Easy No-Bake Strawberry Pretzel Salad Recipe Perfect for Summer Desserts
A refreshing no-bake dessert featuring a crunchy pretzel crust, creamy whipped cream cheese layer, and sweet strawberry topping. Perfect for summer gatherings and easy to prepare.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 17 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours 32 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (about 180g) crushed pretzels
- ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar
- 6 tablespoons (85g) unsalted butter, melted
- 8 oz (225g) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup (120g) powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups (360ml) heavy whipping cream, cold
- 4 cups (about 600g) fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
- ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons (30ml) water
- 3 tablespoons (24g) cornstarch
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). In a medium bowl, combine crushed pretzels and ¾ cup granulated sugar. Pour in melted butter and stir until crumbs are evenly coated. Press mixture firmly into bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish. Bake for 10 minutes until golden and fragrant. Let cool completely.
- Beat softened cream cheese with powdered sugar and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy (2-3 minutes). In a separate bowl, whip cold heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Gently fold whipped cream into cream cheese mixture until fully combined and airy. Spread evenly over cooled pretzel crust. Refrigerate while preparing strawberry topping.
- In a medium saucepan, whisk together ¾ cup granulated sugar, water, and cornstarch until smooth. Stir in sliced strawberries. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and becomes glossy (5-7 minutes). Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- Pour warm strawberry topping over chilled cream cheese layer, spreading evenly. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight to set.
Notes
Ensure cream cheese is softened to avoid lumps. Bake and cool pretzel crust completely to keep it crunchy. Stir strawberry topping constantly to prevent lumps. Chill dessert overnight for best texture and flavor. For gluten-free, substitute pretzels with gluten-free crackers or nuts. Frozen berries can be used if thawed and drained.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/12th of the dish (
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 25
- Fat: 18
- Carbohydrates: 36
- Protein: 4
Keywords: strawberry pretzel salad, no-bake dessert, summer dessert, easy dessert, pretzel crust, creamy dessert, strawberry topping