Strawberry Pretzel Salad

I love strawberries. In fact, they may be my favorite fruit. When they are in their peak season, they are so juicy and sweet that I could eat my weight in them. This recipe for strawberry pretzel salad has been with me for years, and I’ve tasted variations of it since I was a kid. But to me, this is the classic version. Sweet, tangy, and salty – what a great combination of flavors.

Ingredients

2 cups pretzels, broken into pieces

½ cup butter, melted

½ cup white sugar

8 oz. cream cheese, softened

1 small container Cool Whip

1 cup powdered sugar

1 pkg strawberry gelatin

1 quart fresh strawberries, sliced

Directions

For the Crust:

Preheat oven to 400ºF. Spray a 9×13” baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Mix together white sugar and melted butter, then toss in pretzels and stir to combine. Place in baking dish and bake for 10 minutes. Cool completely before adding topping.

For the Cream Cheese Layer:

In a medium size bowl, mix together cream cheese, Cool Whip, and powdered sugar. Spread over cooled crust.

For the Gelatin Layer:

Dissolve gelatin in 2 cups boiling water. Add strawberries to gelatin mixture. Pour over cream cheese mixture. Refrigerate to set gelatin. Once gelatin is set, it is ready to serve.