My Strawberry Pretzel Salad is the most popular dessert on my blog, for nearly every holiday. The combination of sweet cream, salty pretzels, and tangy fresh strawberries makes it irresistible. This layered strawberry pretzel dessert is loved by adults and kids.
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Helpful Reader Review
“Awesome. Best directions on the internet to make this recipe. My family loves this dessert. Bookmarked forever!” – MZee ★★★★★
Strawberry Pretzel Salad Video Tutorial
This Strawberry Pretzel Salad recipe is near and dear to my heart, because it is the first video recipe that went viral on Facebook, and now has been viewed over 57,000,000 MILLION TIMES! I’m so thankful for everyone who watched and shared!
Easy Strawberry Pretzel Salad Recipe
Jello recipes, like our Jello Cake and classic Raspberry Pretzel Jello, are the perfect potluck desserts because they keep well and are easy to make and take, which is why this Strawberry Pretzel Salad is so popular during the holidays, and it makes me so happy that it graces your holiday table.
It’s easy to make a day ahead and is served right out of the fridge. Easy! Leftovers–if you have any–last for up to 4 days. It’s so simple to make with my easy step-by-step directions, and I increased the crust since there was a clear consensus that more is better!
Is it a Salad or Dessert?
There is a massive debate on Facebook as to why this is called a “salad,” and it is a passionate debate and very entertaining to read. So let me know in the comments–salad or dessert?
Strawberry Pretzel Salad Ingredients
This creamy, crunchy, sweet, salty Strawberry Pretzel Salad has a little of everything in a single bite, and requires just a few staple ingredients.
- Strawberry Jell-O – get the larger 6-oz box. Make sure to follow my recipe instructions for adding water and NOT the box instructions. If you use too much water, it won’t set properly.
- Pretzels – salted, small sticks or mini pretzels are easiest to crush. The amount of whole pretzels can vary depending on the type you use; about 4 cups of whole pretzels will yield 2 cups coarsely crushed.
- Cream cheese – soften so it mixes well – Tip: place unopened package in warm water for 15 minutes to warm quickly.
- Cool Whip – 1 tub, thawed in refrigerator – see my notes below for substituting
- Strawberries – Fresh sliced strawberries work best, but you can use thawed and drained frozen strawberries.
- Pantry staples – sugar and unsalted butter
Can I Substitute Cool Whip?
Instead of 8 oz of Cool Whip, beat 1 cup heavy cream with 2 Tbsp powdered sugar to stiff peaks, and add 2/3 cup sugar mixed into the cream cheese. In my testing, heavy cream can make the pretzel layer soften and take longer to set, so let it chill for 45 minutes in step 4 and serve the same day.
How to Make Strawberry Pretzel Salad
This layered strawberry pretzel salad dessert is so easy to make with my easy directions!
- Dissolve the Jell-O in 2 cups of boiling water and stir (**do NOT follow package instructions), and then preheat the oven to 350°F. Using a x-large measuring cup makes it easier to pour.
- Crush the pretzels in a zip-top bag. Aim for coarse texture, since the crust can become hard if the pretzels are crushed to a powder.
- Pretzel layer – melt the butter and sugar in a saucepan, and then mix in the pretzels. Press mixture into the bottom of a 13×9″ dish (glass is nice to see all the pretty layers). Bake at 350°F for 10 min, and then cool completely.
- Cream layer – beat the cream cheese and sugar with a hand mixer, and then fold in the Cool Whip. Spread it over the room temperature pretzel layer all the way to the edges to seal out moisture so the pretzels stay crisp and to keep the Jell-O from seeping down. Chill in the fridge for 30 min.
- Jell-O layer – stir sliced strawberries into the room temperature Jell-O from step 1. Pour it gently over the cooled cream layer (to prevent cracks), and then cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours. It’s best within 24 hours, but can be stored covered in the fridge for up to 3 days before serving.
Natasha’s Pro Tip:
For a different flavor, swap the strawberries for other sliced or small fruit. Try well-drained canned mandarin oranges with orange Jell-O or raspberries for Raspberry Pretzel Jello. Avoid fruits that release too much liquid and will prevent gelatin from setting, such as pineapple, mango, kiwi, or watermelon.
Helpful Reader Review
“I added a handful of scattered blueberries on top of the strawberry layer for my family 4th of July party, and it looked so cute!” – Tanya ★★★★★
My classic Strawberry Pretzel Salad recipe brings back all the nostalgic memories from childhood with the three layers of salty crunch, creamy sweetness, and bright fruity gelatin. This dessert is a favorite at BBQ’s and holiday dessert tables, since it’s simple to make and easy to transport.
Strawberry Pretzel Salad
Ingredients
- 6 oz strawberry Jell-O
- 2 cups boiling water
- 12 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 cups crushed salted pretzels, (about 4 cups whole pretzels)
- 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 pretzels in a sturdy ziploc bag, using a rolling pin.
- Pretzel layer – In a medium saucepan, melt 12 Tbsp butter, then add 1/4 cup sugar and stir. Mix in crushed pretzels. Transfer to a 13×9 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
More Party Desserts
I love potluck dessert recipes that are easy to make, bring, and serve at an event. Try these favorites:
- Tiramisu
- Banana Pudding
- Mini Cheesecakes
- Angel Wing Cookies
- Pumpkin Roll
- Rice Krispie Treats
- Apple Roses
- Lemon Posset
- Date Snickers
Hi made this today – haven’t tried it yet. Well, made the crust and cream cheese layer last night and added the jello layer this morning. Just wondering if it will still set together ok if my jello seemed a little thickened when I spread it over the cream cheese layer? I had put it in the fridge for a couple minutes to set but it set a little more than I wanted.
I might not look very smooth, but I still think it would taste wonderful. I hope you love it. Happy Easter!
Amazing!!! Made this tonight to take to Easter dinner tomorrow and so glad I bought twice the ingredients so I can make some more without sharing!! Haha. 👍🏼🍓
I like how you think! 🙂 Happy Easter!
Are you supposed to grease the pan? Also I used 2 cups of pretzels but the bottom of my pan was not covered nearly as much as the video shows, is it 2 cups before crushing or after? Mine is in the fridge now however I am not feeling very confident it is going to turn out, I hope I’m wrong!
Hi Janee, there is no need to grease the pan. It is 2 cups before crushing. Did you use a 9×13 pan? Even if your layer of pretzels is thinner, it will still taste great. Is there something else you’re concerned about? I hope you love it!
We sprayed the bottom of the pan, because my friend made it and suggested spraying, and its 2 cups after you crush the pretzels….
I made this a few times, from your recipe and it is always a hit! Comes out perfect every time. I saw where others said it was pricey, but I double the recipe and bought all the ingredients from either Kroger or Walmart and it only costs around $15. Great dessert for little cost! Thank you for sharing this!
Thank you so much for the awesome review! I agree it is a very economical dessert 🙂
What maybe went wrong I think my jello mixed with all the other ingredients ?
Hi Desire, did you make sure to spread your cream portion all the way to the edges (I mentioned this in step 4)? If you don’t, the jello can seep through down to the pretzels and soften the pretzels. Also, did you make sure to let the cream layer set before adding the jello and did you make sure the jello wasn’t warm when adding? I hope that helps for next time!
Natasha, my pretzel bottom didn’t set together so while I’m trying to spread the cream over it, the pretzels keep lifting up and I’m having such a hard time! Any idea of what went wrong?
It helps to spread the cream of you out dollops of it all over the surface and then spread. I hope that helps for next time!
I pressed the cream cheese mixture with my fingers, worked better than a spoon.
Thanks for sharing!
Turned out beautifully. The only bad part was the price of the ingredients.
I’m so glad you like it! Are those ingredients expensive in your part of the world?
i love em and taste really good..thank you =)
Nida, I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review and you are welcome 😀.
Can’t find 6oz box of jello. I only see
1.4 oz boxes. So how many of these
do I use and how many cups of water?
My grocery store doesn’t sell 1.4 oz boxes; just 6 oz and 3 oz. Are you looking at a different kind of jello? What brand is it? I wonder if the sizes are different in different parts of the world?
Name of brand is Gelatin Royal. So,
please advise how many boxes and how much water?
Is it a fruit flavored gelatin? How many cups of jello does it yield after adding water? I.e. How many cups of water are needed for each box?
Yes. 4 1/2 cup servings 2 cups of water for each box
My packages yield 4 cups of jello and I use half of the amount of water that the package requires. So I would recommend 2 of your jello packages and cut the recommended amount of water in half. So for 2 of your packages, you would use 2 cups water total. It’s hard to say for sure without trying that brand of jello. If you think cutting the water in half for your brand of Jell-O will make the Jell-O way too thick, you might add an extra half cup of water.
Wondering if you can make this recipe the night before serving? Do you think it would hold up?
Kristine, it will be just fine in the fridge overnight
If I make this the night before Easter, do you think it will sit ok in the refrigerator over night?
Justine, it will be just fine in the fridge overnight 😀.
What would you think about drizzling the pretzels with melted chocolate before adding the next layer?
Wow that does sound like a good idea!! 🙂 Mmmm…
Hi Natasha,
Couldn’t find pretzels in the market (Pune, India.) What substitute can I use?
You could substitute with crushed graham crackers but I’d use a little more if using crushed graham crackers 🙂
I made this the other night. I will make it again for sure
10 star
Awesome!! Thanks Darlene 🙂
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you so much for sharing your great review! 🙂
Has anyone made this recipe in an aluminum foil pan?
I haven’t but I think it would work fine.
This Strawberry pretzel salad sounds so good & want to make it for Easter. I need clarification though on one thing…..do you use Unsalted butter or butter? Video on FB shows 8oz butter, but video on web site shows unsalted butter & written recipe lists 8oz butter. Which is it or doesn’t. It matter? Thank you.
Hi Stacy, I’m sorry for any confusion. I used unsalted butter but in this recipe it really doesn’t make a very big difference since the pretzels are salty and that salty/sweet/tangy contrast is amazing!
Your recipes look awesome!!
Where can I follow your blog
Also do you have a recipe for a fruit tart
Thank you!!
Hi Kathy! Welcome to my blog! You can follow along on pretty much most social media accounts (see the links in the top right on desktop and ipad and in the drop down menu on mobile). You can also subscribe to get our weekly newsletter so you never miss a recipe! 🙂
how many WW points is this if i
use FF cream sheese
I’m not really familiar with the WW program. Maybe someone else has the answer for this?
I just made this with ff cream cheese and substituted truvia baking blend for the the sugar, llight blue bonnet for the butter, and fat free cool whip. Got it down to 8 points. We’ll see how marvelous it tastes tomorrow!
Wow, now that is creativity! Thanks so much for sharing! 🙂
I just finished making this and it is sooooo delicious!!! Definitely a dangerous thing to make at night when everyone is sleeping. Ate 1/4 of it already. Thanks so much for this recipe! 🙂
Solomita, that’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite!😀
This is absolutely delicious. Someone posted the video on Facebook and I just had to make it. I love it when a dish turns out the way you think it will (or even better)!
I’m so happy to hear that. Thank you for sharing your awesome review! 🙂