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Strawberry Crackle Salad Recipe

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★★★★★

4.6 from 72 reviews

Strawberry Crackle Salad is a delightful dessert salad featuring a crunchy pretzel and pecan crust combined with a creamy, sweetened cream cheese mixture and fresh strawberries. This dish offers a perfect balance of sweet, salty, and tangy flavors with a creamy texture and a crispy topping, ideal for potlucks, parties, or as a refreshing dessert.

Ingredients

Scale

Pretzel Crunch

  • 2 cups crushed pretzels
  • 1 cup chopped pecans
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 cup butter, melted

Cream Cheese Mixture

  • 2 (8 oz) packages cream cheese, softened
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 16 oz cool whip

Fruit

  • 4 cups sliced strawberries

Instructions

  1. Prepare pretzel mixture: Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, combine crushed pretzels, chopped pecans, and brown sugar. Pour melted butter over the mixture and stir until everything is thoroughly combined.
  2. Bake pretzel crunch: Spread the pretzel mixture evenly on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the mixture is bubbling and golden. Remove from oven and allow it to cool completely on the pan. Once cooled, break it into small pieces for topping.
  3. Make cream cheese filling: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with granulated sugar and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy. Gently fold in the cool whip until just combined, ensuring the mixture remains light and airy. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
  4. Assemble the salad: When ready to serve, layer the cream cheese mixture in a serving dish. Top with sliced fresh strawberries, then sprinkle generously with the cooled pretzel crunch. For extra texture, mix some pretzel crunch into the salad or sprinkle more on top as desired. Serve immediately to preserve the crunchiness.

Notes

  • Make sure to let the pretzel mixture cool completely before breaking it into pieces to avoid sogginess.
  • This salad is best served fresh to keep the pretzel crunch crispy.
  • You can substitute pecans with walnuts if preferred.
  • For a lighter version, use reduced-fat cream cheese and light cool whip.
  • Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator but note that the pretzel topping may soften over time.

Keywords: Strawberry Crackle Salad, pretzel dessert salad, creamy strawberry dessert, pecan pretzel dessert, easy party salad, no-bake dessert

Find it online: https://tastybynova.com/strawberry-crackle-salad-recipe/