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Classic Strawberry Pretzel Salad Bars Recipe Easy Sweet Salty Dessert Recipe

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4.5 from 74 reviews

Classic Strawberry Pretzel Salad Bars combine a sweet, tangy strawberry topping with a creamy cream cheese layer atop a crunchy salty pretzel crust, creating an easy and irresistible no-bake bar dessert perfect for gatherings and potlucks.

Ingredients

Scale

Pretzel Crust

  • 2 cups pretzels, finely crushed
  • 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Cream Cheese Layer

  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream, whipped to soft peaks

Strawberry Topping

  • 4 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1/2 cup water

Instructions

  1. Prepare Pretzel Crust: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Finely crush 2 cups of pretzels using a food processor or rolling pin inside a sealed bag until coarse crumbs form.
  2. Mix Crust Ingredients: In a mixing bowl, combine the crushed pretzels, 3 tablespoons granulated sugar, and 6 tablespoons melted butter. Stir until the mixture resembles wet sand and is well combined.
  3. Press and Bake Crust: Firmly press the pretzel mixture evenly into the bottom of a greased 9×13-inch baking pan, compacting it with the back of a spoon or a flat-bottomed glass. Bake for 10 minutes, then remove from oven and let cool completely to prevent sogginess when adding the cream cheese layer.
  4. Make Cream Cheese Layer: In a large bowl, beat 8 ounces softened cream cheese with 1 cup powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract until smooth and creamy.
  5. Whip Cream and Combine: In a separate chilled bowl, whip 1 cup heavy whipping cream until soft peaks form. Gently fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture until fully incorporated.
  6. Spread Cream Cheese on Crust: Evenly spread the cream cheese mixture over the cooled pretzel crust. Place the pan in the refrigerator while preparing the strawberry topping.
  7. Prepare Strawberry Topping: In a medium saucepan, combine 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, and 1/2 cup water. Stir constantly over medium heat and bring the mixture to a boil until thickened and translucent.
  8. Add Strawberries: Remove saucepan from heat immediately and stir in 4 cups sliced strawberries. Allow the mixture to cool slightly.
  9. Top Cream Cheese Layer: Spread the slightly cooled strawberry topping evenly over the cream cheese layer in the baking pan.
  10. Chill and Set: Refrigerate the assembled bars for at least 4 hours or overnight to allow the layers to set and the flavors to meld.
  11. Serve: Cut into bars using a sharp knife dipped in hot water for clean edges. Serve chilled and enjoy.

Notes

  • Chill the mixing bowl and beaters before whipping the cream for better volume and stability.
  • Crush pretzels finely but avoid turning them into powder to maintain a crunchy texture in the crust.
  • Always bake and cool the crust completely to prevent it from becoming soggy when the cream cheese layer is added.
  • Stir the strawberry topping constantly while cooking and remove from heat as soon as it thickens to avoid a gummy or overly thick texture.
  • Use a sharp knife dipped in hot water before slicing bars to achieve clean, neat edges.

Keywords: Strawberry Pretzel Salad Bars, Pretzel Salad, Cream Cheese Dessert, Strawberry Dessert Bars, Sweet and Salty Bars, No-Bake Dessert Bars, Easy Summer Dessert

Find it online: https://cookwithyana.com/classic-strawberry-pretzel-salad-bars-recipe-easy-sweet-salty-dessert-recipe/