Strawberry Pretzel Salad

I have come to learn that Strawberry Pretzel Salad is a southern thing.  I think we like that sweet and salty thing and this fits the bill.  I had all those beautiful strawberries and I had never made this salad.  It was a perfect combination.  It was so much easier than I thought it would be.

I used the sugar free jello and sugar free Cool Whip and less fat cream cheese.  Those lighter items did not change the taste.

Melt 3/4 cup of butter.  That is 1 1/2 sticks butter.

Crush around 2 cups pretzels.  You don't want them to be tiny crumbs you want some small pieces in there.

Add 3 Tablespoons sugar.  You might try splenda.

There's the melted butter.

Mix all three of those things until the pretzels are coated.

Press down in a sprayed 9x13 baking dish.  Place in a preheated 375 oven. Bake for 8 minutes.

Take out of the oven and let cool completely before finishing up the dish.

Slice and chop between 2-3 cups of strawberries.  I saw several different recipes and some say 2 cups and some say 3cups so somewhere in the middle.  I used fresh strawberries but you could use frozen ones as well.  If your strawberries are not real sweet you might want to sprinkle a little sugar on them.

Add 2 cups boiling water to the 6 oz package of strawberry jello.  Stir until the jello is dissolved.

When the jello has cooled a little add the strawberries.

Stir the strawberries well.  Cover and place in the fridge for about 30 minutes or until it begins to thicken.

Now for the middle layer.  Start with a softened 8 oz package of cream cheese.

Add 1 cup of sugar.

Mix well.

Add a 8 oz container of Cool Whip.  Fold together.

Spread over the pretzels.

Make sure you seal the edges with the cream cheese mixture.  You don't want the jello mixture to seep through to the pretzels.

Stir the thickening jello mixture.

Pour on top of the cream cheese mixture and spread out.  Cover and place in the fridge until you are ready to serve.

Cut and enjoy.  I wonder if peaches would be good to try with this when they are in season.....

Strawberry Pretzel Salad Recipe

2 cups crushed pretzels
3/4 cup butter melted
3 Tablespoons sugar
8 oz cream cheese softened
1 cup sugar
8 oz cool whip
1 6 oz box of strawberry jello
2 cups boiling water
2 cups strawberries