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    Home » Recipes » Desserts

    The Best Strawberry Pretzel Pie

    Updated: Dec 28, 2023 · Published: Apr 26, 2018 by Eileen Murphy Kelly

    Jump to Recipe
    Servings 18 servings
    Prep 15 minutes mins
    Cook 8 minutes mins

    Strawberry Pretzel Pie is an unbelievably delicious dessert that combines both salty and sweet to make and tasty treat that some call a pie and some call a salad! I call it I must eat now!  I keep the calories down by using both low-fat cream cheese and whipped topping.

    An overhead view of a slice of strawberry pretzel jello dessert on a white dessert plate and a spoon sitting above the slive with a strawberry decorated handle.

    The best strawberry pretzel pie recipe is one that I had many years ago at a picnic at a friend's place in Texas. I was invited to a family party when I was a flight attendant and I fell in love with this pretzel salad recipe. I loved that there is everything in this yummy strawberry pretzel salad.

    The salty pretzel bottom is perfectly paired with the creamy cheese cake and strawberries.

    Start your meal with my Chicken Asparagus Salad! My yummy Irish Coffee would be great alongside this strawberry pretzel dessert! Another of my favorite desserts is my Chocolate Coconut Bundt Cake!

    Another delicious salad you will love is our Watergate Salad! It is super festive and a classic.

    A side view of the best strawberry pretzel dessert recipe with slice cut showing the bottom pretzel layer then the yummy cream cheese layer and topped with the strawberry layer/

    Is this a strawberry pretzel dessert recipe or a strawberry pretzel salad recipe?

    According to my Texas friends who first shared this amazing "dessert" with me, the origins of this salad came from a time when Jello was used a lot in recipes and they were called salads. Not to date myself, but who cares as I love life and every day is a great day to wake up...back to jello. I do agree, as a child in the 70s, we had all sorts of recipes where jello was involved. I am so glad this tasty recipe has persevered. 

    Can this pie be made ahead and how long can I keep this strawberry pretzel pie in the refrigerator?

    I generally make this pie a day ahead of eating it and keep in the fridge. I don't have a lot of experience with leftover strawberry pie but this is best eaten within 1 day after making it. I doubt you will have too many leftovers.

    What alternatives to the low-fat cream cheese, fat-free whip topping, and frozen strawberries can be used without substituting flavor for this strawberry pretzel dessert recipe?

    I try to cook the lowest amount of fat and calories without sacrificing flavor. The recipe as written works for me. I prefer using True Whip Topping for its natural ingredients. Low-fat whipped topping can be used. Full-fat whipped topping also works. As does full-fat cream cheese. I saw no difference with either.

    Tips to make The Best Strawberry Pretzel Pie:

    • The bottom pretzel layer should have the pretzel chopped but not crumbled. You want a crunchier crust.
    • It is imperative to completely cool each layer before adding another layer.
    • To ensure a crispy pretzel crust make sure the cream cheese layer completely covers the pretzel crust so the jello layer does not seep through to the crust
    • After making the cream cheese layer and topped the pretzel layer, refrigerate for at least 30 - 60 minutes before adding the strawberry jello layer.
    • Once the strawberry and jello layer is added, refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
    • This salad is best made and served the same day.

    How To Make The Best Strawberry Pretzel Pie:

    • Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
    • Crush pretzels in a plastic bag, not too small, coarse pieces of pretzels.
    • Combine with sugar and melted butter.
    An overhead view of crushed pretzels, sugar,and melted butter to make the crust of a strawberry pretzel salad recipe.
    • Place the pretzel crust into the bottom of a 13 x 9 pie crust.
    An overhead view of an unbaked pretzel pie crust in a 9 x 13 pie pan ready for the oven.
    • Bake the crust for about minutes. Remove, set crust aside to cool.
    An overhead view of a cooked pretzel crust in a silver 9x13 baking pan as the base of a strawberry pretzel pie recipe
    • Mix the cream cheese, sugar whipped topping together.
    An overhead view of the cream cheese filling in a glass bowl that is the center layer of a delicious strawberry pie
    • Spread onto the cooled pretzel crust and place pan in the fridge to set the cheese mixture. * It is very important to spread the cream cheese mixture over the entire pretzel crust. This will ensure that the jello layer will not seep through and make a soggy crust! Keep chilled until ready to add jello layer, at least 30 minutes.
    An overhead view of the cream cheese layer of a strawberry pretzel dessert recipe in a silver baking pan.
    • In a medium bowl, add the strawberry jello and hot water, dissolve jello. Add the sliced frozen strawberries and let set for about 10 minutes. If using fresh strawberries, place in the fridge for about 15 minutes.
    An overhead view of the topping of a strawberry pretzel dessert recipe made with jello and frozen strawberries
    • Cover the chilled cream cheese crust with the jello topping.Place in the fridge for at least 40  minutes.
    An aerial shot of the best strawberry pretzel salad recipe. The top strawberry jello recipe is set and ready to be eaten and enjoyed
    • Once the pretzel salad recipe/strawberry pretzel dessert recipe has chilled serve your guests.  This dessert is best either same day. Any longer and the pretzel crust will get soggy.
    A side view of a delicious slice pf strawberry pretzel pie that shows the three layers ona white dessert plate.of delicious pretzel salad on a white dessert plate with fresh mint sprinkled around the plate.

    When you make this recipe for strawberry pretzel pie recipe, take a pic and tag me on Instagram @everyday_eileen or #everydayeileen

    I love any comments or questions below!

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    Are you loving this strawberry pretzel pie recipe, giving it a 5-star rating and any comments is super helpful for me and very much appreciated!

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    overhead view of strawberry pretzel jello recipe with mint leaves on top on a white dessert plate with a spoon on top of plate with strawberries on the handle

    Strawberry Pretzel Pie

    A perfect dessert to bring to any potluck, bbq, picnic or family gathering. This salty/sweet dessert is always a hit with family and friends.  
    5 from 3 votes
    Print (Email Required) Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 8 minutes minutes
    Refrigerate: 2 hours hours
    Total Time: 23 minutes minutes
    Servings: 18 servings
    Calories: 211kcal
    Author: Eileen Murphy Kelly

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases

    Equipment Needed:

    Ingredients

    Pretzel Crust

    • 2 cups crushed pretzel see notes
    • 1 ¼ sticks unsalted butter, melted
    • 1 Tablespoon sugar

    No-Bake Cheesecake Center

    • 8 ounces low-fat cream cheese
    • ½ cup sugar
    • 12 ounces whipped topping, thawed see note

    Jello Topping

    • 6 ounce strawberry Jello see note
    • 2 cups hot water
    • 1 pound sliced strawberries, frozen see note
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    How to Make the Pretzel Crust

    • Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
    • Combine the crushed pretzels and melted butter together. Press into a 9 x 13-inch pie pan. Place in the preheated oven for 8 minutes. Pretzel crust should be cooked all the way through. If not cooked through, bake another 1 -2 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool completely.  

    How To Make Cream Cheese Filling

    • In a medium bowl add the low-fat cream cheese and sugar. Use a hand mixer to combine the ingredients. Add in the whipped topping and mix to combine. Once combined, spread over the pretzel crust.  Place in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to chill ingredients. 

    How To Make Strawberry Jello Topping

    • In a medium bowl, add the jello and hot water. Stir to dissolve the Jello. Add the frozen strawberries and let sit for about 10 minutes. Pour the strawberry jello over the cream cheese mixture. Place pie in the refrigerator chill and set strawberry jello topping. At least 45 minutes
    • Slice and serve. 

    NOTES

    • The key to this pie is to ensure each layer is completely cooled before adding the next layer.
    • Full fat cream cheese can be used for this recipe. 
    • Use sweetener of choice. I use white sugar in this particular recipe. Feel free to substitute Truvia.
    • In this recipe, I use sugar-free Jello but regular Jello can be used.
    • I tend to use True Whip topping as the ingredients are healthier. Any whipped topping of your choice can be used.
    • If serving outdoors, I place the pie pan on a tray of ice to keep these ingredients cool. 
    • This pie is best eaten on the day it is made or following day.  
    • If using freshly sliced strawberries, place the Jello mixture in the fridge to cool for about 15 minutes to be jiggly but not set before pouring on the cream cheese mixture. 
    • Any nutritional data I provide is an approximation and actual dietary information can vary based on ingredients and proportion sizes.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1slice | Calories: 211kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 26mg | Sodium: 231mg | Potassium: 102mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 300IU | Vitamin C: 14.9mg | Calcium: 47mg | Iron: 0.6mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @Everyday_Eileen or tag #everydayeileen!

    Save to make this yummy Strawberry Pretzel pie anytime:

     

    A collage of strawberry pretzel pie dessert, one photo is strawberry pretzel pie slice with mint on a white dessert plate. The second photo is the strawberry jello dessert in the pie plate with a slice cut out to see the layers of the pie.

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    Thank you for sharing!

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