Strawberry Pretzel Dessert

There have been at least three activities in the last year that I've attended where this dessert was served. I kept thinking, I need to get that recipe! So when Kim Joslin of Mt. Vernon served this up the other day I asked her for the recipe.

This dessert combines sweet and salty flavors with crunchy and soft textures - a tasty experience!

I noticed there are several recipes for this circulating on the Internet, and there's a nice video with a similar recipe at the Kraft foods website, see the link below.

It's easy to make, you just need to allow for time to cool the crust and let the strawberry gelatin firm up.

Enjoy!

Strawberry Pretzel Dessert

Ingredients
Crust:
1/2 (15 ounce) package pretzels, crushed
1 C. butter, melted
1/4 C. white sugar
White layer:
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 cup white sugar
Red layer:
2 C. boiling water
2 (10 ounce) packages frozen strawberries, chopped
1 (6 ounce) package strawberry flavored gelatin (or two small boxes)

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (200 degrees C).
2. Use a food processor or plastic bag and rolling pin to crush the pretzels.
3. In a medium bowl, combine crushed pretzels, melted margarine, and 1/4 C. sugar. Press mixture into a 9x13 inch baking pan using the bottom of a cup.
4. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool.
5. In a large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and 1 C. sugar thoroughly, then fold in the whipped topping. Pour over pretzel crust and refrigerate.
6. In a large bowl, pour boiling water over strawberry-flavored gelatin. Stir in frozen strawberries, refrigerate. When it’s cool and begins to thicken, but is not completely thickened, pour over cream-cheese filling. Refrigerate until firm, serve.

Serves 20.

Tip: To lower the fat content, lower butter to 6 Tbsp., use 1/3 fat cream cheese and use lite whipped cream. 

Kraft, Strawberry Pretzel Squares