Strawberry Pretzel Salad is an old-fashioned treat everyone will enjoy! A perfect blend of salty and sweet. Featuring a buttery pretzel crust, followed by a light cream cheese layer, and mouthwatering strawberry Jell-O topping filled with more strawberries! This pretzel salad is a Southern, no-bake dessert that has been popular at potlucks, picnics, gatherings, and more!
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Why is it called Pretzel Salad?
This recipe is far from your typical salad! In fact, it most definitely is NOT a salad at all. The name is one that has been passed down for many generations, therefore, I wasn’t about to go and change it! More dessert than salad, this recipe comes from a category of desserts called “dessert salads”. Similar to Ambrosia Salad, Watergate Salad, and more!
Ingredients for Strawberry Pretzel Salad
See printable recipe card at bottom of post for full ingredient amounts and instructions
- Strawberry Jello
- Boiling Water
- Pretzels– salted
- Sugar
- Unsalted Butter
- Cream Cheese– softened
- Whipped Topping
- Strawberries– fresh is best
How to make Strawberry Pretzel Salad
Strawberry pretzel salad is basically a pretzel crust with a no-bake cheesecake filling topped with strawberries and fruit-flavored gelatin. Simple to make using these few instructions.
- Crust- Combine crushed pretzels with melted butter and 1/4 cup sugar. Press into bottom of 9×13 pan. Bake for 10 minutes in oven.
- Filling- Combine cream cheese, 1/2 cup sugar, and whipped topping. Spread mixture evenly over pretzels. Refrigerate.
- Strawberry Topping- Combine the Jell-O with boiling water and strawberry slices. Pour carefully over cream cheese mixture and refrigerate until set.
What kind of Pretzels are best for Pretzel Salad?
Small, salted pretzels are the best to use due to the fact they crush easily and add that salty addition to the crust. Plus, they are easier to measure as compared to large pretzels that often fill up an entire measuring cup in just a few pretzels.
Tips for the best no-bake dessert
- Be sure to use room temperature cream cheese and fully thaw the cool whip prior to assembling this dessert.
- Spread the cream cheese layer evenly to each and every side to create a perfect seal from layer to layer. This prevents the Jell-O from mixing into the cream cheese layers.
- Allow the Jell-O to fully cool down before pouring on top of the cream cheese layer.
- Follow the recipe instructions below versus the package directions as they will be slightly different.
Fresh versus Frozen Strawberries
In this recipe, I prefer using fresh strawberries as the texture holds up well and is a nice addition to the Jell-O layer. However, frozen berries work great too as they help “set” the Jell-O a bit prior to pouring onto the cream cheese layer. Either way, you can’t go wrong.
If using fresh slices, simply let the jello cool to room temperature before adding the strawberries and pouring the jello over the cream cheese filling.
How to Make Pretzel Salad Ahead of Time
Pretzel Salad needs a minimum of 2-3 hours, preferably longer to chill in the refrigerator. This dish is best when made at least 1/2 day ahead of when serving, however, it is best to not make this more than one day in advance as the pretzels will get soggy as not as crisp.
Unfortunately, this sweet treat does NOT freeze well.
Storage Instructions
When storing prior to enjoying OR as leftovers, simply cover pan and keep in refrigerator until ready to enjoy. Leftover pieces of this dessert will last up to 4-5 days in the refrigerator. Because of the jello layer on top, I do not recommend freezing this recipe.
Recipe Variations
The strawberry, cream cheese, and pretzel combination is the classic, go-to way to make this tasty dessert, however, you can also branch out and use different fruits and Jell-O flavors to change things up. Try Raspberry Jell-O and raspberries for a tasty change.
If you are serving to a crowd, stick to making this in a 9×13 baking pan. If you are serving to a smaller crowd, another fun idea is to serve these in individual containers. From small jars, ramekins, and more…it offers a fun alternative to the large pan.
FAQ’s
Can I use something different for the crust? Absolutely! Pretzels are the classic way to make the crust, however, Ritz crackers (crushed), graham crackers, or Vanilla Wafers all work great too!
What is the best way to crush the pretzels? Place them in a Ziplock bag and roll them with a rolling pin (or pound with a meat mallet) until well crushed. Or, pulse in a food processor until finely crushed.
Can I use homemade whipped cream? Cool Whip is more stable and will hold its shape better when mixed with the cream cheese, therefore, I don’t recommend using homemade.
More Strawberry Recipes to try:
Strawberry Lemon Shortbread Bars– moist, dense, tangy, and sweet, these Strawberry Lemon Shortbread Bars are a tasty fruit treat that’s perfect for summertime!
Strawberry Quick Bread– a great way to use up those fresh summer strawberries! This bread comes together in no time, is packed with juicy berries, and is a family favorite!
Strawberry White Chocolate Pie– creamy, delicious, and perfectly sweet! Next time that sweet tooth craving hits, this is just the pie to try!
Strawberry Coffee Cake– combining fresh strawberries and crumb topping in this coffee cake, this recipe is sure to please!
Easy Strawberry Coconut Daiquiri’s- using only 5 ingredients, this Strawberry Coconut Daiquiri comes together in no time and is quite the refreshing cocktail!
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Strawberry Pretzel Jello Salad
Ingredients
- 6 oz Strawberry Jello
- 2 cups Boiling water
- 2 cups Pretzels, crushed
- 1/4 cup Sugar
- 8 tablespoon Unsalted Butter
- 8 oz Cream Cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup Sugar
- 8 oz Whipped Topping, thawed
- 1 lb Strawberries, sliced
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a medium bowl, combine the jello package and boiling water. Stir until completely dissolved and allow to cool to room temperature.
- In a medium saucepan, melt the butter and add in 1/4 cup sugar. Mix in crushed pretzels.
- Transfer pretzel mixture to a 9 x 13 baking pan and use a fork to press mixture evenly on bottom of pan.
- Place pan in oven for about 10 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool to room temperature.
- While pretzel layer is cooling, mix together the cream cheese and 1/2 cup sugar using a hand held mixer until combined.
- Fold in the whipped topping.
- Spread mixture evenly over cooled pretzels making sure to cover entire pan side to side.
- Refrigerate pan for 30 minutes.
- Mix sliced strawberries into room temperature jello mixture.
- Pour jello over cream cheese layer evenly and place in refrigerator for about 2-3 hours, or until set up.
- Serve and enjoy!!
Nutrition
Marie
This looks great! Kristen, how many .3 oz packages of jello will we be needing? I’m wondering if the 12 oz of jello is AFTER the jello has been officially set. Maybe it’s a silly question, I just don’t work with jello very often. 🤦🏻♀️ Thanks!
Kristin
If using the 3 ounce packages, you will need 2 boxes to equal 6 ounces total for the jello portion! Hope you enjoy!!
Martha Farley
My daughter is allergic to coconut and some other things in cool whip. I have been making this salad with homemade whipped cream that I sweeten with 1-2 Tbs. Of powdered sugar. I have done this for 7-8 years. It is wonderful. Just whip your cream until it stands in peaks when you remove the beaters. Never had a problem. It is soooo good!
Kristin
What a wonderful idea! Thanks for sharing!
Liz
My pretzel mixture never hardens and whip mixture just pulled up the crushed pretzels so I couldn’t spread it. I had to throw it all away :(. This is my 4th attempt at making this over the years and it somehow never has never worked for me! Not sure what I am doing wrong??
Kristin
Are you letting the pretzel mixture cool completely? Are you baking the pretzel mixture immediately or could it be sitting out a bit first, prior to oven? Are you using softened/room temperature cream cheese so the mixture is easily spreadable by the time the whipped topping is added?
DM
My family always makes this in a bundt pan, which makes for a beautiful presentation, and also eliminates the problem you mention of the cream cheese layer being difficult to spread on the pretzel layer, since in the bundt pan you assemble in reverse order. Make the strawberries in jello first. Then spread the cream cheese layer on that, and then wait until serving to put on the pretzel layer (so pretzels don’t get soggy). Then flip the bundt to unmold. Voila, beautiful and delicious (if you like sweet).
Kristin
That’s an awesome idea too, yum! I will need to try that, thanks!
JZ
How are you baking the pretzel crust if it is now on top? Do you still bake in a pan and then somehow piece it into the bundt pan?
Kristin
You would still need to bake it as the crust and then when serving, you can flip the piece over so the pretzel is on top I would think!
Sheryl Rose
Delicious and easy. Prep of strawberies not included in prep time . Neither is heating up the oven!
Kristin
Glad you enjoyed! I will take a look into the prep times and adjust the time accordingly. Thanks!!
Marie
This looks so delicious!
Is the 12 oz of jello the jello powder still in the package? Or is it the amount of jello we are supposed to have after we’ve prepared it? Just wondering how many packages of jello I need to buy, here..
Kristin
You will use a 6 ounce package of jello.
Pat
Thought someone else would ask this question, but I don’t see it. Do you measure the pretzels after crushing or before?
Thanks.
Kristin
After crushing, measure the pretzels!! Hope you enjoy!
Tia
^^^^ Cooling overnight*** sorry auto correct!
Tia
I made this dessert the other day and while cooking overnight? The cream cheese mixture settled into the strawberry jello and looked splotchy! I let the Jello to too. Temp cool before pouring so not sure why this happened. Does anyone have any suggestions ?? Thanks
Kristin
Hmmm, I’ve never had that happen! The only thing I can think of is that the layers weren’t fully set/chilled? The jello must not have been fully set? So weird! I’m sorry that happened! Hopefully it was still good!
Angela Burnett
The recipe I usually use calls for 2 cups of whipped topping (16oz) 8 oz doesn’t seem like enough to cover the whole dish. Is it a typo?
Kristin
Nope, not a typo. I use 8oz in mine, but if you wanted to increase, you could! Its combined into the cream cheese, so when combined with the other ingredients, its plenty to cover the dish!
Debbie
Made this for a work get together today.. everyone absolutely LOVED it!! (It was the only dessert that had no leftovers!!)
Kristin
Yea! So glad you all enjoyed it! Its a favorite anytime I bring it places!!
Sandi
Also, so don’t follow the directions on the box of jello? Two cups water instead of four?
Kristin
Correct, 2 cups boiling water! Enjoy!
Sandi
I’m making it today for an Easter gathering tomorrow, I am contemplating the chocolate idea, yes or no?
Kristin
You could definitely do that! A slight drizzle on top?? Adds a nice touch! Enjoy and happy Easter!
Judy
I accidentally put a half cup sugar in the pretzel mixture will it still work
Kristin
No problem at all, it will just be a little more sweet than usual, but no worries! Enjoy!
Marcia Hendrie
If I make this today, Friday will it hold up well until Sunday? Just trying to get things made ahead?
Kristin
Absolutely! I plan on making it myself today for Easter brunch! Enjoy!
Barb
Kristen, thank you for sharing your family recipes. Did you use a 9×13 pan? It appears smaller in the photo.
Kristin
My pleasure!
Yes, I always make this in a 9×13. The pan is smaller because I made (2) 8×8’s instead that day!
Louisa
Since cool whip has coconut oil in it which I’m allergic to, could dream whip be used instead?
Kristin
Absolutely! No problem doing that at all!
Mary M Bertuzzi
I haven’t made this dessert in years, But it is a favorite of everyone. I have to make it for a meeting on Thursday and can’t wait to eat it again.
Kristin
Its definitely a favorite in my family too! Enjoy!!
June
I have made this twice and getting ready to make it again tomorrow. My pastor told me I could make this for his family any time I wanted! It is delicious. How do you think it would be with crushed pecans instead of pretzels (I love pecans).
June
Kristin
Yea! So glad to hear its a hit with you all! As for using pecans, I bet that’s a great idea! Another variation I have tried is using half pretzels, half pecans. It is great as well! Enjoy!
Pat Lyons
Do you think this could be made a day a head, then frozen ? I want to take it to a luncheon with friends 2 hours from my home.
Kristin
Sure! Or you could put this in a cooler with ice packs around it as well?? Enjoy!!
Connie
How do you get the pretzel layer to come out neatly? Mine seems to stick to the pan!
Kristin
I just use a spatula to flat/press it down evenly!
Kristin
A favorite in my family!!
Marci
I too have this recipe from long ago. I used to work at Keystone Pretzel Bakery in Lancaster, PA. This was a favorite recipe from their book. Salads come in all forms. If you haven’t tried it, don’t rate it! Everyone knows that.
Bee
@Jena. Your one-star rating for something you didn’t even try is unfair and I almost led me to decide not to try this recipe based on your review of its “name.” Thankfully, I decided to read your comment and reversed my decision since your rating is based on nonsense. If I could, I would delete your rating and comment.
Jena
While it looks good and I’d probably eat it…… this is in no way a salad! I feel you should change the name its extremely misleading. You made a strawberry jello cheesecake, which is cool. But not a salad.
Kristin
This is a recipe passed down in my family, name included, therefore, I didn’t want to change the name. Yes, you’re right, its not a “salad”, but to give it a 1 star review because of the name is a bit extreme. I hope you’ll decide to try this in the future and if you like it, perhaps give it a rating based on taste and not name. Thanks!
Wanda
It is perfect and so yummy. I had to double the cream cheese to get enough and I used piowder sugar.
Kristin
So glad you enjoyed it! Its a favorite in my house!
Kym
What is whipped topping
Kristin
Cool Whip, whipped cream 🙂
Tanya
Any chance that real whipped cream will work instead of frozen whipped topping? I like to use whole/real ingredients.
Kristin
I don’t see why that wouldn’t work great! Just whip it until it is firm/stiff and use it then! Enjoy!
Joy
can Splenda be used instead of the sugar and would like to try raspberries and sugar free raspberry jello too…husband is diabetic
Kristin
Absolutely! That works great, just changes the flavor slightly due to Stevia and sugar tasting somewhat different!
Pam Salerno
Making this tonight for a work party.. can’t wait to try it!!!
Kristin
Yea!! How’d it turn out???
Laura
I accidentally got a chocolate squirt on the pretzels after I spread them in the pan. It gave me an idea and I continued squirting a chocolate ice cream topping and then put the cream cheese stuff on top and then the Jell-O. It was amazing! I should’ve put a little more chocolate on top of the strawberries for Effect! Thanks for a great recipe!
Kristin
Oh that’s a great idea!!! I’ll have to try it next time! Glad you enjoyed!
Min Abra
Joanie, I put my strawberry jellomix in the fridge for a little while to get a set established sothat the mixture was not wet but had aeasy set to it so it could be spooned on the coolwhip cream cheese and sugar mixture and could be spread more easily. Worked great.
Kristin
Glad you enjoyed this!!
Barbara Berry
salted pretzels or unsalted
Kristin
I use salted, but either works great!
joanie
We have had no luck with fresh strawberries – only the frozen ones, thawed, have worked.
Kristin
Oh good, glad you found a method that works!!
DIANA
Same! Mine comes out runny using fresh. I use the thawed whole strawberries, pat them dry, then slice them. Works great!
Kristin
Great tip!!
Christa Tillman-Fink
Chilling ours now… I added a couple dashes of lemon juice to the cool whipand cream cheese…. Can’t wait to try it!!
Kristin
Oh yum!! How’d it turn out?? Do you love it?? Hope you do! Its a favorite in my house!!
Mary
What is the blueberry jello recipe
Kristin
Hi! It actually uses black cherry jello, BUT has blueberry pie filling in it, hence why I call it blueberry jello hehe! Here it is, https://thecookinchicks.com/thanksgiving-jello/
Launa
Could you use frozen strawberries thawed
Kristin
Sure! That would work great!