Layered Strawberry Pretzel Salad Bars

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-04 · Updated 2026-05-04

A no-bake dessert bar featuring a salty pretzel crust, a sweetened cream cheese layer, and a fresh strawberry gelatin topping with sliced strawberries. This american-inspired desserts ready in about 30 minutes layers pretzel sticks, granulated sugar, unsalted butter into a dessert worth slowing down for — great for weekend baking, holiday tables, or any time you want a sweet payoff at the end of a meal. Each serving lands at about 220 calories and feeds 12, so it slots into a weekend bake or a special-occasion dessert tray. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 2 cups, crushed pretzel sticks
• 1/2 cup, divided granulated sugar
• 6 tbsp, melted unsalted butter
• 8 oz, softened cream cheese
• 1 cup whipped topping
• 1 package (3 oz) strawberry gelatin mix
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1 cup cold water
• 1 cup, sliced fresh strawberries

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). In a medium bowl, mix 2 cups crushed pretzel sticks with 1/2 cup granulated sugar and 6 tbsp melted unsalted butter until evenly moistened.
2. Step 2: Press the pretzel mixture firmly into the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish and bake for 10 minutes, then remove and let cool completely.
3. Step 3: In a large bowl, beat 8 oz softened cream cheese with 1/2 cup granulated sugar until smooth, then fold in 1 cup whipped topping until fully combined.
4. Step 4: Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over the cooled pretzel crust.
5. Step 5: In a separate bowl, dissolve 1 package (3 oz) strawberry gelatin mix in 1 cup boiling water, stirring for 2 minutes to fully dissolve.
6. Step 6: Add 1 cup cold water to the gelatin mixture and stir, then allow it to cool for 10 minutes until slightly thickened but not set.
7. Step 7: Arrange 1 cup sliced fresh strawberries evenly over the cream cheese layer.
8. Step 8: Carefully pour the cooled gelatin mixture over the strawberries and cream cheese layer, spreading gently to cover.
9. Step 9: Refrigerate the assembled bars for at least 4 hours or until gelatin is fully set before cutting into squares and serving a sweet and salty layered dessert.