Strawberry Pretzel Salad – Sugar Spun Run
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 shocked to find that it’s really not fairly a salad in any respect. As an alternative, it’s an old style layered dessert with a crumbly-crisp pretzel base, fluffy cream cheese/whipped cream filling, and a contemporary strawberry topping. All are straightforward to make–the toughest half is ready for it to sit back earlier than serving!
I’ve gotten lots (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 could find these variations wherever, so I knew that I needed my model to be not less than 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 hassle. 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 factitious components and preservatives and simply make for a a lot 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 take pleasure in this simply as a lot at Christmas as we do on the Fourth of July.
- May be made with contemporary or frozen berries, so use no matter you’ve available or what’s in season.
Substances
Regardless of being nearly completely from scratch, my recipe doesn’t require a bunch of additional components. You’ll actually solely want 10, until you choose to make use of brown sugar to the crust (you then’ll want 11!).
- Strawberries. You should use contemporary or frozen sliced strawberries. I often advocate utilizing contemporary when they’re in season (and take a look at my strawberry cake too, whilst you’re at it!). In the event you use frozen, there is no such thing as a must thaw them first.
- Pretzels. Identical to when making my pretzel crusted rooster, I like to recommend mini twist pretzels for at this time’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). Ensure you let this soften to room temperature for the smoothest and creamiest filling (if blended chilly it might 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 would nonetheless have a beautiful, 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 may use all of 1 or the opposite–within the photograph above, I solely present granulated.
SAM’S TIP: I all the time advocate contemporary lemon juice for the most effective taste, however since we’re utilizing such a small quantity, bottled will work simply superb right here. Don’t you dare use bottled for my strawberry lemonade although!
That is simply an outline of the components I used and why. For the complete recipe please scroll right down to the underside of the submit!
The right way to Make Strawberry Pretzel Salad
Earlier than we get into the nitty gritty, I simply wish to observe that the photographs 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 attempt to bake from. I present these photographs and particulars as a result of I feel they’re useful, however for the complete recipe in its entirety scroll right down to the recipe card.
Make the Crust
- Crush your pretzels into superb items utilizing a meals processor or rolling pin.
- Toss with butter and sugars till all the things 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 fully 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.
- Cook 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 always because the combination boils. As soon as it thickens, take away from the warmth. You’ll be able to take a look at this by dipping a spoon into the combination; if it coats the again of the spoon, it’s prepared! You can even run your spatula by way of the center–it ought to go away a transparent path. I exhibit this within the video under if you happen to want a visible.
- Stir within the remaining strawberries and the butter (the butter provides a shiny colour and richer mouthfeel), then pour right into a heatproof bowl and let cool fully earlier than continuing. You’ll be able to 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. If in case you have struggled with whipping cream prior to now, take a look at my submit on make selfmade whipped cream for many suggestions!
- Beat the cream cheese and sugar collectively in a separate bowl, then fold within the whipped cream till all the things is properly mixed.
- Assemble: unfold the filling over your (fully cooled, if it’s heat the filling can begin to soften) pretzel crust, ensuring it goes all the best way to the perimeters. 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 prime, then cowl and place within the fridge to sit back for a number of 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 minimize as neatly because the basic model. You’ll be able to simply scoop it onto a plate with a big serving spoon and it’s simply pretty much as good (I imply salads have been by no means meant to be neatly sliced, anyway, proper?), however if you happen to actually need tidier slices simply pop the dish within the freezer for as much as Half-hour earlier than reducing.
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 could work superb with different berries or peaches with out alteration. In the event you do do that recipe with a unique fruit, I’d love to listen to the way it seems!
That is really customary for ANY strawberry pretzel salad, not simply my selfmade model! The crust can be fairly crumbly, but it surely 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 selfmade tackle this basic dessert! Please go away me a remark under if you happen to strive it 😊
Take pleasure in!
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Strawberry Pretzel Salad (no Cool Whip or Jell-O)
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Servings: 15 servings
Energy: 358kcal
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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 effectively mixed and pretzels are totally 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 middle rack of 375F (190C) oven and bake for 12 minutes. Take away and permit crust to chill fully 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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Cook dinner combination on stovetop over medium/low warmth till berries launch their juices. Improve warmth to medium and prepare dinner/boil, stirring always, till combination is thickened (spatula will go away a quick path by way of the combination, it would 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 blended all through. Put aside and permit to chill fully 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 type. 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 need to use 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. You should definitely unfold all the best way to the perimeters of the pan (so the subsequent 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 sit back for not less than 3-4 hours (or in a single day) earlier than serving. Serving tip! This strawberry pretzel salad doesn’t minimize as neatly as its Jell-o counterpart so slicing generally is 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 often does the trick. You’ll be able to place the pretzels in a big Ziploc bag and smack with a rolling pin, simply be sure to have finely damaged the pretzels.
Strawberries
Recent 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 possible 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 info relies on third-party calculations and needs to be thought of an estimate solely. Precise dietary content material will range primarily based upon manufacturers used, measuring strategies, cooking methodology, portion sizes, and extra.
