Strawberry Pretzel Dessert

Strawberry Pretzel Dessert is so quick and easy to put together and everyone loves it.  A no-bake, creamy cheese cake filling sits atop a salty sweet pretzel base and everything is topped off with a mixture of strawberries set in strawberry gelatin dessert (Jell-o).  I served it for one of our Easter desserts this year and as the grandkids say, "It's yummy, good!"

This recipe is all over the internet.  Some call it a salad and some a dessert but they are one and the same thing.  The original recipe calls for frozen berries but if you can find fresh strawberries use them instead. 


Strawberry Pretzel Dessert
2 cups crushed pretzels
¾ cup melted butter
3 tablespoons sugar, plus ¾ cup sugar
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese
3 cups whipped cream (1½ cups before whipping) or 3 cups whipped topping
2 (3-ounce) packages strawberry gelatin dessert mix (Jell-o)
2½ cups boiling water
About 4 cups strawberries, fresh or frozen, sliced
Whipped topping or whipped cream, to garnish

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

For the crust, mix the crushed pretzels, melted butter, and 3 tablespoons of sugar. Press this mixture into a 9 by 13-inch pan and bake for 7-10 minutes until starting to turn golden brown. Set aside and allow to cool.

In a mixing bowl, beat together the cream cheese and ¾ cup of sugar. Fold in the cream/whipped topping, and spread over the cooled crust. Refrigerate until well chilled.

While the dessert is chilling mix the gelatin dessert mix with the strawberries. In a large bowl, dissolve the gelatin in the boiling water, and allow to cool slightly. Add the strawberries and let set until just starting to gel.  (If using frozen berries, add them frozen to the hot gelatin.) When partially set, pour over the cream cheese mixture. Refrigerate until set.  This should take about 3 or 4 hours.

To serve, cut slices and serve with a dollop of whipped topping.

Makes 15-18 servings.

Crush the pretzels using a rolling pin or stick them in a food processor.  I put the pretzels in a freezer bag and rolled them to the consistency I needed.  Add the melted butter and 3 tablespoons sugar and mix together. 

Press the pretzel crumbs in a 9x13-inch dish and bake 7-10 minutes or until starting to turn golden brown.  Set aside to cool. 

Beat the cream cheese and remaining sugar together.  Fold in the whipped cream/topping.  

Spread the cream cheese mixture over the cooled pretzel base.  Set aside to thoroughly chill.

While the base and cream cheses filling are chilling mix the strawberries with the gelatin dessert mix. Refrigerate until starting to gel. 

Pour the gelled strawberries over the cream cheese filling.  Refrigerate several hours until set.  Overnight is best. 

Fully set and ready to serve.

This is my piece!  The strawberries look like sparkling jewels.

Sweet and salty Strawberry Pretzel Dessert.