This delicious strawberry pretzel dessert has a sweet cream cheese mixture with strawberry pie filling and fresh strawberries all on top of a pretzel crust. An easy summer dessert recipe that is so simple to make and always a favorite summertime treat.
Cream cheese is one of my favorite ingredients in almost any dish. From jalapeno poppers to dessert dips and cheesecake, cream cheese is just fantastic. It makes a deliciously creamy base for dishes both sweet and savory, and it can be used in almost anything. One of my favorite ways to use cream cheese is in cheesecake and cheesecake-derived desserts, especially if they’re no-bake or almost no-bake.
That’s why I love this recipe so much. The only baking required is the crust, and it’s a fantastic, fun take on cheesecake that everyone always loves. It’s easy enough to make for a weeknight dessert with leftovers for snacking the next day, but it’s fancy-looking enough to bring to any party or get-together of any kind! It’s a winner all the way around.
Strawberry Pretzel Dessert
This dessert starts with a deliciously salty and savory pretzel crust. From there we top it with a no-bake cheesecake filling that’s topped with strawberry pie filling. It’s a rich, sweet, decadent dessert that has everything we love about strawberry cheesecake with a salty twist and no worries about water baths, slowly cooling the oven, or any of the other hoops you have to jump through with traditional cheesecake!
Why You’ll Love This Strawberry Cheesecake Pretzel Dessert
- It’s a super easy recipe that uses simple ingredients.
- It has that sweet and salty combo that always tastes so good.
- It’s an easy, fun twist on cheesecake.
- And, it’s the perfect summer dessert recipe.
Strawberry Pretzel Dessert Tips and Variations
This is a very simple recipe to make, so I don’t have many tips. The tips I do have are important, though, so be sure to give them a look. I also have some fun variation ideas that you can try, as well.
Tips
- Let the pretzel crust cool completely before adding the cheesecake layer.
- Crush the pretzels, don’t pulverize them. They need to be a bit chunky for a little texture.
- As soon as stiff peaks form in your whipping cream, stop beating it. Overbeating will cause them to collapse.
Variations
- Use any of your favorite fruit pie filling and complimentary fresh fruit for this recipe. Raspberries, peaches, blueberries will work great.
- To make things even easier, you can use store bought whipped topping for the cream layer.
- Try using crackers in place of pretzels for something a little different.
Strawberry Cheesecake Pretzel Dessert FAQ
If you have questions about this dessert, then read on. The following FAQ answers the most commonly asked questions about this sweet and salty dessert.
How long with this dessert last?
You can store it for 3 to 4 days in an air-tight container in the refrigerator.
Can you freeze strawberry cheesecake pretzel dessert?
Absolutely. Unlike some other cream cheese-based foods, this will freeze well for up to 3 months.
Is this strawberry cheesecake pretzel dessert the same as a strawberry pretzel salad recipe?
No, it’s not the same. It is, however, similar. It uses a pretzel crust and a cream cheese layer like a strawberry pretzel salad. However, the topping is strawberry pie filling rather than a strawberry gelatin or strawberry jello layer, and the cream cheese filling is a bit more like cheesecake.
Where did strawberry pretzel salad originate?
It seems to have come on the scene in the 1960s when Jello released its Joys of Jell-O cookbook.
Can you make this strawberry pretzel dessert recipe the night before?
Absolutely. I recommend making it the night before, in fact.
Can I use Cool Whip in place of whipped cream?
You sure can. I like the richness of homemade whipped cream, but Cool Whip definitely works, especially if you need to shave time off of the recipe.
How to Store This Strawberry Pretzel Dessert
Store it in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. For longer storage, wrap the original dish (if it’s freezer-safe) in a double layer of cling wrap and then a layer of foil and freeze for up to 3 months.
Strawberry Pretzel Dessert Ingredients
It only takes a few simple ingredients to make this recipe. If you do any amount of baking, you might have them all in your kitchen right now.
For the Pretzel Crust
- Pretzels
- Vanilla extract
- Brown sugar
- Flour
- Melted butter
For the Cheesecake Layer
- Cream cheese
- Powdered sugar
- Strawberry pie filling
- Fresh strawberries
For the Homemade Whipped Cream
- Heavy cream
- Sugar
- Vanilla
How to Make This Strawberry Cheesecake Pretzel Dessert
It only takes a few simple steps to make this recipe. From the crust to the whipped topping, it’s an easy recipe from bottom to top.
Step 1: Prep
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and lightly spray a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Crush the pretzels into small pieces in a food processor or with a rolling pin.
Step 2: Make the Pretzel Crust
In a medium bowl, add crushed pretzels, vanilla, brown sugar, and flour and stir. Then, melt butter and add to the pretzel mixture. Stir until combined. Spoon the mixture into the prepared baking pan and press into an even, smooth layer, saving ¾ cup of pretzel mixture for the topping. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes and let cool completely.
Step 3: Make the Whipped Cream
Add heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla to a medium bowl and beat on high speed until stiff peaks form.
Step 4: Make the Cheesecake Filling
In a medium mixing bowl, beat cream cheese with an electric mixer for 2-3 minutes or until smooth then add powdered sugar. Next, beat until combined and fold in homemade whipped cream until just combined.
Step 5: Make the Strawberry Cheesecake Pretzel Dessert
Pour the cheesecake mixture over the completely cooled pretzel crust. Then, top with the strawberry pie filling in an even layer. Top the entire thing with the reserved pretzel crumbs and fresh strawberry slices. Cover the dish with foil or plastic wrap and chill for a minimum of 4 hours – overnight is better.
Try This Delicious Strawberry Pretzel Dessert Recipe Today
This strawberry cheesecake pretzel dessert is so rich and delicious. It’s also so easy. You’ll be in and out of the kitchen in no time with a sweet and salty dessert in tow. It’s the perfect combination of flavor and ease, and once you try it, you’ll find yourself making it again and again. I can almost guarantee it. Whether you serve this up for a weeknight dessert or potluck treat, it’s always the perfect time for this dessert.
More Strawberry Dessert Recipes You’ll Enjoy
Strawberry Shortcake – A completely homemade shortcake recipe that is layered with fresh sliced strawberries, homemade whipped cream, and airy and light layers of white cake.
Strawberry Lemonade Poke Cake – A moist and delicious strawberry cake that is filled with a zesty and tart lemon cream cheese filling. It’s the perfect and most refreshing dessert for summer get togethers.
Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie – A super simple and easy pie recipe that is made with a creamy and delicious strawberry cream cheese layer. This pie is one that the entire family will love!
And, these Mini Strawberry Cheesecakes from Deliciously Seasoned. These are a super simple, easy, and quick no-bake dessert recipe that is perfect for summertime BBQs.
Strawberry Pretzel Dessert
Ingredients
For the Pretzel Crust
- 2½ cups pretzels, crushed
- 2 teaspoon vanilla
- ⅔ cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons flour
- ½ cup butter, melted
For the Cream Cheese Filling
- 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 22 ounces strawberry pie filling
- 16 ounces fresh strawberries, sliced
For the Homemade Whipped Cream
- 2 cups heavy cream
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375° and lightly spray a 9 x 13 baking dish with a non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
For the Pretzel Crust
- Crush pretzels into small pieces using a rolling pin or food processor.
- In a medium bowl, add pretzels, vanilla, brown sugar, and flour. Stir.
- Melt butter and add to the pretzel mixture. Stir until combined.
- Spread mixture into prepared baking dish. Press into an even, smooth layer (saving ¾ cup of pretzel mixture for the topping).
- Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes and let cool completely.
For the Homemade Whipped Cream
- Add heavy cream, sugar and vanilla to a medium bowl and beat on high speed until stiff peaks form.
For the Cream Cheese Filling
- In a medium bowl, using an electric mixer, beat cream cheese for 2-3 minutes or until smooth then add powdered sugar. Beat until combined and add homemade whipped cream. Mix until just combined.
- Once the crust has cooled completely, spread cream cheese mixture over the pretzel layer.
- Top with strawberry pie filling and spread evenly. Top with remaining pretzel crumbs and fresh strawberry slices.
- Cover with aluminum foil or plastic wrap and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.
Notes
Nutrition
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This looks delicious! I can’t wait to try it! Thank you.
Hi MaryEllen, Thank you so much. I hope you enjoy it! :)
Didn’t use pie filling. Am lucky enough to live near an organic farm, so I used just picked fresh juicy sweet berries, just sliced and they were perfect. Rough chopped pretzels, added melted butter and sugar. Layered crust, cream cheese filling, fresh berries & whipped cream topping into jars. Great for a picnic take along. Individual servings.