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Creamy Strawberry Pretzel Salad Recipe with Easy Homemade Cream Cheese Layer

creamy strawberry pretzel salad - featured image
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A delightful dessert featuring a crunchy pretzel crust, a silky cream cheese layer, and a fresh strawberry topping. Perfect for potlucks and family gatherings, this salad combines sweet, salty, and creamy textures in every bite.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups crushed pretzels (about 6 ounces, finely crushed)
  • 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream or 8 ounces frozen whipped topping, thawed
  • 4 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced (about 1 pint)
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Crush 2 cups of pretzels finely using a food processor or a rolling pin in a sealed bag.
  2. Mix crushed pretzels with 3 tablespoons sugar and 6 tablespoons melted butter until combined.
  3. Press the pretzel mixture firmly into the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish. Compact tightly using the bottom of a flat measuring cup or glass.
  4. Bake crust for 10 minutes until golden and fragrant. Remove and let cool completely.
  5. In a large bowl, beat 8 ounces softened cream cheese with 1 cup powdered sugar until smooth.
  6. In a separate bowl, whip 1 cup heavy cream until stiff peaks form or fold in thawed whipped topping.
  7. Fold whipped cream into cream cheese mixture until silky and combined.
  8. Spread cream cheese layer evenly over cooled pretzel crust. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
  9. In a medium saucepan, combine 1/2 cup sugar, 2 tablespoons water, and 1 tablespoon cornstarch. Stir until smooth.
  10. Add 4 cups sliced strawberries and cook over medium heat, stirring often, until thickened and strawberries soften (5-7 minutes). Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.
  11. Pour cooled strawberry topping evenly over cream cheese layer. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.
  12. Slice into squares and serve chilled. Store leftovers refrigerated up to 3 days.

Notes

Press the pretzel crust firmly before baking to avoid crumbling. Cool crust completely before adding cream cheese layer to prevent sogginess. Use softened cream cheese for smooth texture. Stir strawberry topping constantly to avoid lumps. Chilling overnight enhances flavor melding but 2 hours is sufficient. For gluten-free, use gluten-free pretzels; for dairy-free, substitute cream cheese and whipped cream with dairy-free alternatives.

Nutrition

Keywords: strawberry pretzel salad, creamy dessert, cream cheese layer, pretzel crust, easy dessert, potluck dessert, no-bake dessert

Find it online: https://bitematrix.com/creamy-strawberry-pretzel-salad-recipe-with-easy-homemade-cream-cheese-layer/