This Strawberry Pretzel Salad is so Delicious and Easy to make! This dessert salad has a salty pretzel crust filled with a creamy sweet no-bake cream cheese layer and a strawberry topping that is irresistible! This layered strawberry pretzel dessert is loved by adults and kids.
The Best Strawberry Pretzel Salad Recipe
So there has always been a huge debate about the name of this recipe since the word “salad” is used. I didn’t come up with the name, but I grew up with my grandma making dessert salads so this is totally normal to me. Would love to know what you would call this recipe.
Watch The Recipe Video!
What Is Strawberry Pretzel Salad?
This traditional dessert salad is made up of 3 layers…
- Pretzel Crust: crushed salted pretzels, sugar, and butter
- Creamy Filling: cream cheese, sugar, and whipped cream.
- Strawberry Topping: strawberry jello and sliced fresh strawberries
We love making dessert Jello salads and you will also love our popular Snickers Apple Salad, Cherry Fluff Salad, Ambrosia Salad and Twix Caramel Apple Salad.
Ingredients you will need:
- Pretzels – Crush any type of pretzels for the crust.
- Butter – The butter is melted and used for the crust.
- Sugar – Granulated sugar.
- Cream Cheese – Softened.
- Cool Whip – This is used for the topping.
- Strawberry Jello – You need boxed strawberry gelatin.
- Fresh Strawberries – Thinly sliced.
How To Make Strawberry Pretzel Salad
Strawberry Jello pretzel salad is so easy to put together. You will have to have to wait just a little bit for refrigeration, but super easy to prep. Just 3 simple steps…
- Crust: Combine crushed pretzels, sugar and melted butter and press into the bottom of a 9×13 pan.
- Cheesecake Filling: Whip cream cheese and sugar, fold in whipped topping. Spread the mixture over the baked pretzel layer and refrigerate until firm.
- Strawberry Jell-o Topping: Combine jello and water with fresh sliced strawberries and pour the strawberry jello mixture over the cream cheese layer.
Can I Make This In Advance?
Yes! We like this the best when it has been in the fridge to chill for 1 full day and it will keep for up to 4 days.
Tips & Tricks:
- Strawberries – You can use frozen strawberries if you can’t find fresh (defrost and drain first). You could also substitute or add other fresh fruit.
- Pretzels – Easily crush the pretzels using a food processor or place them in a large zip-lock bag and crush with a rolling pin.
- Layers – Allow each layer to cool before adding the next layer to prevent any melting.
- Topping – Make sure to use a whipped topping such a Cool Whip instead of making your own whipped cream. Homemade doesn’t set as firmly.
- Variations – the flavor of this dessert salad can easily be changed with different berries and Jello. Another option is orange Jello with mandarin oranges or you can try our Raspberry Pretzel Salad.
Other Strawberry Recipes You’ll Love:
- Strawberry Upside Down Cake
- Strawberry Butter
- Baked Strawberry Donuts
- Strawberry Poke Cake
- Homemade Strawberry Cake
Strawberry Pretzel Salad
Ingredients
Crust
- 2 cups crushed salted pretzels
- 3/4 cup butter melted
- 3 Tbsp granulated sugar
Filling
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 8 ounce container frozen whipped topping thawed
Topping
- 1 6 ounce package strawberry Jell-O
- 2 cups boiling water
- 2 cups thinly sliced fresh strawberries
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- In a bowl, whisk together jello and boiling water until jello is completely dissolved. Add the strawberries. Place in the refrigerator.
- In medium bowl, mix Crust ingredients. Press into ungreased 13 x 9-inch baking dish. Bake 8 minutes. Cool on cooling rack.
- In medium bowl, beat Filling ingredients with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Spread over cooled crust. Cover and refrigerate until cool, 30 minutes or more.
- Carefully spoon gelatin topping over filling. Refrigerate 4 to 6 hours or until firm.
Last Step:
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52 comments on “Strawberry Pretzel Salad”
Thank you! Al the other recipes I looked at were asking for frozen. I see I can do either, thanks!
We made this on the 60s. Great recipe!
Perfect! So good!
Just made it looks yummy now the hard part waiting ugh!!!
I omitted the cup of sugar in the cream cheese filling and it was delicious without the extra sweetness. Great recipe and family favorite!
I wish there was a video with this as I’m not real sure how long or what the Jello thickness is supposed to be? After being in the fridge doesn’t it get solid ?
Hi Emma. There is a video for this recipe in the post. Hope that helps.
SOOOOO GOOOOD!!
Tried and True Recipe by family loves. For a little “variation” I put Tsp of Almond Extract in the filling “recommended by a friend” if have on hand.
Easy to make and delicious!
I can’t wait to make this! This will go to the strawberry party.
I will keep this updated as soon as possible.
I hade to use 2 cans of reddi whip bc there is a shortage on cool whip. It was wonderful!!
My whole family loves this. Thank you!!
Can’t wait to make this tomorrow for a church meeting! I’ve got fresh strawberries from my garden.
My family doesn’t like the pretzel crust so I do a graham cracker crust instead. So good!
I have been making this for years, love your recipe. Just made it for Fathers Day
Easy to make. Perfect dessert for when you are in a hurry.
Excellent summer dessert!!!
Delicious. I used sugar free jello and sugar free cool whip. I used stevia in the cream chees mixture but used real sugar with the pretzels.
Loved it, easy, going to try it with lemon jello also
My Best Friend got me into this Recipe we call it Strawberry Pretzel Crack
Bc it’s just that.. we love it and it’s always a hit at any party
AMAZING
I made it a little differently. Instead of Jello and.strawberries, I just used a can of cherry pie filling. The top wasn’t as firm but that was ok. It.was GREAT!!!
This is definitely a favorite… this is what I get asked to make for every holiday, picnic, gathering!!
Can it be frozen?
Love it easy to make thank you
Easy to make and everyone loved it. Thank you.
Great recipe, going to try it with lemon jello also
Took this to a family event and it was a big hit!
I’ve made this for several occasions and it’s a hit! My neighbor asked if I could make a tray just for them. Lol Making it for Christmas party and I know it’ll be a hit. You can use any fruit and any jello and it’s still good.
Several steps but all of these are. Very good.
I will make it again. I used frozen sliced strawberries
Loved i5! Make it every special event. And my strawberries are from my garden…frozen w/ light sugar. They taste like fresh.
My family loves this. Have been making it for years. I cut the sugar in half in the filling. You won’t miss it. I don’t use jello either. I use fresh fruit or thickened crushed pineapple. Or any other fruit.
Easy to make and everyone loved it. I added another 4 ozs of cool whip. Using fresh strawberries makes a big difference in taste.
Love this dish! You need to let the strawberry jello and strawberries cool for 1 & 1/2 hours so you can spoon on top of the cream cheese layer, then let it sit 4 to 6 hours or over night.
Have made this for years. Everyone loves it. Also make with raspberry jello and frozen raspberries. Just as delicious!!
Very tasty. Easy to follow recipe! My fav dessert!
This can also be made using mandarin oranges and orange jello!
This is delicious! We use Glutino Gluten-free pretzels (which are amazing on their own – not all gluten-free products are created equal, for sure!) It’s so nice to have something awesome that’s gluten free to take to gatherings. No one would even know! The first time I made this it was perfect! The second time I rushed it and I don’t think the crust was all the way cool and the jello was probably not far enough along when I poured it. Liquid seeped down into the crust and it was a little soggy – that was a user error though. I’m still unsure how set the jello needs to be before pouring it on so I guess I’ll just have to keep making it to figure it out. But this is definitely a 5 star recipe for sure!
You can also use strawberry pie filling!!
I make this all the time, I omit the fresh and/or frozen strawberries as my family doesn’t care for them in the jello.
We simply call it “Pretzel Jello!”
Everyone loves the sweet & saltiness of this dessert!
Jackie Amari
Love it so good!!! Had this for a baby shower gone in 10 min best day ever!!!
It’s strawberry jello. Everyone guesses what kind of crust it has. So good. I also make this in spring and summer. I’ve made this for years!
Looks great
“So there has always been a huge debate about the name of this recipe since the word “salad” is used. ”
The name doesn’t matter, this stuff is Deee-lish!
Sounds so good, can’t wait to try it.
Love your receipts!!
I absolutely love this recipe it is my all-time favorite dessert now
Love this desert . Glad to have the recipe
I can’t wait to try this! I will take to my Mom’s house for our family Christmas dinner ⛄
This is a family tradition for Thanksgiving!
Our house too and Christmas!!