Creamy Strawberry Pretzel Jello Salad Recipe with Whipped Cream Cheese
A deliciously creamy and crunchy strawberry pretzel jello salad featuring a salty pretzel crust, whipped cream cheese layer, and fresh strawberry gelatin topping. Perfect for potlucks and family gatherings.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours 27 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups crushed pretzels
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream, cold
- 2 (3 oz) packages strawberry-flavored gelatin
- 2 cups boiling water
- 2 cups cold water
- 2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- In a large bowl, combine crushed pretzels and granulated sugar. Pour in melted butter and stir until evenly coated and crumbly.
- Press the pretzel mixture firmly into the bottom of the baking dish using the back of a spoon or flat-bottomed glass.
- Bake the crust for 7 minutes until golden and fragrant. Set aside to cool completely.
- Dissolve strawberry gelatin packets in boiling water, stirring until fully dissolved.
- Add cold water to the gelatin mixture and stir. Refrigerate until slightly thickened but not fully set, about 30-40 minutes.
- In a medium bowl, beat softened cream cheese with powdered sugar and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy.
- In a separate bowl, whip cold heavy cream until stiff peaks form.
- Gently fold whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture, keeping it light and airy.
- Spread the cream cheese layer evenly over the cooled pretzel crust and smooth the top.
- Fold sliced strawberries into the slightly thickened gelatin mixture.
- Pour the strawberry gelatin and strawberry mixture carefully over the cream cheese layer.
- Refrigerate the entire salad for at least 4 hours or preferably overnight to set.
- Serve chilled, optionally garnished with extra whipped cream or fresh strawberry slices.
Notes
Ensure the pretzel crust is fully cooled before adding the cream cheese layer to prevent melting. Chill the gelatin until slightly thickened before folding in strawberries to avoid sinking. For a dairy-free version, substitute heavy cream with coconut cream and cream cheese with a vegan alternative. Use gluten-free pretzels or graham cracker crumbs for gluten-free adaptation.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/12th of t
- Calories: 250
- Fat: 16
- Carbohydrates: 25
- Protein: 3
Keywords: strawberry pretzel salad, jello salad, creamy dessert, whipped cream cheese, potluck dessert, easy dessert, sweet and salty dessert