Classic Creamy Strawberry Pretzel Salad Dessert
A perfect marriage of salty crunch and creamy sweetness with a buttery pretzel crust, creamy filling, and fresh strawberries. This easy 4-ingredient dessert is a crowd-pleaser for any occasion.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours 25 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups crushed pretzels (mini pretzels or broken sticks)
- 1 cup granulated sugar (divided)
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 8 ounces whipped topping, thawed
- 4 cups fresh strawberries, sliced
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Crush the pretzels in a zip-top bag with a rolling pin until coarse sand-sized pieces form.
- In a mixing bowl, combine crushed pretzels, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, and melted butter. Stir until evenly coated and crumbly but sticks together when pressed.
- Press the crust mixture evenly into the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Bake the crust for about 10 minutes until golden brown and aromatic. Remove and let cool completely.
- In a separate bowl, beat softened cream cheese with remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar until smooth and creamy.
- Fold in the whipped topping gently to keep the mixture light and airy.
- Spread the creamy mixture evenly over the cooled crust using a spatula.
- Arrange sliced strawberries evenly over the creamy layer.
- Refrigerate the assembled dessert for at least 4 hours or overnight to set.
Notes
Bake the crust until golden and let it cool completely before adding the creamy layer to prevent sogginess. Soften cream cheese before mixing for smooth texture. Fold whipped topping gently to keep filling light. Chill overnight for best flavor and clean slicing. Use a sharp, wet knife to slice.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/12th of t
- Calories: 275
- Sugar: 22
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 16.5
- Saturated Fat: 9
- Carbohydrates: 32.5
- Fiber: 1.5
- Protein: 3.5
Keywords: strawberry pretzel salad, creamy dessert, easy dessert, 4-ingredient dessert, pretzel crust, summer dessert, potluck dessert