese layer and refrigerate until jello is set (2-4 hours).
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.
Hi Natasha,
I tired this recipe and it was amazingly yummy. I was too excitged, till my jello somehow dipped in the base 🙁
I tired to make thick jelly and a firm base, still it did not spread equally as yours did. Can you guide me how I can improve next time.
Hi Rabya, that usually only occurs if the edges aren’t sealed but it could also happen if the jello is too warm and is poured on to quickly – warm jello can go through the cream portion. One other thing – if you use a larger pan and spread the cream too thin, it could seep through easier. I hope that helps for next time! I’ve made this countless times and haven’t had that occur but a couple of people mentioned the same thing and the sealing was what did the trick.
I make this all the time it’s awesome! So my friends want me to make it when we have gatherings. So thank you
Hi Annmarie, I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review!
Cool Whip is not available in the UK. Could I use whipped double cream as a substit substitute.
Hi Jan, I haven’t tested that with either but I think you will find this comment helpful from one of our readers “I love this recipe except for the Cool Whip. We are trying to “eat clean” & that is so not in our menus. I tried a couple of stabilizing whipped cream recipes but did not like the consistency of those. So I did what my grandmother did to frost an angel food cake 😛😛. whipped 2 cups of organic heavy cream until just before it turns to butter. Nice thick peaks. Removed from mixer than whipped up the softened cream cheese with 1/2 cup organic sugar 😜 I folded in a spoonful of the cream at a time until it was well blended. It set up beautifully.”
Thanks Natasha. I,ll certainly try this.
Question:
I want to make this using canned mandarin oranges. How many would I use instead of the strawberries?
Hi Marilyn, I haven’t tested that but I think mandarin would work fine 🙂
Delicious! Turned out perfectly! Made it for a church potluck and everyone loved it! No leftovers. Thank you Natasha! You have taught me to make many things and each and every dish has been great!
That’s just awesome!! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review 🙂
Can I substitute frozen sweetened strawberries?
Hi Diane, I have used frozen raspberries before, so I think frozen strawberries would work fine. If they are large, you may need to halve or a quarter them so they are submerged beneath the surface of the Jell-O.
It was really good.
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review!
Can I use frozen strawberries and should I cut them in half? I’m in the north and we don’t have good strawberries yet. Thank you.
Hi Christene, I have used frozen raspberries before, so I think frozen strawberries would work fine. If they are large, you may need to halve or a quarter them so they are submerged beneath the surface of the Jell-O.
OMG, THANK YOU SO MUCH for your Strawberry Pretzel Salad recipe!!! This is my husband’s favorite because it’s a dessert that his mother made for many years. I made two of these on Friday and followed your recipe to the letter and also read your responses to other reviewers’ questions which was super helpful, especially about putting a seam around the entire dish when spreading the cream cheese cool whip mixture. It worked perfectly! My husband and I tasted it Friday night and it was delicious. We even took some to our neighbors yesterday as they had never heard of it before, and THEY really liked it too. THANKS A MILLION for your awesome recipe! I plan to make it over and over again…lol!!!
Camilla & Bill
Awww that’s the best! Thank you so much for sharing that with me :). I’m all smiles!
Hi! Based on the given nutritional information, how big is a serving? What fraction of the pie is one serving? Thanks!
HI Stephanie. The recipe makes for 12 fairly large slices. The Nutritional information is based on one of those 12 slices. I hope this helps.
Thanks for sharing this blog post…….It’s amazing post
I’m happy you enjoyed that!
Can use Splenda insted granulated sugar? If so, in what measure?
Hi Jenny! I haven’t tried that but here is what one of our readers posted “I used Splenda bag sweetener in place of sugar-free jello and it was great.” 🙂 I hope this helps.
I have made this yummy dish for years now and love it! I prefer to call it a salad because then I won’t feel guilty for eating a lot of it. 😉 But it probably comes from – back in the day when they used to put multiple different vegetables in jello and set it, they called it jello salad. This recipe has been around since the 60’s when these vegetable laden jello salads were a plenty.
Ha ha!! I love your rationale – Strawberry Pretzel Salad it is!! I wish jello salads would come back into style – such an entertaining way to serve food! 🙂
This dessert is always a hit anywhere I take it! It is so tasty, love the crunch, & it’s one of my favorites!
That’s just awesome!! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review 🙂
This stuff is so tasty! It’s a perfect dessert for potlucks, everyone loves it!
I’m so inspired reading your review. Thank you!
Every time I make this pretzel salad, it disappears in a flash! Everyone loves it!
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite!
One of my favorite holiday desserts. I look forward to making it every year.
That’s awesome Becky! I’m so glad you love it. It’s a tradition in our family also and it always shows up at the annual church potlucks with no leftovers :). This strawberry pretzel salad is definitely a crowd-pleasing dessert!
Okay I love this stuff! Thank you!
Hi Jessica! I’m so glad you love the pretzel dessert! Have a wonderful Christmas!!
Hi – my pretzel crust is not bonding after they are cooled. Do you have any ideas on how to prevent this?
Thanks for your help.
Hi Merrianne, did you make any changes to the recipes? Did you measure the sugar and butter properly?
Can this recipe be made with out the Strawberries? I can’t eat them bcuz of their seeds.
You can make this with raspberries! 🙂
I think they have seeds as well… Can I just make it with the jello and no fruit?
Thank you
That should still work! We love the fruit in there and texture. I hope you like it with just jello!
Blueberries ??????
Hi they do not sell unsalted butter where I live. Does it matter to use salted butter?
Hi Regina, 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.
Make it without the strawberries. It is worth it! Maybe try bananas without the banana seeds. Pineapple? Maybe some chocolate chips. But the base is delicious!
Orange jello and Mandarin oranges is good.
That sounds lovely!
drain a can of pineapple
My family loves it, and my husband said its his new favorite dessert. It is simple easy to make and delicious 🙂
Hi Lyuda, That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new family favorite!