Don't you love a side dish that that is practically a dessert, but can be served right alongside the meal? This beautiful salad is one of those, starring three delicious layers. The bottom is a thick pretzel crust that is buttery and a little sweet and salty..... it's crunchy and perfect! The middle layer is a cream cheese layer that tastes a lot like cheesecake. And if that's not enough, it's topped with a strawberry gelatin filled with strawberries! It's pretty to serve, and so fun to watch your family and guests gobble it up.
Strawberry Pretzel Salad
Serves 9
1 1/2 cups crushed gluten free pretzels
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup butter, melted
4 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 (8 oz.) carton whipped topping
1 (3 oz.) package strawberry gelatin
1 cup boiling water
10 oz. frozen sliced strawberries
Preheat oven to 400°F. Combine crushed pretzels, 2 tablespoons sugar, and melted butter. Press into a lightly greased 8X8" baking dish. Bake for 8 minutes until toasty. Let cool completely. Beat cream cheese and 1/4 cup sugar. Add whipped topping and beat until smooth. Spread over the cooled crust. For the gelatin layer, combine the powdered gelatin and boiling water. Stir until dissolved, then add the frozen strawberries and stir. Refrigerate, stirring every 15 minutes, until partially set (about an hour). Pour over the cream cheese layer and spread evenly. Refrigerate to completely set. Cut into squares to serve.
Step-by-step tutorial:
Gather your ingredients. You will need your favorite gluten free pretzels (we are really loving Savor Street lately), butter, sugar, cream cheese, whipped topping, strawberry gelatin, and frozen strawberries.
Preheat oven to 400°F. Crush pretzels in a food processor or in a gallon zipper bag with a mallet. You will need about 1 1/2 cups crushed pretzels. Melt the butter, then combine the pretzels, butter, and 2 tablespoons sugar. Press into a glass 8x8" baking dish and bake for 8 minutes. Allow to cool completely on a rack.
In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and 1/4 cup sugar. Add whipped topping and beat until smooth.
For the gelatin layer, combine the powdered gelatin with 1 cup boiling water. Stir until dissolved, then add the frozen strawberries and stir to combine. Refrigerate, stirring every 15 minutes, until starting to gel and thicken.
When crust is completely cool, spread the cream cheese layer evenly over the top. Pour the thickened gelatin over the cream cheese layer and carefully spread evenly over all.
Refrigerate until completely set. It's so pretty in a glass dish!
To serve, cut into squares.
Use a sharp serrated knife to cut all the way through the pretzel layer.
You can serve it on small plates next to a main course dinner. What a treat!
Once you take a bite, you will not be able to stop. The sweet and salty is such an amazing combination!
This is a special side dish you will come back to time and again! Enjoy!
Recipe Source: Shanna's recipe box