Easy No-Bake Strawberry Pretzel Salad Recipe Perfect for Summer Desserts
A quick and refreshing no-bake dessert featuring a salty pretzel crust, creamy cream cheese layer, and fresh strawberry topping. Perfect for summer gatherings and last-minute sweet cravings.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 23 minutes
- Yield: 9 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 2 cups pretzels, crushed finely
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar (for crust)
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 8 ounces whipped topping, thawed (store-bought Cool Whip or homemade whipped cream)
- 3 cups fresh strawberries, sliced
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar (for strawberries)
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×9-inch baking dish with parchment paper if desired.
- Crush about 2 cups of pretzels in a zip-top bag with a rolling pin until coarse sand-like texture.
- In a bowl, mix crushed pretzels with 6 tablespoons melted butter and 1/4 cup granulated sugar until combined.
- Press the pretzel mixture evenly into the bottom of the baking dish. Bake for 8 minutes, then remove and let cool completely.
- Using a hand mixer, beat 8 ounces softened cream cheese until smooth. Gradually fold in 8 ounces thawed whipped topping until fluffy.
- Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over the cooled pretzel crust and smooth the top.
- Hull and slice 3 cups fresh strawberries. Toss with 1/4 cup sugar and 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Let sit for 10 minutes to macerate.
- Spoon the macerated strawberries and syrup evenly over the cream cheese layer, spreading lightly.
- Refrigerate the dessert for at least 2 hours before serving to allow layers to set and flavors to meld.
Notes
Do not skip baking the crust to maintain its crunch. Use room temperature cream cheese for smooth texture. Fold whipped topping gently into cream cheese to keep it airy. Macerate strawberries with sugar and lemon juice for juicy topping. Chill dessert at least 2 hours or overnight for best results. For gluten-free crust, use gluten-free pretzels or crushed nuts with butter. For dairy-free, substitute cream cheese and whipped topping with plant-based alternatives.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/9th of th
- Calories: 250
- Fat: 14
- Carbohydrates: 28
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 3
Keywords: no-bake dessert, strawberry pretzel salad, summer dessert, easy dessert, quick dessert, pretzel crust, cream cheese dessert