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Creamy Strawberry Pretzel Salad Recipe Easy Homemade Crunchy Crust

creamy strawberry pretzel salad - featured image
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A unique dessert combining a crunchy salty pretzel crust with a sweet, tangy strawberry topping and a luscious creamy filling. Perfect for potlucks and easy to make in under an hour.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 1/2 cups pretzel sticks, crushed
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream, whipped to soft peaks
  • 4 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Crush pretzels into a mix of fine crumbs and chunkier pieces.
  2. In a mixing bowl, combine crushed pretzels and 1/4 cup granulated sugar. Pour in melted butter and stir until evenly coated.
  3. Press pretzel mixture firmly into the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish to form an even layer.
  4. Bake crust for 10 minutes until golden and fragrant. Let cool completely before adding filling.
  5. In a large bowl, beat softened cream cheese until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar and mix until combined.
  6. In a separate bowl, whip heavy cream to soft peaks. Gently fold whipped cream into cream cheese mixture.
  7. In a medium bowl, combine sliced strawberries, 1/3 cup sugar, water, and lemon juice. Stir gently and let sit for 15-20 minutes to macerate.
  8. Spread creamy filling evenly over cooled pretzel crust.
  9. Spoon macerated strawberries and syrup over cream layer, spreading gently to cover.
  10. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 hours, preferably overnight, before serving.

Notes

Ensure the pretzel crust is completely cooled before adding the creamy filling to keep it crunchy. Use room temperature cream cheese for smooth blending. Whip cream to soft peaks and fold gently to keep filling light and airy. Macerate strawberries to release syrup and enhance flavor. Refrigerate at least 3 hours or overnight for best results. For gluten-free, substitute pretzels with gluten-free pretzels or nuts. For dairy-free, use coconut cream and vegan cream cheese alternatives.

Nutrition

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

Find it online: https://junomeals.com/creamy-strawberry-pretzel-salad-recipe-easy-homemade-crunchy-crust/