Strawberry Pretzel Salad

Quick poll: is strawberry pretzel salad a dessert or a salad? It's confusing, right? Folks around the internet love debating the name of this almost no-bake dessert (the crust bakes for a few minutes, so it's fair to call this a "barely bake" dessert). But honestly, who cares what it's called? Strawberry pretzel salad is scrumptious! Both lovers of strawberry desserts and Jell-O fanatics will go bonkers for this make-ahead dish. The combination of the savory-sweet pretzel crust, cream cheese filling, and the sweet strawberry Jell-O topping makes this a hit with kids and adults alike. Hungry? Grab a 9-by-13-inch pan and let's get started.

Who invented strawberry pretzel salad?

Most sources give credit to a cookbook from the 1960s titled Joys of Jell-O for this sweet and salty layered treat. The book was published by General Foods Corporation and featured, among other things, recipes to use Jell-O. It turns out the winning combination of a salty pretzel crust, creamy filling, fresh strawberries, and strawberry Jell-O was delicious enough to stick around.

What's the secret to making strawberry pretzel salad?

The secret to this strawberry pretzel salad recipe is freshness! There's no Cool Whip in this version: Homemade whipped cream and sour cream both take the softened cream cheese to the next level. Fresh, sliced strawberries are used in place of frozen, to mellow the sweetness of the Jell-O topping and give great texture in every bite.

How do you make the Jell-O for strawberry pretzel salad?

Strawberry pretzel salad is so easy to make, but it's important to follow the directions in this recipe. Don't follow the instructions on the Jell-O box: follow this recipe and use only two cups of water (not four) to give the Jell-O layer an intense strawberry flavor and thickness for slicing.

Can you use a food processor to crush the pretzels?

You want the pretzels to still have some texture and while whirling them in the food processor may sound like the perfect time-saving hack, you just may end up with a pile of powdery pretzel dust. Smashing the pretzels using a rolling pin and resealable plastic bag is the best way to get the ideal texture for this fruity layered dish.

Why does my pretzel crust fall apart?

This crust is meant to be crumbly and will firm up some once it's baked in the oven. Try using the bottom of a measuring cup to really pack the crust into the dish before baking. This will create an even, more solid layer. If your crust is overly crumbly though, it could be because the pretzels weren't crushed finely enough. They shouldn't be completely pulverized, but there shouldn't be any large pretzel shards either.

How do you keep the pretzel crust from getting soggy?

The key here is to spread the cream cheese filling from edge to edge over the entire crust to create a thick layer that seals the pretzels. You don't want any of the strawberry gelatin topping to touch the crust or it could cause it to become soggy. The pretzel crust is also baked and cooled before it's topped for extra crispness.

Can you make strawberry pretzel salad ahead of time?

Yes! Make this dish up to one day in advance and let it rest in the refrigerator overnight. The extra time that the Jell-O and filling have to set will help to yield the perfect slice.