strawberries
For many people, an ideal dessert is a balanced mix of sweet, creamy, and salty, which may explain the popularity of a casserole known as strawberry pretzel dessert or strawberry pretzel salad. A traditional strawberry pretzel dessert consists of a layer of ground pretzels baked with sugar, a layer of sweetened cream cheese and whipped topping, and finally a layer of strawberry-flavored Jell-O and sliced frozen strawberries.
Strawberry pretzel dessert is a popular holiday dish.
Strawberry pretzel dessert is often served as a side dish or dessert at potlucks and picnics, and can also occasionally be found on dessert menus at local restaurants. It can be made the day before an event and refrigerated overnight, although many cooks strive to keep the pretzel shell as crispy as possible before serving. Any unnecessary condensation can make the pretzels soggy.
White sugar is an essential ingredient when making a strawberry pretzel dessert.
To make a traditional strawberry pretzel dessert, you will need a heatable saucepan no larger than 9 x 13 inches. This pan can be lightly sprayed with a nonstick agent or cooking spray. Crush two cups of salted pretzels and mix with 3/4 cup of melted butter and about 3 tablespoons of white sugar. This mixture should be pressed firmly to the bottom of the pan to form a solid layer.
The casserole should be placed in a 400 degree Fahrenheit or 200 degree Celsius oven for 8 to 10 minutes or until the crust feels firm. The casserole should be placed on a countertop or cooling rack and allowed to cool while you prepare the other ingredients.
The second layer of a strawberry pretzel dessert consists of equal parts whipped topping and cream cheese sweetened with a cup of sugar. The cream cheese and sugar should be combined in a large bowl first, followed by a fold in the whipped frosting. This mixture can be spread over the cooled pretzel dough in the pan. Some experienced cooks suggest covering the entire pretzel dough layer from edge to edge with the whipped cream cheese and frosting mixture to prevent the layer of strawberry Jell-O from soaking into the dough and softening.
The final layer of a strawberry pretzel dessert is a mixture of sliced frozen strawberries and strawberry-flavored Jell-O. Two packages of gelatin mix should be enough to go with two standard bags of frozen strawberries. Mix gelatin with boiling water as directed, then add frozen strawberries. When the jello and fruit mixture has reached roughly the consistency of egg whites, carefully pour it over the cream cheese layer and spread until smooth. The gelatin should harden completely under refrigeration.
Strawberry Pretzel Dessert is traditionally cut into squares and served like a cake right out of the pan. The combination of the salty pretzel layer, creamy whipped topping, and sweet layer of frozen jellied strawberries is what makes this dessert or side dish so popular, especially in the Deep South.