Description
Make these simple, layered dessert bars featuring a salty pretzel crust, a creamy filling, and a sweet strawberry topping. This recipe requires no oven time.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 1/2 cups crushed pretzels
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 (3 ounce) package strawberry gelatin
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1 (10 ounce) package frozen sliced strawberries, thawed and drained
Instructions
- Combine the crushed pretzels, melted butter, and 1/4 cup granulated sugar in a medium bowl. Press this mixture firmly into the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish. Place the crust in the freezer while you prepare the filling.
- In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- In a separate bowl, whip the heavy whipping cream until stiff peaks form. Gently fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture until just combined. Spread this cream cheese layer evenly over the chilled pretzel crust. Return the dish to the refrigerator.
- In a small bowl, dissolve the strawberry gelatin completely in 1 cup of boiling water. Stir until no granules remain.
- Stir in the thawed and drained sliced strawberries into the gelatin mixture. Let the mixture cool at room temperature for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it is slightly thickened but still pourable.
- Pour the strawberry gelatin mixture evenly over the cream cheese layer.
- Cover the dish loosely with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 6 hours, or preferably overnight, until the gelatin is fully set.
- Cut into bars before serving.
Notes
- Use fine pretzel crumbs for the best crust texture.
- Drain the thawed strawberries very well to prevent the gelatin layer from becoming watery.
- You can use a 9×9 inch pan for thicker bars, but you must increase the chilling time.
- Prep Time: 25 min
- Cook Time: 0 min
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Chilling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 25
- Sodium: 250
- Fat: 16
- Saturated Fat: 9
- Unsaturated Fat: 7
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 32
- Fiber: 0
- Protein: 4
- Cholesterol: 45