Strawberry Pretzel Dessert

I love this dessert. The balance between the fruit, sweet, and salty it perfect. This is a great recipe to make year round and for some reason the only time my family ever makes this is for Christmas Eve! Doesn't it make a pretty 4th of July dessert?

When my family makes this we buy the frozen sugared strawberries in a carton. You can find the frozen strawberries in the frozen dessert section of your local grocery store. They come in a 24 ounce container so a little more than you need for the recipe. Sometimes I add a little extra or I eat the rest because they are so yummy. :)

This recipe is really easy but you need to plan ahead so you have enough time for each layer to cool before you add the next layer.

This recipe is from the Illinois Mennonite Relief Sale Cookbook, 1984.

Strawberry Pretzel Dessert Recipe

First Layer:

1 1/2 sticks butter

2 2/3 cups pretzels

3 Tbsp. sugar

Second Layer: 

1 - 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese

1 cup sugar

1 sm. carton cool whip

Third Layer:

1 lg. box strawberry jello

1 cup boiling water

1 cup cold water

1 - 20 oz. pkg. strawberries, fresh or frozen

Roll pretzels with rolling pin until you have 2 2/3 cup crushed pretzels. Do not make too powdery. Melt butter and add sugar and pretzels. Press into a 9x13 pan and bake at 400 degrees F for 10 minutes. Let cool.

Prepare middle layer by creaming together cream cheese and sugar. Add cool whip. Spread over cooled pretzel layer. Let set in refrigerator until firm.

Mix strawberry jello with water. When the mixture starts to congeal, add strawberries. Pour over the cream cheese mixture and place in fridge until firm.

This is such a sweet, decorative dessert. No matter who you make it for they're sure to love it!

What's your favorite 13x9 summer dessert?
Comment below!

Megan