Strawberry Pretzel Salad
Most people name this strawberry pretzel salad however in my household it’s merely known as jello salad. This recipe is one thing my late great-aunt Ina used to make for giant household dinners. To me, this feels just like the quintessential Thanksgiving or Christmas side dish, because it simply feels very retro and Midwest to me.
There are many variations of Strawberry Pretzel salad, so here’s what you may count on from this recipe. This is a dessert OR candy aspect dish in three layers: pretzel crust, cream cheese heart, and a strawberry-cranberry Jello high.
I like so as to add a sugared cranberries garnish alongside the sting only for a festive look, however that is completely optionally available.
As I discussed, that is my great-aunt Ina’s recipe. I needed to get it from my grandmother who delivered it to me as a handwritten photocopy, which I liked. I just about persist with her Jello salad recipe with one variation which I’ll share under.
Related: The Best Fruit Salad, Ambrosia Salad, Watergate Salad, Jello Poke Cake, and 15+ Easy No-Bake Desserts.
Strawberry Pretzel Salad Ingredients:
- Strawberry Jello mix
- Cranberry juice
- Frozen strawberries
- Cream cheese
- Cool Whip
- Granulated white sugar
- Butter
- Pretzels
How to Make Strawberry Pretzel Salad:
This is a layered dessert that requires some setting time. So, it’s greatest to make this the day earlier than you intend to serve it. Personally, I like a make forward recipe, particularly once I’m prepping for an enormous meal.
Layer 1 = Crushed pretzels and melted butter that get baked right into a crust.
Layer 2 = Softened cream cheese, Cool Whip, and sugar get blended collectively after which layered over the cooled crust.
Layer 3 = Strawberry Jello combine made with cranberry juice and frozen strawberries are added to the highest layer. Then, permit the dessert to completely set (coated within the fridge) earlier than serving.
Tips for Making Jello Salad:
- For the strawberry Jello, I observe the instructions on the field, substituting the chilly water for chilly cranberry juice as an alternative. This provides extra taste and a tartness to this candy aspect dish.
- I wish to pulse the frozen strawberries in a food processor a pair occasions earlier than including to the Jello combine. My goal is to not utterly puree them, however go away some variance in texture, as you may see within the photographs right here.
- This recipe is greatest made in a 9×13 pan. However, as you may see, I made it in a barely smaller dish as pictured right here. This is completely effective—it simply means your layers will probably be just a little thicker and it might take just a little longer for the Jello to completely set.
More Holiday Desserts
Is strawberry pretzel salad a aspect dish or dessert? Honestly, I’ve had it served each methods earlier than, so it’s totally as much as you. Here are another vacation desserts you would possibly like:
- Eclair No-Bake Cake – one other scrumptious layered dessert
- 15 Pumpkin Desserts
- Caramel Apple Cheesecake
- Easy 3 Ingredient Fudge
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How lengthy does Jello salad final within the fridge?
This Jello salad recipe will final at the least 3-5 days within the fridge. After round 5 days, the Jello layer will start to run into the cream cheese layer, making it pink, and the crust will probably be turn into soggy.
Can I make Jello salad forward?
Yes. In reality it’s greatest to make this Jello salad recipe the day earlier than you intend to serve it.
Is Jello salad a dessert or aspect dish?
It relies upon! I’ve had this Jello salad recipe served as each a aspect dish and a dessert at totally different meals. I really suppose the cranberry strawberry Jello tastes nice alongside turkey, however this recipe most intently resembles a dessert by the substances.
Jello Salad
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Equipment
-
1 9×13 baking dish
Ingredients
Crust
- 2 cups pretzels crushed
- ¾ cup butter melted
Cream Cheese Layer
- 16 ounces cream cheese
- 8 ounces Cool Whip
- ½ cup granulated white sugar
Jello Layer
- Large field strawberry Jello Mix off manufacturers are effective, too
- 2 cups cranberry juice
- 1 pound frozen strawberries chopped
Instructions
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To make the crust, crush the pretzels. This is straightforward to do in a meals processor.
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Add the pretzels and melted butter to a medium-sized mixing bowl and stir to mix.
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Press the combination into the underside of a 9×13 baking dish.
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Bake at 375°F for 25 minutes. Allow to completely cool.
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To make the cream cheese layer, whip collectively the softened cream cheese, Cool Whip, and sugar.
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Spoon this combination over the cooled crust and seal the perimeters utterly.
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To make the Jello layer, chop up the frozen strawberries. I do that by pulsing just a few occasions within the meals processor.
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Follow the field directions to make the Jello. This will embody boiling two cups of water and in addition including two cups of chilly water, which you must substitute for chilly cranberry juice as an alternative. Then, add the frozen strawberries.
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Let the Jello partially set earlier than including to the highest of the cream cheese layer.
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Cover and refrigerate for at the least 4 hours so the Jello totally units. I often make this the evening earlier than I plan to serve it.
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Optional: Toss contemporary cranberries in just a little water after which toss in 1/4 cup granulated white sugar to make fast sugared cranberries for a garnished edge.
