Description
Sweet and salty Strawberry Pretzel Delight merges creamy cheesecake layers with crunchy pretzel crust and luscious strawberry gelatin. Nostalgic dessert combines classic comfort flavors that dance between tangy, sweet, and salty sensations you won’t be able to resist.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 lbs strawberries, hulled and sliced
- 8 oz (226 grams) cream cheese, softened
- 1 ½ cups heavy cream
- 2 ¼ cups finely crushed pretzels (approximately 5 ½ cups whole pretzels)
- ¾ cup salted butter, melted
Sugars and Sweeteners:
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar, firmly packed
- ½ cup powdered sugar
Additional Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ½ tablespoon butter, salted or unsalted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius). In a medium mixing bowl, thoroughly combine crushed pretzels, melted unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture is uniform.
- Press the pretzel mixture firmly and evenly across the bottom of a 13-inch by 9-inch baking pan. Bake for 12 minutes until lightly golden and set. Allow the crust to cool completely at room temperature.
- For the strawberry topping, blend granulated sugar and cornstarch in a small saucepan. Add half of the fresh strawberries and freshly squeezed lemon juice, mixing thoroughly.
- Cook the strawberry mixture over medium-low heat until juices begin to release. Gradually increase the heat to medium and stir constantly until the sauce thickens to a jam-like consistency.
- Remove the strawberry sauce from heat and gently fold in the remaining fresh strawberries and unsalted butter. Let the mixture cool completely to room temperature.
- Using an electric mixer, whip heavy cream, powdered sugar, and pure vanilla extract until stiff, glossy peaks form. In a separate large bowl, beat cream cheese with granulated sugar until smooth and creamy.
- Carefully fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture until fully incorporated and smooth. Spread this light, fluffy filling evenly over the cooled pretzel crust.
- Distribute the cooled strawberry mixture uniformly across the cream cheese layer. Cover the dessert and refrigerate for a minimum of 3-4 hours, or ideally overnight, to allow flavors to meld.
- For cleaner slices, optionally chill the dessert in the freezer for 10-30 minutes before cutting and serving.
Notes
- Crafting this dessert requires patience, as chilling time is crucial for the perfect texture and flavor melding.
- The pretzel crust provides a salty-sweet crunch that elevates the creamy filling and fruity topping.
- Whipping cream to stiff peaks ensures a light, airy filling that perfectly complements the dense cream cheese base.
- Cooking strawberries with sugar and cornstarch creates a luscious, thickened topping that intensifies the fruit’s natural sweetness.
- Freezing briefly before serving helps achieve clean, picture-perfect slices that showcase the dessert’s beautiful layers.
- Overnight refrigeration allows flavors to meld, transforming this treat into a more sophisticated and harmonious dessert experience.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 380 kcal
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 340 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg