This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Pretzel salad is the ultimate combination of sweet and salty – a classic layered treat that’s always a hit at every get together.
Decades Old Favorite
This pretzel salad is a classic Merkley and Luna dessert that we absolutely love! Both our family and the hubby’s family has made this recipe for years.
Even though salad IS in the title, we think it’s safe to say it’s truly a dessert! Our family has made this for most Luna family gathering for decades. We often serve it as a dessert during holidays like Christmas and Easter.
This dessert bar recipe can be altered based on your flavor preference. Just change the jello layer and fresh fruit! The most common and our favorite flavor is strawberry, but anyway you make it, it’s sure to be a hit!
WHY WE LOVE IT:
- Great all year. Pretzel salad is especially popular at summertime potlucks and holiday parties, but quite frankly, it’s great all year round.
- Sweet and salty. It has a salty pretzel crust, a tangy cream cheese center, and a fruity Jell-O layer – a perfect combination!
- Quick prep. It’s prepped in only 20 minutes, then simply let it chill.
Ingredients
PREP TIME: 10 minutes
COOK TIME: 10 minutes
CHILL TIME: 4 hours
- 2 cup pretzels crushed – Use salted hard pretzels, either sticks or twisted. The Rold Gold brand gives a more buttery flavor, but any brand works well. About 2½ cups of whole pretzels will make 2 cups of crushed pretzels.
- To crush pretzels, place them in a sealed plastic bag. Use a rolling pin to gently crush the pretzels. Alternatively, use a food processor to pulse the pretzels until they reach the desired crumb consistency.
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ⅔ cup unsalted butter – melted
- 12 ounces cream cheese
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 cup Cool Whipped topping – or Homemade Whipped Cream
- 2 cups boiling water
- 6 ounces strawberry JELL-O mix – Prepare the Jello according to recipe instructions (not package instructions).
- 1½ cups cold water
- 4 cups sliced fresh strawberries – Use frozen berries in a pinch. If they are whole, allow them to thaw enough to slice and add to the Jello mixture.
How to Make Strawberry Pretzel Salad
- PREP. Preheat oven to 350°F.
- CRUST. In a medium bowl, mix 2 cups chopped pretzels, ¼ cup sugar, and ⅔ cup melted butter. Press into the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish. Bake for 10 minutes and let cool.
- CREAM CHEESE MIXTURE. Beat 12 ounces of cream cheese, ¼ cup sugar, and 2 tablespoons milk with a blender. Fold in 1 cup Cool Whip and spread over the cooled pretzel crust. Refrigerate until ready to use.
- JELLO. Pour 2 cups boiling water in a large bowl. Add 6 ounces of strawberry gelatin mix and stir for 2 minutes until dissolved. Stir in 1½ cups cold water. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours or until thickened.
- Stir 4 cups sliced strawberries in with your jello and spoon over your cream cheese layer.
- CHILL. Refrigerate for another 3 hours. Keep refrigerated until serving. ENJOY!
More Like This
Fruit Bars
Sweet Salads
Collections
Dessert Bar Recipes
35 mins
Summer Desserts
5 hrs 10 mins
Spring Desserts
30 mins
Cheesecake Recipes
6 hrs 25 mins
Pretzel Salad
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cup pretzels, crushed
- ½ cup sugar, divided
- ⅔ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 12 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 cup cool whip
- 2 cups boiling water
- 6 ounces Strawberry JELL-O mix
- 1½ cups cold water
- 4 cups strawberries, sliced
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Beat cream cheese, sugar, and milk with a blender. Fold in Cool Whip and spread over the crust. Refrigerate until ready to use.
- Place boiling water in a large bowl. Add gelatin mix and stir for 2 minutes until dissolved. Stir in cold water. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours or until thickened.
- Stir sliced strawberries in with your jello and spoon over your cream cheese layer.
- Refrigerate for another 3 hours. Keep refrigerated until serving. ENJOY!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
Make different variations using different flavors of jello and fruits. Try peach, raspberry, or orange-flavored gelatin with matching fruit.
Spread the whipped cream mix in an even layer to the edges. You don’t want to leave any room for the strawberry jello layer to seep down and make a soggy crust.
Gelatin can be sensitive to changes in ingredients or ratios, so be sure to follow the written recipe and do not make the jello according to the box. Dissolve the jello completely in the hot water and give it ample time to chill in the fridge.
Due to the length of time it needs to be set in the fridge, it is best if made the day before.
Keep leftovers covered for about a week in the fridge, however, the pretzels might soften over time.
this is such a delicious old school recipe! thank you for sharing!
You are so welcome! I hope you enjoy the recipe! 🙂
This is one of my go-tos for family or potluck events! It’s always a hit. If you haven’t tried this yet, be sure to do so!!
This is the best combination of sweet and salty! We all loved this so much.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! I love the salty/sweet combo too!
So yummy and easy! Classic and good for any time of year!
Love this recipe so much! I could eat it every day!
Seriously sooo good. I was in charge of a jello salad at a family function. My family doesn’t like jello but they all LOVED this! Definitely will make again!
We take this to all family functions! It gets requested, because it’s so good!
This is officially our favorite summer dessert! The whole family loves it!
ONe of my all time favorite desserts! looks incredibly delicious!
This dessert is perfect for any time of year. Its an absolute favorite of mine! The sweet with the salty is the BEST