Classic Strawberry Pretzel Salad

Name: Classic Strawberry Pretzel Salad
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 4 h 30 min
Yield: 12
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 cups crushed pretzels; 3/4 cup melted butter; 3/4 cup white sugar; 8 ounces cream cheese, softened; 8 ounces whipped topping, thawed; 1 package strawberry gelatin mix; 2 cups boiling water; 16 ounces frozen sliced strawberries, thawed

This nostalgic dessert features a salty pretzel crust, a sweet cream cheese layer, and a refreshing strawberry topping.

By Recipes By Nani· 🌍 American· July 20, 2026

recipesbynani.com

Prep

20 minutes

Cook

10 minutes

Total

4 hours 30 minutes

Serves

Strawberry pretzel salad is a favorite at every potluck because it hits that perfect balance of salty and sweet. The crunchy bottom layer keeps things interesting while the fluffy middle and fruity top make it feel like a real treat.

My biggest tip for this recipe is to make sure your cream cheese is completely at room temperature before you start. It makes the filling much smoother and easier to spread without pulling up the pretzel crumbs.

🧺 Ingredients

2 cups crushed pretzels
3/4 cup melted butter
3/4 cup white sugar
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
8 ounces whipped topping, thawed
1 package strawberry gelatin mix
2 cups boiling water
16 ounces frozen sliced strawberries, thawed

👩‍🍳Instructions

1
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
2
Mix the crushed pretzels with the melted butter and 1/4 cup of sugar in a bowl.
3
Press the pretzel mixture into the bottom of a 9 by 13 inch baking dish and bake for 10 minutes.
4
Let the crust cool down completely.
5
Beat the cream cheese with the remaining half cup of sugar until smooth.
6
Fold in the whipped topping and spread the mixture evenly over the cooled crust.
7
Dissolve the gelatin in boiling water and stir in the strawberries.
8
Pour the strawberry mixture over the cream cheese layer.
9
Refrigerate the dish for at least 4 hours until the top layer is firm before serving.

💡 Tips

Store any leftovers in the refrigerator covered with plastic wrap for up to two days. If you serve this at a party, keep it on ice so the topping stays set and beautiful.

#dessert #potluck #strawberry #sweet #classic

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