Cranberry Pretzel Salad Recipe
Cranberry Pretzel Salad is a delightful layered dessert combining a crunchy salty pretzel crust with a sweet and tangy cranberry gelatin layer, topped with a smooth cream cheese and whipped cream mixture. This treat blends textures and flavors perfectly, making it a festive favorite especially during the holiday season.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 5 hours 30 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Pretzel Crust
- 6 cups pretzel minis (or 2 cups pretzel crumbles)
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup dark brown sugar (packed)
- ½ cup salted butter (melted)
Cream Cheese Layer
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 1 brick (8 oz) cream cheese (very soft)
- 1 tub (8 oz) Cool Whip
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- ½ teaspoon lemon juice
Cranberry Jello Layer
- 1 ½ cups water
- 1 package (6 oz) raspberry Jello powder
- 1 can (28 oz) whole cranberry sauce
Toppings
- Whipped cream
- Extra pretzels
- Fresh cranberries
Instructions
- Prepare Pretzel Crust: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Combine pretzel minis or crumbles, granulated sugar, dark brown sugar, and melted salted butter in a bowl. Mix well until the pretzels are evenly coated. Press the mixture firmly into the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish to form a crust. Bake for 10 minutes, then allow to cool completely.
- Make Cranberry Jello Layer: In a medium saucepan, bring 1 ½ cups water to a boil. Stir in raspberry Jello powder until completely dissolved. Remove from heat and mix in the entire can of whole cranberry sauce. Pour this mixture over the cooled pretzel crust and refrigerate until set, about 1-2 hours.
- Create Cream Cheese Layer: In a mixing bowl, beat softened cream cheese with powdered sugar until smooth and creamy. Fold in Cool Whip, almond extract, and lemon juice until well combined and fluffy.
- Assemble Salad: Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over the set cranberry jello layer. Return to refrigerator and chill for at least 4 hours or overnight to allow flavors to meld and layers to firm up.
- Serve: Before serving, garnish with dollops of whipped cream, extra pretzels, and fresh cranberries for added decoration and texture. Cut into squares and serve chilled.
Notes
- Ensure the cream cheese is very soft to avoid lumps in the cream cheese layer.
- The pretzel crust should be well cooled before adding the jello layer to prevent melting it.
- For best results, chill the dessert overnight so the layers set properly.
- You can substitute raspberry Jello with another red-flavored gelatin if desired.
- Use salted butter to balance the sweetness with a little saltiness in the crust.
Keywords: Cranberry Pretzel Salad, Holiday Dessert, Layered Dessert, Cream Cheese Dessert, Pretzel Crust, Cranberry Jello
Find it online: https://zestywithzane.com/cranberry-pretzel-salad-recipe/
