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Creamy Strawberry Pretzel Salad Bars

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These bars feature a crunchy salty pretzel crust topped with a smooth, creamy middle layer and a fresh strawberry glaze, making a quick, crowd-pleasing dessert perfect for summer gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups crushed pretzels (about 6 ounces)
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream, chilled
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 4 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Crush pretzels finely but leave some texture. Mix crushed pretzels with 1/2 cup granulated sugar and melted butter until crumbly. Press firmly and evenly into the bottom of a 9×13-inch pan. Bake for 10 minutes, then remove and let cool completely.
  2. Beat softened cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth and creamy (2-3 minutes). In a separate chilled bowl, whip heavy cream with vanilla extract until stiff peaks form. Gently fold whipped cream into cream cheese mixture until light and fluffy. Spread evenly over cooled pretzel crust and chill in fridge.
  3. In a small saucepan, combine 1/2 cup sugar, cornstarch, and water. Stir over medium heat until thick and clear (3-5 minutes). Remove from heat, stir in lemon juice, let cool a few minutes, then fold in sliced strawberries. Spread strawberry glaze evenly over creamy layer.
  4. Refrigerate entire pan for at least 3 hours or overnight to set layers and meld flavors.
  5. Cut into bars with a sharp knife dipped in hot water for clean edges and serve chilled.

Notes

Ensure the pretzel crust is fully cooled before adding the cream layer to keep it crunchy. Chill mixing bowl and beaters before whipping cream for better results. Use a sharp knife dipped in hot water for clean cutting. For dairy-free, substitute cream cheese and heavy cream with coconut-based alternatives. Gluten-free pretzels can be used to make the crust gluten-free.

Nutrition

Keywords: strawberry pretzel salad bars, creamy dessert bars, pretzel crust dessert, summer dessert, easy potluck dessert

Find it online: https://tempotaste.com/creamy-strawberry-pretzel-salad-bars-recipe-easy-homemade-crunchy-crust/