This is such a fun salad to serve, and eat! With it's pineapple creamy base, and the crunchy sugared pretzel bits sprinkled over the top, you will be surprised at just how yummy this unique side dish is. You can mix the pretzel pieces in just before serving, but we love to serve them on top. The sweet and salty combination is unreal. Give it a try!
Hawaiian Pineapple Salad
Serves 6
1 cup crushed gluten free pretzels (we love Glutino pretzel sticks)
1 cup sugar, divided
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
1 (8 oz.) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 (20 oz.) can crushed pineapple, drained
1 small box instant vanilla pudding
For sugared pretzel bits, combine crushed pretzels, 1/2 cup sugar, and butter. Pour on parchment lined baking sheet. Bake at 400°F for 7 minutes. Allow to cool, then break up into pieces. In a large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and whipped topping together until smooth. Add 1/2 cup sugar and pudding mix. Stir in drained pineapple. Chill until ready to serve. Stir in pretzels just before serving, or sprinkle pretzels on top of each serving.
Step-by-step tutorial:
Gather your ingredients. You will need crushed pineapple, cream cheese, butter, whipped topping, gluten free pretzels, sugar, and instant vanilla pudding.
For sugared pretzels (totally addicting....oh my!) crush pretzels in a bag with a mallot. You will need 1 cup crushed pretzels. Melt 1/2 cup butter (1 stick) and stir in 1/2 cup sugar and crushed pretzels.
Spread mixture on a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake at 400°F for 7 minutes. Allow to cool completely, then using a knife, break into small pieces.
In a mixing bowl, combine cream cheese and whipped topping. Beat until smooth.
Add 1/2 cup sugar and vanilla pudding mix. Beat.
Add drained pineapple. Stir to combine.
Place in serving bowl and refrigerate until serving. So light and fluffy!
When ready to serve, top with pretzel bits. You can also stir in the pretzels just before serving if you know that it will all be eaten. We like the pretzels to stay crunchy, so any left with the pretzels stirred in will have softened pretzels. Your friends and family will think you've added some kind of candied nut, and will be surprised that they are pretzels!
Amazing side dish!!
Recipe Source: Recipe adapted from a recipe given to me from a friend, Jessica Jones, over 15 years ago