This old fashioned strawberry pretzel salad recipe takes salty and sweet to a whole new level, making it the perfect make-ahead dessert for any occasion, especially Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. It’s a time-tested classic that will definitely be a hit at your next summer potluck or holiday dinner.
This is one of those dishes that looks beautiful on a holiday or party table. To make sure it looks the best, you can chill the layers in the fridge between each step. Trust me, that makes a huge difference to how well-defined the layers are.
If you’re a fan of this unique dessert, you will also enjoy my creamy fruit salad. Other great fruity treats include my old-fashioned frozen fruit salad or watergate salad. They’ll seriously have you taking a trip down memory lane.
This specific strawberry jello pretzel salad comes from WBNS TV 10 with Lou Forrest and Susan Flaherty. At least that’s where my grandma says it is from according to her recipe card. I picture her watching the show and taking the time to write it all down. I’m so glad she did.
Table of Contents
Why I Love This Recipe
- Classic Flavors: This recipe combines the classic flavors of pretzels, cream cheese, and strawberries, resulting in a dish that is both comforting and familiar.
- Family Favorite: This sweet and salty salad is a hit with both kids and adults. It’s been a holiday classic for decades, and you’ll know why when you try it. You definitely want to serve it on Thanksgiving or Christmas.
- Memorable: The unique combination of sweet and salty, along with the creamy and crunchy layers, makes this salad a memorable addition to any meal. Trust me, everyone will ask for the recipe!
- Comfort Food: There’s something incredibly comforting about the combination of creamy, crunchy, and fruity. It’s the perfect comfort food.
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Key Ingredients
- Pretzels: These will be coarsely crushed and mixed with butter and sugar to form a deliciously crunchy crust for our salad.
- Butter: The melted butter is mixed with the pretzels to give the crust a rich, buttery flavor and help it hold together.
- Cream Cheese: This will be blended with sugar and cool whipped cream to form a creamy layer that adds a tangy richness to the salad.
- Sugar: Used in the pretzel crust and the cream cheese mixture to add sweetness to balance the tanginess of the cream cheese.
- Cool Whip: This will be folded into the cream cheese mixture to add a light, fluffy texture and a hint of sweetness.
- Lemon Juice: This will be added to the cream cheese mixture to enhance the flavor and cut through its richness.
- Strawberry Jell-O: This will be mixed with boiling water and frozen strawberries to form a jiggly layer packed with the flavor of fresh strawberries.
- Frozen Strawberries: These will be used to make the strawberry Jell-O layer, adding a burst of fresh strawberry flavor to the salad.
Equipment
- 9×13 Pan – You’ll need this to press the pretzel mixture into and bake for the first layer of the salad.
- Electric Mixer – This will help you blend the cream cheese, sugar, and cool whipped cream for the second layer.
- Large Mixing Bowl – This is essential for mixing the Jell-O, boiling water, and frozen strawberries for the third layer of the salad.
How to Make Old Fashioned Strawberry Pretzel Salad
Preparation
To begin, preheat your oven to 400° F. You’ll also need a 9×13 pan for this recipe.
Step 1 – Make the Pretzel Crust Layer
Combine the coarsely crushed pretzels, melted butter, and 3 tablespoons of sugar in a bowl. Press this mixture into the 9×13 pan. Bake it in the preheated oven for 8 minutes. Once done, let it cool.
Step 2 – Make the Second Layer
In a large mixing bowl, beat together 1 cup of sugar and cream cheese. Gradually add the cool whipped cream and blend until smooth. Add lemon juice and mix it into the second layer. Spread this mixture on top of the cooled pretzel layer.
Step 3 – Make the Jello Layer
In the same large mixing bowl, combine the strawberry Jell-O and boiling water. Stir until the Jell-O is completely dissolved. Add the frozen strawberries and stir until the strawberries thaw and the mixture begins to thicken. Let it stand for 10 minutes. Pour this Jell-O and strawberry mixture onto the second layer.
Step 4 – Refrigerate and Serve
Refrigerate the entire dessert for at least four hours. It’s even better if you chill it longer, so you can leave it in the fridge overnight. Your delicious old-fashioned strawberry pretzel salad is ready to serve.
Expert Tip
Use sliced frozen strawberries to make it easier to work with the jello layer. They are more evenly distributed onto the jello layer and make it easier to not only mix but also to serve when chilled.
Recipe Variations
- Change the Jell-O Flavor: The recipe calls for strawberry Jell-O, but feel free to experiment with different flavors. Raspberry or cherry Jell-O would work well with the fresh strawberries and cream cheese mixture.
- Try a Different Base: The pretzel crust adds a salty, crunchy contrast to the sweet cream cheese layer and strawberry Jell-O. However, you can also try a graham cracker crust for a different flavor and texture.
- Add Nuts: If you like a bit of crunch in your dessert, consider adding chopped nuts to the pretzel crust. Pecans or walnuts would be a great addition to this old fashioned fruity salad.
What to Serve With
- For a refreshing summer dessert, serve this after a barbecue. The sweet and creamy flavors are the perfect way to end a summer meal.
- If you’re hosting a brunch, this salad is a unique and delicious addition to your spread. The fresh strawberries and cream cheese layer make it a hit with both kids and adults.
- Looking for a simple yet impressive dessert for a potluck? This old fashioned strawberry pretzel salad is the answer. The vibrant colors and delicious flavors will definitely make it a crowd-pleaser.
- For a fun twist, serve this salad in individual mason jars. It’s a great way to portion it out and makes for a cute presentation. Just make sure to let the cream cheese layer set in the refrigerator before adding the Jell-O.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can make this old-fashioned strawberry pretzel salad the night before. In fact, the longer it chills in the refrigerator, the better the flavors meld together, making it a perfect make-ahead dessert for parties or gatherings. The original recipe says to refrigerate for 24 hours.
Yes, you can use fresh strawberries instead of frozen ones. However, using frozen berries for the Jell-O layer helps it to set up more quickly, so if you do use fresh strawberries, just allow a little extra time for the salad to chill and set in the refrigerator.
Letting the Jell-O and strawberry mixture stand for 10 minutes before adding it to the dish allows the Jell-O to partially set. This helps to prevent it from seeping into the cream cheese layer, guaranteeing that your salad has distinct layers when you serve it.
Absolutely! This recipe is quite versatile. You can use different fruits, such as raspberries or peaches, and different Jell-O flavors to customize the dessert to your liking.
Yes, you can use low-fat or non-dairy cream cheese for the cream cheese layer. However, keep in mind that the texture and flavor of the cream cheese mixture may be slightly different from the original recipe.
More Fruity Dessert Recipes You’ll Enjoy
Serving Size
- What to Expect: This strawberry jello pretzel salad recipe yields a delicious dessert with 16 servings. It’s such a rich dessert that serving smaller slices is perfect.
- How to Scale: If you’re planning a larger gathering and need to serve more than 16 people, you can easily double the recipe. Just make sure to use a larger mixing bowl to prepare the cream cheese mixture and a pan larger than 9×13 to layer the ingredients. Follow the rest of the instructions as directed, and you’ll have a larger batch of this tasty dessert in no time.
Strawberry Pretzel Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups pretzels coarsely crushed
- 1 1/2 sticks butter melted
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 1 cup + 3 Tablespoons sugar
- 8 oz cool whip
- 1 TB lemon juice
- 6 oz strawberry jello
- 2 cups boiling water
- 20 oz frozen strawberries
Instructions
First Layer
- Mix together the pretzels, melted butter, and 3 Tablespoons of sugar. Press into a 9×13 pan. Bake at 400° F for 8 minutes. Let cool
Second Layer
- Beat 1 Cup of sugar and cream cheese together. Fold in the cool whip. Add lemon juice and mix into the second layer. Spread on top of pretzels.
Third Layer
- Mix together jello, boiling water, and frozen strawberries. Let stand for 10 minutes. Spoon onto the second layer. Refrigerate for at least four hours but overnight is recommended for best results.
Comments & Reviews
Vicki says
Is it neccesary to use so much butter in the pretzel crust?
Lynette says
HI! To get the results I share, you will need to follow the directions as indicated. You can always experiment, but I can’t guarantee the results.
Yvonne says
Can whipped cream be used instead of Cool Whip?
Lynette says
Yes! Whipped cream should work. The cool whip has a slightly different flavor, but it shouldn’t alter the recipe too much.
Dolores kaplan says
I just put in a cup of sugar on the pretzel layer.
That was the only sugar amount that I saw.
Now I have to throw out the pretzel layer.
On the handwritten recipe card it says 3T of sugar.
Why did you not include the amount of sugar for the pretzel layer on the official printed recipe.
I only see one cup!!
Please clear this up so that this does not happen to anyone else.
Lynette says
Hi, I have updated the recipe to better reflect the sugar amount in each step on the printed version. Thanks for letting me know so I could fix it. 🙂
Dolores says
You are welcome.
It was delicious.
Thanks you for the courteous and quick reply.
Denise Devers says
I made this for one of our Potluck meals @ Church & tripled it. It was the biggest hit of all the dishes & was all gone!! Everyone always thinks the crust is made with nuts & surprised to find out it’s pretzels. In our family we eat this with our meal, as a side, while others sometimes eat it as a dessert. Either way, it’s delicious!!!!
Beth says
This looks so good! I will definitley be trying this recipe. I love making recipes like this that have been handed down from parents & grandparents; they are such special memories:) Thanks!!
Kristina says
Yum, I bet the salty crunch of pretzels makes for the perfect crust for this strawberry salad. Perfect dish for summer!
Karyl Henry says
What a great summer dessert! I can see this on our summer party buffet for sure, and it definitely won’t last long
Sara says
This would be perfect for a potluck I have coming up. I am totally going to make this!