16 May 2011

Strawberry Pretzel Salad

It's Monday! Are you ready for the week to start? I know I had a little bit of a hard time rolling out of bed. I had to get up extra early to make these for lunches this week since I failed to do so last night before bed. But now they are cooked and I'm ready for a week of healthy and satisfying lunches.  Am I the only one that cooks up meals in advance so dinners or packed lunches are a breeze throughout the busy week?

My apologies. I don't have the material for a weekend update today. Not a whole lot happened this weekend, and to be honest, I was just down-right lazy. In place of a weekend update I thought a really delicious and "oh so bad for you" dessert would be a fair trade. Because who doesn't love an unhealthy dessert? I don't classify "healthy" as "dessert". Only unhealthy options will do.


Crust

We've been making Strawberry Pretzel Salad  in my family on holidays and special occasions for decades. It's one of those special treats we only get a couple times a year (or when your husband requests, emphatically, that you make it.) The sweet strawberries paired with the salty and crunchy pretzels makes for a stunning couple. And the cream? It's just icing on the "cake."


The Crust: 
2 cups crushed pretzels
3/4 cup melted butter
2 tbsp sugar

Preheat oven to 400. Mix together ingredients and press into the bottom of a 13x9 pan. Bake 8 minutes and then let cool. Once cooled, top with cream...

Cream

The Cream:
8 oz cream cheese (softened)
3/4 cup sugar
1 large container of cool whip

Whip ingredients together until creamy and then pour over crust. Spread evenly sealing off all edges around the pan so the jello mixture won't seep though.  Let cool for 30 minutes in refrigerator.

Yum!

The Strawberry Topping:
2  3oz pkgs. of Strawberry Jell-O
2 cups boiling water
2 pkgs. frozen strawberries in syrup

Mix Jell-O powder in boiling water and stir in thawed strawberries and syrup. Spoon strawberries into pan and then lightly pour liquid over top (so as not to break through the cream). Carefully move to refrigerator and cool until firm.




30 comments:

  1. This looks yummy! I love pretzels and this is the first time I've ever seen it as crust in a dessert.

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  2. Nom nom nom! That sounds delicious! I would have never have thought to pair strawberries with pretzels! It's genius! Nope, you aren't the only one who does packed lunches, I used to make mine on Sunday afternoons to stop myself from going out at lunch and buying junk! It worked for a while but then I'd just go out anyway and end up in Zara or H&M instead!

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  3. we don't really make that pretzel salad in our family - don't know why b/c it's DELICIOUS and everyone LOVES it!! also, those burgers look AMAZING. bookmarking. my hubby really likes turkey burgers, which is awesome.

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  4. Hannah - This is my favorite summer dessert EVER! So excited you posted this recipe today :) Glad you had a lovely lazy weekend ... we all need some of those once in a while, they are good for you!

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  5. that sounds pretty much amazing.

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  6. Umm, wow!! I've never heard of this dessert before, but you better believe I will be copying out this recipe to try!

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  7. yum! That looks really good!!

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  8. Tee Passports and Postcards- I know! It kind of makes you wonder what other amazing desserts one can come up with!

    Meghan- YES! So I'm not the only one! I love it. I always feel so much better than when I eat out all the time!

    Amy- It is PERFECT for summer!

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  9. Interesting! Never heard or even read about this and it looks so delicious!!! Amazing!

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  10. Sometimes it's nice to have a lazy weekend. This looks delicious. I want to eat it right now...

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  11. That sounds delicious! I would have never thought of that combination!

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  12. you had me at pretzel crust - yum!

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  13. I have never heard of such a thing but my goodness that looks nice!! Totally putting me in the mood for summer :)
    I tried your roast veg pesto pasta and was a major hit with me and bf - thank you! :D
    <3

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  14. wow- I think we would love this- what a great idea to use prezels to make the crust- never heard of such yumminess

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  15. Erin- Glad you liked the pasta. It is one of my favorites! So fresh!

    Ren- I'm telling you, it's to die for...

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  16. My stomach just growled really loudly while I was reading this post and looking at the pictures!

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  17. I always mean to prep lunches and dinners for the week. A couple years ago, we even got a big chest freezer to store them in. But guess who still scrambles to get dinner ideas every day? ;)

    That dessert looks so delicious! And I'm a pretzel fiend so this is right up my alley. I'm just wondering, and please excuse me if this is a stupid question, lol, but what do you mean by syrup for the frozen strawberries? I freeze my own so they don't come in a liquid, can I make one? Or would their natural juices work when they start thawing out? Thanks! :)

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  18. Polyvorina- Some frozen strawberries come coated in a syrup (tons of sugar...very bad). The syrup helps add to the overall liquid needed. Perhaps cut up 2-3 cups of strawberries and toss them in 1/4 cup sugar. Let them sit and the sugar will encourage the strawberries natural juices to come out. That should give you enough extra liquid to mess with.

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  19. The strawberry pretzel salad is a staple in my family on the holidays! I always request it! Love it!

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  20. Ummmmm this looks SOO yummy! Wow! Never heard of it before but definitely want to try it now!

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  21. Yum! This looks delicious.
    By the way, I am a total planner too. I make a grocery list on Sunday and plan my meals in advance.

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  22. I haven't had this dessert in years and years!! It was always a picnic favorite and my mouth is watering just thinking about it! I can't wait to make this :)

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  23. Oh my gosh, have to write this down to remember it. Looks awesome!!! Thanks for sharing, hadn't heard of it. And looks great for summer sweets!

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  24. It's impossible for bloggers to be on a diet. There is food everywhere. I give up.

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  25. Ha! I'm with Bobbi, nearly impossible. Although it needs chocolate...

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  26. Thanks foe the tip Hannah! :) I'll be trying it soon.

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  27. How amazing and delicious this looks! I have to try this.

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  28. OMG, my husband was just talking about how someone at work made "this amazing thing with strawberries and pretzels." I think he may get a surprise treat this weekend!

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