Strawberry Pretzel Jello

Strawberry Pretzel Jell-O recipe – crispy, salty pretzel crust, fluffy sweet cream cheese layer, topped with strawberry jell-o and  packed with strawberries. 

Crispy, salty crushed pretzel crust, topped with a creamy, fluffy sweetened creamy cheese layer and finished with strawberry jello packed with sliced strawberries.

This is one of my family’s favorite desserts and most requested recipe. My daughter actually asks for it for her birthday. For many of us, it’s the kick-off to a summer season of shorts and tee shirts, beach days, backyard barbecues and staying outside warm evenings long after the streetlights come on.

Why you’ll love this Strawberry Pretzel Salad recipe:

• Three distinct layers – delicious crust of crispy, crushed pretzels, fluffy sweet cream cheese layer and strawberry packed Jello topping.
• Make ahead – it’s even better overnight
• Feeds a crowd – the flavor is irresistible – a huge hit with kids and adults!
• Transports easily if you’re taking it to a party or serving up for Easter dinner.

Ingredients you’ll need for Strawberry Pretzel Jell-o:

Crust:

• pretzels
• butter
• granulated sugar

Filling:

• strawberry jell-o
• boiling water
• frozen unsweetened strawberries sliced and thawed
• tub of whipped topping (thaw if frozen)
• cream cheese
• granulated sugar

How to make Strawberry Pretzel Jell-o:

Preheat the oven to 400°. Remove cream cheese from the fridge to soften.

Salty Pretzel Crust

Crush the pretzels:  Add to a food processor and pulse until finely chopped – or – pretzels to a sturdy zip top bag and crush using a rolling pin or mallet. Add to a medium to large bowl.

Add melted butter and sugar to the bowl. Stir to combine well then transfer to an ungreased 9 x 13 baking pan. Press mixture firmly to form the crust then transfer to the preheated oven. 

Bake 10 minutes, remove from the oven cool completely.

Cream Cheese Layer

Add whipped topping, softened cream cheese and sugar to another bowl. Use an electric mixer to beat until smooth.

Spread evenly over cooled crust. NOTE: be sure the cream cheese mix goes completely edge to edge. This is important to seal the crust so the jello doesn’t get soggy.

Strawberry Jello

Add jello to a bowl. Pour in boiling water and stir until dissolved.

Fold in strawberries, gently stirring so the jello thickens slightly then pour over the cream cheese mixture. Transfer to the fridge 2-4 hours or until firm.

Tips for the best strawberry pretzel jell-o:

1. Use room temp cream cheese. If it’s chilled, it won’t
2. Cool pretzel crust completely before adding cream cheese layer.
3. Spread cream cheese layer all the way to the edges! Can’t stress this one enough. This prevents jello moisture from seeping onto the pretzel crust and making it soggy.
4. Set completely before slicing.

FAQ – frequently asked questions:

Can I use fresh strawberries instead of frozen? Yes – you absolutely can use fresh strawberries instead of frozen.

How do I prevent the crust from getting soggy? Be sure to spread cream cheese layer all the way to the edges. If there’s a gap, the jello will seep in and make the crust soggy.

Can I make this a day ahead? Absolutely! Personally, I think it’s even better the next day.

Can I use other jello and fruit flavors? Yes – get creative. Raspberries would be good – use raspberry jell-o or think fall: cranberry jell-o and a cranberry relish.

Storage:

Store leftovers in the refrigerator up to 3 days covered with plastic wrap or in an airtight container.

History of Strawberry Pretzel Jello:

This popular dessert has been around forever and if you live in the Midwest, there’s a good chance you’ve had some version of it. Family barbeques, potlucks … maybe your mom or grandma made it. 

More popular strawberry recipes:

Homemade Strawberry Sauce – homemade fresh strawberry sauce for topping ice cream, waffles and more!

Strawberry Bread – moist, lightly sweet quick bread loaded with fresh strawberries and topped with a simple cream cheese glaze.

Strawberry Peach Sangria – delicious boozy blend of fresh fruit, Rosé wine and alcohol.

Mini Strawberry Pies – bite size fresh strawberry pies with a delicious sweet glaze and golden flake crust.

10 Minute Mixed Berry Galette – easy, rustic pie with fresh summer berries baked in a single free-form crust sprinkled with coarse sugar.

Full printable recipe for this Strawberry Pretzel Salad recipe below. Enjoy!