Strawberry Pretzel Dessert

:: Strawberry Pretzel Dessert ::

What seems to be a lifetime ago, I worked at a local newspaper.  Every year we held a community bake contest to launch our Holiday Gift Guide Edition of the paper.  This Strawberry Pretzel Dessert was one of the delightful recipes that we got to taste and vote on.  I voted 5 stars on this dessert and I think you might, too.  It’s a little strawberry and a whole lot of Valentine’s fluff!

Though I wish I could give credit to the person who submitted this recipe, it remains anonymous.  After some small tweaks, I made this Strawberry Pretzel Dessert my own with a small zest of lemon and some love.  

This recipe is simple, and best of all, the kids as well as my husband, voted it their favorite dessert!  A little sweet, a little salty, and I adapted this Strawberry Pretzel Dessert to be a lighter version of it’s original to help cut down on the calories.  A win for all, and what I love best, is how pretty it turns out!

I think the strawberries look like hearts…well that’s how I presented it to the kids.  Oh and did I mention, I think I could have licked this dish clean?! My favorite treat, well for now {wink}!

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Strawberry Pretzel Dessert

Rating  5.0 from 1 reviews

Prep time:  30 mins

Cook time:  30 mins

Total time:  1 hour

Serves: 8-10

Ingredients

• Bottom Layer:
• 2 cups crushed pretzels
• 1 cup sugar (I used Zulka Pure Cane)
• ¼ cup melted butter
• Middle layer:
• 1 tub of Cool Whip Lite
• 8 oz. ⅓ less fat cream cheese
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons lemon zest
• Top Layer:
• 6 oz. box of strawberry jello
• 10 oz. frozen strawberries

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch pan and set aside.
3. For the bottom:
4. Pour two cups of pretzels into a ziploc bag.
5. Crush the pretzels with the back of a spoon or meat tenderizer.
6. Pour the pretzels in a bowl with the sugar and butter and mix.
7. Place the mixture over the bottom of the pan and place in the oven for 10 min.
8. Once down let this layer completely cool.
9. For the middle:
10. Beat the cream cheese in a mixer.
11. Add the sugar and lemon zest and whip until incorporated.
12. With a spatula fold in the Cool Whip until the mixture is fluffy.
13. Place in the fridge for 10 minutes.
14. Once set, layer over the pretzel layer.
15. For the top:
16. Boil two cups of hot water.
17. Mix in the jello packet until dissolved.
18. Add in the frozen strawberries.
19. Gently spoon this mixture over the middle layer.
20. Distribute evenly.
21. Cool in the fridge for 30 minutes and then enjoy!

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