Strawberry Pretzel Salad Bars
A simple 5-ingredient dessert with a perfect balance of salty, sweet, crunchy, and creamy layers, featuring a pretzel crust, cream cheese filling, and fresh strawberries.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 25 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups crushed pretzels
- 6 tablespoons (85g) melted unsalted butter
- 8 ounces (225g) cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup (100g) sugar
- 2 cups sliced fresh strawberries (about 300g)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking dish with parchment paper or foil, leaving an overhang on two sides for easy removal.
- Put pretzels in a zip-top bag and crush with a rolling pin until mostly small pieces and crumbs (about 2 cups).
- Transfer crushed pretzels to a bowl, pour in melted butter, and stir until crumbs are evenly coated. Press mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan.
- Bake crust for 8-10 minutes until toasty and slightly browned. Remove and let cool completely.
- In a medium bowl, beat softened cream cheese and sugar together with a hand mixer until smooth and fluffy (2-3 minutes).
- Spread cream cheese mixture evenly over cooled pretzel crust. Layer sliced strawberries on top, covering the surface.
- Cover pan with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, preferably 4 or overnight.
- Use parchment or foil overhang to lift slab out of pan. Slice into bars about 2 inches wide. Serve chilled.
Notes
Do not skip baking the crust to prevent sogginess. Let crust cool completely before adding filling. Use room temperature cream cheese to avoid lumps. Press crust firmly for a sturdy base. Slice bars with a sharp knife dipped in hot water for clean cuts. Use fresh, firm strawberries and blot excess juice if needed. Bars can be made ahead and stored in the fridge up to 4 days or frozen up to 2 months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar (1/12th of rec
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 14
- Sodium: 310
- Fat: 12
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 26
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 3
Keywords: strawberry pretzel salad bars, easy dessert, 5-ingredient dessert, sweet and salty dessert, no-bake dessert, summer dessert, potluck dessert