My (largely) from-scratch strawberry pretzel salad is made with out gelatin or cool whip. It tastes even higher than the basic model you’re used to! Recipe features a how-to video!
Strawberry Pretzel Salad From Scratch
These of you who’ve by no means had strawberry pretzel salad could also be stunned to find that it’s truly not fairly a salad in any respect. As a substitute, it’s an old school layered dessert with a crumbly-crisp pretzel base, fluffy cream cheese/whipped cream filling, and a contemporary strawberry topping. All are simple to make–the toughest half is ready for it to relax earlier than serving!
I’ve gotten rather a lot (a LOT) of requests to share my very own model of strawberry pretzel salad over time, however personally, I’ve by no means been a fan of the “conventional” model (to not point out we simply don’t actually “do” Cool Whip or Jell-O right here). You’ll find these variations anyplace, so I knew that I wished my model to be at the very least largely from scratch (the pretzels aren’t, that’s it!).
It’s a tiny bit extra work than its basic, extra jiggly counterpart, however price each second of the trouble. I really like this model and I feel you’ll, too!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- No gelatin or Cool Whip! By making the highest and center layer from scratch we keep away from the synthetic components and preservatives and simply make for a significantly better, fresher-tasting dessert.
- Candy, salty, creamy, and contemporary. This dessert has all the flavors and textures.
- Nice for events and holidays. It simply feeds a crowd and is ideal for making prematurely! We get pleasure from this simply as a lot at Christmas as we do on the Fourth of July.
- Will be made with contemporary or frozen berries, so use no matter you’ve readily available or what’s in season.
Components
Regardless of being virtually totally from scratch, my recipe doesn’t require a bunch of additional elements. You’ll actually solely want 10, except you choose to make use of brown sugar to the crust (then you definately’ll want 11!).
- Strawberries. You should use contemporary or frozen sliced strawberries. I normally suggest utilizing contemporary when they’re in season (and check out my strawberry cake too, whilst you’re at it!). Should you use frozen, there is no such thing as a must thaw them first.
- Pretzels. Identical to when making my pretzel crusted hen, I like to recommend mini twist pretzels for right this moment’s recipe. Crush them finely to allow them to compact properly into your baking dish; I exploit a meals processor to do that, however you may alternatively use a rolling pin and ziplock bag.
- Cream cheese. Use brick-style, full-fat cream cheese such as you would for cheesecake (or my strawberry cheesecake). Be sure to let this soften to room temperature for the smoothest and creamiest filling (if combined chilly it may make the filling lumpy).
- Cornstarch. This helps thicken our strawberry topping and encourages it to set right into a agency consistency. It gained’t be fairly as agency and jiggly as gelatin, however it’ll nonetheless have a stunning, jammy consistency.
- Sugar. Utilizing a mix of white and brown sugar within the crust provides a pleasant depth of taste. I do that in my graham cracker crust too! Alternatively, you might use all of 1 or the opposite–within the photograph above, I solely present granulated.
SAM’S TIP: I all the time suggest contemporary lemon juice for the very best taste, however since we’re utilizing such a small quantity, bottled will work simply positive right here. Don’t you dare use bottled for my strawberry lemonade although!
That is simply an outline of the elements I used and why. For the complete recipe please scroll all the way down to the underside of the submit!
Learn how to Make Strawberry Pretzel Salad
Earlier than we get into the nitty gritty, I simply wish to notice that the images and directions under are simply meant to be useful, visible pointers to accompany the recipe card (on the backside of the submit) and aren’t supposed so that you can try to bake from. I present these images and particulars as a result of I feel they’re useful, however for the complete recipe in its entirety scroll all the way down to the recipe card.
Make the Crust
- Crush your pretzels into positive items utilizing a meals processor or rolling pin.
- Toss with butter and sugars till every thing is mixed and the pretzels are moist.
- Firmly press into the underside of your pan. I like to make use of the (clear!) backside of a 1-cup measuring cup or kitchen glass.
- Bake for 12 minutes and let cool utterly earlier than including your filling.
Make the Strawberry Topping
- Whisk the sugar and cornstarch collectively in a saucepan, then stir in half of the strawberries and lemon juice.
- Prepare dinner over medium low till the berries are juicy. This may take a couple of minutes, particularly if you’re utilizing frozen berries.
- Improve the warmth to medium and stir continually because the combination boils. As soon as it thickens, take away from the warmth. You possibly can check this by dipping a spoon into the combination; if it coats the again of the spoon, it’s prepared! You may as well run your spatula by way of the center–it ought to depart a transparent path. I exhibit this within the video under in the event you want a visible.
- Stir within the remaining strawberries and the butter (the butter provides a shiny coloration and richer mouthfeel), then pour right into a heatproof bowl and let cool utterly earlier than continuing. You possibly can pop it within the fridge whilst you make the filling to hurry up the method!
Make the Filling and Assemble
- Whip the cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla to stiff, fluffy peaks, then put aside. In case you have struggled with whipping cream previously, try my submit on how one can make home made whipped cream for plenty of suggestions!
- Beat the cream cheese and sugar collectively in a separate bowl, then fold within the whipped cream till every thing is properly mixed.
- Assemble: unfold the filling over your (utterly cooled, if it’s heat the filling can begin to soften) pretzel crust, ensuring it goes all the best way to the sides. If there are any gaps, the strawberry topping can leak by way of and make your crust soggy.
- Add the (cooled!) strawberry topping evenly over high, then cowl and place within the fridge to relax for just a few hours or in a single day.
SAM’S TIP: I like to recommend freezing your “salad” for 10-Half-hour earlier than slicing; this makes for the cleanest, neatest slices. In any other case it may be a bit messy to chop and serve (however no much less scrumptious!).
Incessantly Requested Questions
One factor about my recipe is it doesn’t reduce as neatly because the basic model. You possibly can simply scoop it onto a plate with a big serving spoon and it’s simply pretty much as good (I imply salads had been by no means meant to be neatly sliced, anyway, proper?), however in the event you really need tidier slices simply pop the dish within the freezer for as much as Half-hour earlier than chopping.
I’ll gladly take the trade-off of getting a messier-to-slice model for higher style although!
I haven’t tried this recipe with different fruits, however I’d suspect it will work positive with different berries or peaches with out alteration. Should you do do that recipe with a special fruit, I’d love to listen to the way it seems!
That is truly customary for ANY strawberry pretzel salad, not simply my home made model! The crust might be fairly crumbly, nevertheless it ought to nonetheless be crisp. Crushing the pretzels into finer items helps make it much less crumbly and extra like a graham cracker crust.
I’m so excited to listen to how you want my home made tackle this basic dessert! Please depart me a remark under in the event you attempt it 😊
Take pleasure in!
Let’s bake collectively! Subscribe to my e-newsletter to be notified of all the most recent recipes, and discover my free recipe tutorials on YouTube 💜
Strawberry Pretzel Salad (no Cool Whip or Jell-O)
Servings: 15 servings
Energy: 358kcal
Forestall your display from going darkish
Directions
Crust
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Preheat oven to 375F (190C).
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In a medium-sized bowl mix crushed pretzels, butter, and sugars and blend collectively till nicely mixed and pretzels are completely moistened.
2 ¼ cups (230 g) finely crushed pretzels, ¾ cup (170 g) salted butter, 2 Tablespoons (25 g) granulated sugar, 2 Tablespoons (25 g) brown sugar
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Press pretzel combine firmly and evenly into the underside of 13”x9” pan.
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Switch to heart rack of 375F (190C) oven and bake for 12 minutes. Take away and permit crust to chill utterly earlier than including the filling, however within the meantime you may put together the strawberry topping.
Strawberry Topping
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In a small saucepan, whisk collectively sugar and cornstarch. Add half of the strawberries and the lemon juice, stir to mix.
⅓ cup (67 g) granulated sugar, 1 Tablespoon cornstarch, 2 lbs (908 g) strawberries, 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
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Prepare dinner combination on stovetop over medium/low warmth till berries launch their juices. Improve warmth to medium and prepare dinner/boil, stirring continually, till combination is thickened (spatula will depart a short path by way of the combination, it’ll coat the again of a spoon, see video for visible reference).
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Take away from warmth and add remaining strawberries and butter, stir till butter has melted and strawberries are evenly combined all through. Put aside and permit to chill utterly earlier than making the filling and assembling the “salad”.
½ Tablespoon butter
Filling
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Mix heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract in a big mixing bowl and use an electrical mixer to beat till thick, fluffy, and stiff peaks kind. Put aside.
1 ½ cups (360 ml) heavy cream, ½ cup (60 g) powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
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In a separate, medium-sized bowl, use an electrical mixer (you should utilize the identical “soiled” beaters from the whipped cream!) to beat collectively cream cheese and granulated sugar till clean and creamy.
8 oz (226 g) cream cheese, ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
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Add whipped cream to the cream cheese combination and fold collectively till combination is mixed, clean, and creamy.
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Unfold combination evenly over cooled pretzel crust. Remember to unfold all the best way to the sides of the pan (so the following layer can’t soak into the pretzel layer and make it soggy). Put aside.
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Unfold ready, barely cooled strawberry combination evenly over the filling. Cowl with plastic wrap and set in fridge to relax for at the very least 3-4 hours (or in a single day) earlier than serving. Serving tip! This strawberry pretzel salad doesn’t reduce as neatly as its Jell-o counterpart so slicing could be a bit messy. For neater slices, chill the pretzel salad within the freezer for 10-Half-hour earlier than slicing.
Notes
Pretzels for crust
You’ll want between 5 and 6 cups of the “tiny twists” pretzels. I pulverize mine in a meals processor, 15 1-second pulses normally does the trick. You possibly can place the pretzels in a big Ziploc bag and smack with a rolling pin, simply be sure you have finely damaged the pretzels.
Strawberries
Contemporary or frozen strawberries will work. No must thaw the frozen strawberries, simply begin the saucepan on a decrease warmth to assist them gently thaw whereas cooking and so they’ll simply seemingly must prepare dinner longer to prepare dinner out the surplus water.
Vitamin
Serving: 1serving | Energy: 358kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 3g | Fats: 24g | Saturated Fats: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 1g | Monounsaturated Fats: 6g | Trans Fats: 0.4g | Ldl cholesterol: 68mg | Sodium: 280mg | Potassium: 169mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 856IU | Vitamin C: 36mg | Calcium: 48mg | Iron: 1mg
Dietary data is predicated on third-party calculations and must be thought-about an estimate solely. Precise dietary content material will fluctuate based mostly upon manufacturers used, measuring strategies, cooking methodology, portion sizes, and extra.
