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Creamy Strawberry Pretzel Salad

creamy strawberry pretzel salad - featured image
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A nostalgic and crowd-pleasing dessert featuring a crunchy salty pretzel crust, creamy layers, and fresh strawberry topping. Perfect for potlucks, brunches, or sweet treats.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 cups crushed pretzels (about 7 oz or 200g)
  • 1 cup granulated sugar (200g)
  • 1 cup unsalted butter (227g), melted
  • 8 oz (225g) cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup powdered sugar (120g)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 cups heavy whipping cream (480ml)
  • 4 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced (about 600g)
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar (100g)
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease your 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
  2. Crush 4 cups of pretzels into small pieces (not powdery). In a large bowl, mix the crushed pretzels with 1 cup granulated sugar and 1 cup melted unsalted butter until well combined.
  3. Press the crust mixture firmly into the bottom of your baking dish, creating an even layer.
  4. Bake the crust in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes until golden brown and fragrant. Remove and let cool completely.
  5. In a medium bowl, beat 8 oz softened cream cheese with 1 cup powdered sugar and 1 tsp vanilla extract until smooth and fluffy.
  6. In a separate bowl, whip 2 cups heavy cream until soft peaks form. Gently fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture.
  7. Layer the creamy filling evenly over the cooled pretzel crust, smoothing the top with a spatula. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to set.
  8. In a bowl, toss 4 cups sliced strawberries with 1/2 cup granulated sugar and 1 tbsp lemon juice. Let sit for 15-20 minutes to macerate.
  9. Drain excess liquid from the strawberries and spread the strawberry topping evenly over the cream layer.
  10. Chill the entire salad for at least 2 hours before serving.

Notes

Ensure cream cheese is fully softened to avoid lumps. Cool crust completely before adding creamy layer to prevent melting. Drain strawberry juices well to keep crust crunchy. Whip cream to soft peaks to avoid grainy texture. Chilling time is essential for best texture and flavor melding.

Nutrition

Keywords: strawberry pretzel salad, creamy dessert, pretzel crust, easy dessert, potluck dessert, summer dessert

Find it online: https://lunafeast.com/creamy-strawberry-pretzel-salad-recipe-with-easy-crunchy-crust-tutorial/