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
This was very good. However, I felt the pretzel base was too thin. I’m going to double it next time. I also thought the jello was too thick so I’m going to cut that in half.
Pretzel crust burned. I followed directions – mostly to a T- the only reason I can think of that may have caused it was using a plant based butter instead. So use caution if cooking this with alternative ingredients.
Other parts of the recipe turned out otherwise. Would have been amazing if it hadn’t have burned.
Hi Sydney! That’s likely the case. Plant based butters scorch faster than real butter.
My jello was starting to set by the time my cream layer cooled
Hi Danette, if you used a shallow bowl, or its in a cold area, that may happen, but if using a regular bowl at room temperature, it should not.
My family loved it some more than others, but why did the pretzels stick to the baking dish it was tough to scoop out
Hi! Are you using a glass pan? That works best to not stick. There is enough butter in the crust to keep it from sticking but you can grease your pan too if needed.
I make this at Christmas and add a layer of green Jell-O also. (I have added a blue layer at 4th of July.) I also tend to use frozen, sliced, sweetened strawberries. I don’t necessarily thaw them all the way and add them to the dissolved Jell-O instead of the cold water. Just need to make sure the 1st layer of Jell-O is completely set before adding the next layer.
That’s such a fun idea, love that!
My family loves this recipe so much! I have made it for over 30 years. The one thing I do differently is replace the water with pineapple juice when I make the jello. The pineapple juice cuts through the sweetness a bit. I never hurry this dessert, letting the crust cool completely and the jello congeal slightly, this keeps the layers neat and well defined. So good!!
What a great idea, thank you for sharing that with me, Suzy!
Excellent recipe and great tips to make a PERFECT STRAWBERRY PRETZEL SALAD!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!😋
I truly love this salad. My only problem is one of my family members cannot have seeds; thus, I cannot use the sliced strawberries. Would it taste just as good if they were left out. I have never made it without strawberries, but since he can no longer have seeds, nuts, etc., it changes a lot of things. I love your recipes so very much. You make them all look easy. Thank you.
Hi Linda, can they have Raspberries by chance? We also have this Raspberry Pretzel Jello.
Hi Natasha! In your video you say 8tbsp of butter, but in your recipe it says 12tbsp which I did, hopefully it doesn’t do anything to the recipe, I’m sure it will be fine. Please let me know which one you use.
Hi Leslie, please go off of the written recipe,
Can I use frozen strawberries? How much of the liquid should be used?
Hi Linda, Frozen should work too but make sure to thaw the frozen strawberries before using them. After thawing, drain any excess liquid from the strawberries. Hope it becomes a huge success!
I need to use frozen strawberries – how much should I thaw and drain? Still a pound ?
Thanks
Hi Renee, Frozen should work too but make sure to thaw the frozen strawberries before using them. After thawing, drain any excess liquid from the strawberries. Hope you love it.
Hi Natasha, this is our family’s favorite desert for parties. It is always requested haha. Since I usually make it in the summertime, I don’t have issues with fresh strawberries but I will be making it for Christmas and I live In Quebec Canada… was wondering if I can use frozen strawberries(fresh strawberries are just not good in the winter season) and how would I incorporate them in the jello (thawed and drained I’m assuming?)
Hi Carole! I always use fresh strawberries since frozen thawed can incorporate a lot of liquid into the jello preventing it from setting properly. Some of my viewers have used them with good results, others didn’t like the results. It will work, just drain them very well after thawing. They also won’t look as pretty and vibrant since thawed strawberries take on a brownish tint.
Excellent recipe! A keeper for sure ❤️
Don’t forget to defrost and drain frozen strawberries! I must have missed that and the jello didn’t quite set right
Thanks for the tip, I was just wondering about that!
I noticed on your video you said to use 1/2 c butter. On the recipe it says to use 12TBSP of butter. How much butter? 8 TSBP is 1/2 c.
Hi Christy! I recommend following the written recipe as we sometimes update them to correct something or make the recipe better.
My crust is very buttery and sliding around in the pan. Will this solidify correctly while cooling or is it a total loss already ?
HI Meghan, did you crush the pretzels before buttering them? Also, did you change any proportions of butter to pretzels? If so, once the crust is baked, it will firm up and set together as a crust.
Hi! As the butter cools, the crust can firm up again. Chilling can also help. Just make sure you used the exact amount of butter the recipe recommends as having more butter can make a crust greasy and prevent the crumbs from binding into a firm structure.
I haven’t made this in awhile so I have a quick question…does the jello congeal when it is resting to room temperature and the crust is baking and cooling? How much time would you say the jello cools for? And how much time does the crust cool for? Approx? I guess I’m just worried the jello will be set before all that stuff is done! And thank you for sharing this recipe. My husband’s aunt has made this for years and we lost the recipe! Plus, I’m a fan and have been making your recipes for years!
Hi Lysanne, I have never had it set while baking and doing the 30-minute cool for the cream cheese layer. You want to jell-o to cool, but not set before pouring over. If you are worried or if it’s taking you longer, you can make it a tad later.
Ok, but we make the jello mixture first, which is cooling now. The crust is going in for 10 min and that cools for 30 min. Then we add the cream cheese mixture spread on the crust and it cools for another 30 min. So, that jello won’t set in the bowl it’s in waiting for over an hour? It’s been a long time since I’ve dealt with jello or gelatin. And I guess I’m used to that quick set jello which obviously, we didn’t do.
It states to preheat the oven but makes no mention of using said preheated oven
Hi Brittany, you will bake the pretzel layer in step 3. I hope you love the strawberry pretzel salad recipe.
I think the 1/2 T butter is wrong. Every other recipe uses 2/3 C as I ended up doing. If I am wrong please let me know.
Hi Tina, this recipe calls for 12 TBSP of butter, not half a tablesoon. I hope that helps.
Your video states to add 8T butter to the pretzels not 12T?
We have updated this recipe since recording that video. I would use the video for reference, but use the written recipe card for ingredient quantity. I hope that helps.
I have made this many times and it’s always a hit! I do have question though, normally I use 1 stick of butter like the video shows but the recipe says to use 12 tablespoons? Is this a change or a typo? Thanks so much!
Hi Jen, the 12 TBSP of butter is correct. I would go off of the written recipe. I hope this helps!
I forgot to refrigerate the cream cheese layer for 39 minutes- will it be ok? Pretzels were cooled down jello was room temp 🙁
Hi Megan! Cooling it helps it set, it may be ok but could cause the jello to leak through.