Strawberry Pretzel Salad Recipe, A Southern Tradition

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This Easy Strawberry Pretzel Salad Recipe just might be my favorite summer treat to make. I Well, really time if I’m honest.  I love the creaminess of the filling and the crunch of the pretzels and of course the strawberries…  It’s literally the perfect bite every single time. You will find this at most any get together or potluck you will attend, especially in the South.  Could it be a dessert?  Why yes it could.

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The best part about this strawberry pretzel salad is that it’s an absolute breeze to make. Every single time that I’ve made this (which is a ton) it’s always a huge hit with anyone that tries it. To me, that means it’s a winning recipe time and time again. 

Make certain to check out our Sweet And Savory Strawberry Recipes as well because strawberry desserts are always a good idea! 

Strawberry Pretzel Salad Recipe

This is really quite the classic strawberry salad. This is one of those family recipes that gets passed down throughout the years because it’s always simple and delicious. 

But what I also love about this simple strawberry recipe is that its one that anyone can cook. I like to make this for a nice weekend at home or whip it up and share at BBQs and other gatherings, too. 

The more people that can enjoy the taste of this strawberry and pretzel salad, the better! 

Can you use fresh strawberries instead of frozen ones?

You bet! Fresh strawberries would taste absolutely amazing for this recipe. If you have fresh strawberries, use them! And garden-fresh strawberries are awesome as well.  If using fresh, I will cut them into small pieces, and even mash a few to really get more juice.

Will the pretzel crust get soggy?

More than likely, the crunch will start to go away in the pretzels the longer it sits as a leftover. You’ll still have the amazing flavor and taste that you’re looking for but the crunch of the pretzels will be gone. 

How do you store this leftover strawberry pretzel salad?

All you need to do is pop it in the fridge for later. This will keep it nice and chill and then you can just cut a piece the next time that you’re hungry. 

Are you ready to learn how to make this easy strawberry salad? 

Ingredients needed to make Strawberry Pretzel Salad

The crust of the strawberry salad:

• 2 – 2 1/2 cups pretzels, crushed, not fine
• 3/4 cups butter, melted
• 2 tablespoons sugar

Filling:

• 2 cups whipped topping like Cool Whip – thawed 
• 8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
• 1 cup sugar

Topping:

• 2 – 3 oz packages strawberry jello
• 2 cups boiling water
• 2 – 10 oz packages frozen sliced strawberries, slightly thawed

How To Make Strawberry and Pretzel Salad Recipe

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

In a bowl combine crushed pretzels, melted butter, and sugar

Press into a 13×9 pan

Bake for about 10 minutes then cool completely on a wire rack

Beat cream cheese and sugar together until smooth

Fold in whipped topping  

Spread this mixture over cooled pretzel crust base

Cool in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes.

Dissolve the gelatin in boiling water

Add strawberries and stir until until strawberries are thawed and jello starts to congeal

Spoon over the cream cheese filling

Chill 4-6 hours until fully set

Cut into bars or scoop out, garnish with additional whipped topping and pretzel pieces, and enjoy!

Want to make it more of a dessert?  Add a few toppings to this strawberry chilled salad?

I like simplicity when it comes to toppings but you can always add more. Some other topping suggestions could be:

• mini chocolate chips
• shredded coconut
• chocolate shavings
• sprinkles

It’s totally up to you if you decide that you want to add anything else on top or not. 

Tips for Making Strawberry Salad with Frozen Strawberries

The biggest thing to remember is that you need to mix until the creamy middle is nice and smooth. No one is going to want lumps of cream cheese in their bites.  You still want a few pieces of strawberries for texture and taste.

Also, let it get nice and chilled in the fridge. It’s so good served cold! 

More Delicious Salad Recipes 

• Perfect Loaded Baked Potato Salad
• Broccoli and Bacon Salad
• Cucumber and Tomato Salad

 

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