Strawberry Pretzel Salad is the kind of classic Midwest recipe that doesn’t need updating. The old fashioned recipe is perfect! That's why I made sure this version stays true to the original I grew up with. It has simple ingredients that make the buttery pretzel crust, creamy filling, and sweet strawberry Jell-O topping with fresh strawberries.

Dollop of whipped cream garnished with a slice of fresh strawberry and pretzel on top of a square serving of strawberry pretzel salad.

With its combination of sweet, salty, creamy, and crunchy, this recipe for pretzel and strawberry salad is a perfect combination of textures and flavors. It's a great spring and summer dessert. You know what they say: If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

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Why You'll Love Strawberry Jell-O Salad with Pretzels
It’s a Midwest Classic!
Ingredients for Strawberry Salad with Pretzels
How to Make Strawberry Pretzel Salad
Strawberry Pretzel Salad Recipe Tips & Tricks
Serving
Storing
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Strawberry Pretzel Salad Recipe
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Why You'll Love Strawberry Jell-O Salad with Pretzels

Totally classic, old fashioned Midwest recipe not updated to make modern or trendy.
Perfect dessert for spring and summer for everything from baby showers to pool parties
Sweet, salty, creamy and crunchy… it hits all the right spots

It’s a Midwest Classic!

If you grew up in the Midwest, chances are a colorful Jell-O salad showed up at nearly every holiday table, church supper, and family reunion. Despite “salad” in the name, these nostalgic dishes are often part dessert, part side dish.

Part of their staying power is how practical they are. Jell-O salads use simple, budget-friendly ingredients, can be made ahead of time, travel well, and feed a crowd. They’re easy enough for casual get-togethers but special enough for holiday buffets, making them something special people return to year after year.

Strawberry Pretzel Salad is one of the most iconic versions, thanks to its irresistible combination of a salty pretzel crust, tangy cream cheese filling, and sweet strawberry Jell-O topping. If you’re as fond of these retro favorites as I am, be sure to check out my Raspberry Jell-O Fluff and Cranberry Jell-O Salad.

Ingredients for Strawberry Salad with Pretzels

For the Pretzel Crust

Granulated sugar – this is just regular, ordinary white sugar. You probably already have some in your baking cabinet.

Crushed pretzels – crush to small pieces, but don't pulverize to powder.

Butter – salted butter, always

Ingredients shown are used to prepare strawberry pretzel salad.

For the Cream Cheese Middle

Powdered sugar – also called confectioner's sugar

Cool Whip – you'll use a full container; and it should be thawed

Cream cheese – softened at room temp, see below for the fastest method.

MOM’s tip

The secret to softening cream cheese is to take the whole package (you know the foil like package), leave it sealed and submerge it in warm water. It will be soft in no time and the package doesn’t leak!

For the Jell-O Topping

Jell-O – strawberry or raspberry flavored

Strawberries – Frozen, chopped strawberries or cleaned and sliced fresh strawberries

Substitutions & Alterations

Using fresh or frozen strawberries
You can try different flavor Jell-O and fruit combinations

How to Make Strawberry Pretzel Salad

Step 1

Mix together the pretzel pieces, melted butter, and sugar and pat into the bottom of a 9 x 13-inch glass pan.

Bake at 375° for about 10 minutes. Set aside and allow to cool completely.

Cream cheese mixture covering the top of a preztzel crust.

Step 2

Mix sugar and cream cheese until combined and smooth. Fold in thawed Cool Whip.

Spoon the mixture on top of the cooled crust. Refrigerate until cold and set.

Spoon coming out of jello in a glass measuring bowl with sliced strawberries floating in it.

Step 3

Whisk the gelatin mix in boiling water until dissolved.

Add the strawberries and stir well.

Refrigerate the fruit and jello mix until partially thickened.

Strawberry mixture added to the top of the cream cheese mixture and pretzel crust in a glass baking pan.

Step 4

Stir, and spoon onto the cream cheese layer.

Refrigerate for at least 2-3 hours before slicing.

a slice of strawberry pretzel salad on a spatula

Step 5

Slice into squares for serving.

Strawberry Pretzel Salad Recipe Tips & Tricks

Make sure the pretzel crust still has some small pieces in it. Don’t crush to powder or it won't hold together the same.
Soften the cream cheese to room temp to make it easier to incorporate into the other ingredients
Be sure to let the pretzel layer cool completely before adding the next layer, etc
Use a clean knife to get clean slices. Keep a damp towel at hand when slicing so you can wipe the knife clean as needed between slices.

Serving

Top each serving with a generous dollop of Homemade Whipped Cream. You can also top with more sliced, fresh strawberries or raspberries

Storing

Cover well with plastic wrap or store extra slices in an airtight container. Stored properly, leftovers will be good for up to 3-4 days. I do not recommend freezing leftovers.

Old Fashioned Strawberry Pretzel Salad

Why You'll Love Strawberry Jell-O Salad with Pretzels

It’s a Midwest Classic!