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.
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
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
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’ve made this a couple of times and both my guests and I LOVED IT! I’ll be making it again for sure!
That’s wonderful, Barbara!
Hi Natasha. Was just wondering if I could buy frozen strawberries in juice and thaw them and use them
Hi Gail, I always use fresh strawberries since frozen thawed can incorporate alot of liquid into the jello preventing it from setting properly. They also won’t look as pretty and vibrant since thawed strawberries take on a brownish tint.
Hi can I have a question can I use home made whipped cream instead of cool whip?
Hi Margaret! Yes, you can. See my note in the blog post above titled, “Can I Substitute Cool Whip?”
Very good and easy to make. Even I did it and I never am in the kitchen.
That’s great to hear, John!
wondering if i can use strawberry pie filling with the jello instead of the fresh strawberries?
Hi Ginger, I have not tested that to advise. We love using fresh strawberries but feel free to experiment.
I don’t like how overly unhealthy American sweet these recipes are. For those who want to cut down the “white death” sugar, I always omit the sugar in the sugar in the pretzels. The butter is the glue, the sugar isn’t necessary. Works just great without it. Also I cut down on sugar in the white cheesecake portion. However it was still very sweet so I want to try making it with heavy cream and use a melted jumbo marshmallow for the cream to help it set. I read to melt 1 jumbo marshmallow to 1 cup whipped cream.
Anyways, we would love some healthier recipes like a liver cake and fish kotleti as well a layered liver salad. We women need more iron.
I’m so glad that worked out for you, Laura! Thank you for sharing your feedback with me!
This is delicious and not hard to make. This has become a family favorite. Thank you Natashas
I’m glad you loved this recipe, Mardi!
I was wondering if you can make this recipe with sugar free cool whip and sugar free jello?
I have a special sugar that I use to make desserts when I take them to Bible study. A friend of mine cannot have processed sugar.
Hi Anita! I haven’t tested it myself, but I don’t see why not. Let us know how it turns out if you experiment.
Thanks, Natasha! Made this today for the first time – followed your directions to a T. It was delicious, people were fighting over the last piece. Will make two next time!! 🙂
Hi Cynthia, I am so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review. This has been a party favorite in our circles for many years.
Love love looove this recipe! I tried a few tricks, and this is the latest: we don’t have coolwhip available so i swapped it with mascarpone 500 g, same 1/2 cup sugar. I also saved time by preparing the jello first then backing the pretzels then mixing the cheese mix and refrigerating it immediately while the jello and pretzels go down to room temperature, 1 hour wait. The only challenge was spreading the cheese mix as it was stif already, but after spreading the cheese mix, I immediately added the jello with strawberries and in the fridge. Saved 2 hours!!
Thank you for sharing that with us. I’m glad it still worked out.
I’ve been making this recipe for 4 years. Entire family loves it and say it is so much better than an older recipe that used box of frozen strawberries. I have a hunch Stephanie and Kim didn’t follow the recipe and used the wrong amount of water in the jello. Don’t blame the recipe ladies if you don’t follow the recipe as it is written. As for not enough pretzels how about improvising and crushing a few more pretzels if you feel not enough for the pan you used. Great recipe!
Thank you for the wonderful feedback, Joan!
I still come back every Thanksgiving since I made this 4 years ago because this recipe sealed my assignment as pretzel jello salad girl at family thanksgiving. Can’t get enough of it!
Great to hear that this is always your go-to recipe!
I am so disappointed! Please let this review serve as a warning to anyone hoping to make this. Please please do yourself a favor and find one of the many other recipes for the strawberry pretzel salad. First..not enough pretzels. Second..let the jello cool in the fridge until it has set a little bit before adding the strawberries and putting on top the cream cheese mixture. I would happily add a picture of the mess I ended up with by following this recipe before I threw it in the trash. Now I have two options..skip the jello salad for Thanksgiving or run the store for new ingredients.
Hi Stephanie, I’m sorry to hear it got messy. The biggest things with it staying neat is to let the cream portion set before adding the jello (don’t add the jello warm either) and also spreading the cream all the way to the edges of the pan so the jello doesn’t seap through to the bottom. Lastly, make sure to follow the instructions for jello in this recipe and not the box instructions. We add less water than the box calls for. I hope that helps to troubleshoot.
I agree with you Stephanie, not enough pretzels and you need to cook the butter/sugar until the sugar is no longer crystallized. Agreed with allowing the Jello to setup in the refrigerator, the time allowed on the video/recipe isn’t enough time. There are more through recipes.
I am making this strawberry pretzel dessert for my Thanksgiving dinner. I am going to substitute one can of whole cranberry sauce instead of the strawberries. I think it should turn out well. What do you think?
Hi Brenda! I’m not quite sure. Let us know how it turns out. Sounds like it would be delicious with cranberry.
Keeping the 3parts separated and refrigerated- Can I pre bake pretzel crust and refrigerate 1-2 days; also prepare jello and strawberries in advance in fridge- also prepare cream cheese and Cool Whip together and refrigerate. Just thinking of all three parts were complete, and the day of I could put it together easily. Please let me know. Thanks! Love your recipes! Congrats on your book!
Hi Susan! I’ve never tested that to advise, my concern would be that they wouldn’t “hold together” when sliced and the 3 parts would separate. You might be able to get by with pre-making the crust and then finishing the other 2 parts later.
I made this recipe excellent as usual. And after making it, I tried it with pineapple tidbits instead of strawberries, lime jello instead of strawberry jello. The rest of the ingredients the
same. Very good!
That sounds amazing, Colette! Thank you for sharing your experiment with us.
Love this dish. Is it possible to double recipe for a large potluck?
Hi Kathleen, doubling this recipe in two 9x13s will work great!
I love making this recipe
Takes time, but so worth it ❣️
We used raspberry jello today since we didn’t have strawberry in our pantry
We love the raspberry version just as much! So good!
Hi Natasha, thank you so much!!
It was a hit. Everybody enjoyed it and this is now my son’s favorite dessert.
That’s wonderful to hear!
Hi, i will be making this recipe for the first time. Can i make it a day earlier.
Please let me know. Thanks
Hi Erum! Yes. I usually don’t make it more than one day ahead so that the strawberries are and stay fresh.
Another quick question, u said to measure pretzels before crushing, but then it is not covering 9×13 dish completely
I would just add more pretzels. It’s not an exact science, so don’t stress. Make it work for you. Happy Thanksgiving.
I made a graham cracker crust then the pretzle crust and rest of ingredients ,,was Soo Delicious!!
We used a dairy free substitute from Trader Joe’s and it worked just fine!