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Creamy Cranberry Pretzel Salad

creamy cranberry pretzel salad - featured image
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This festive dessert features a buttery pretzel crust, creamy whipped cream cheese filling, and a tangy cranberry gelatin layer. It’s sweet, salty, and perfect for holidays or potlucks, with beautiful layers and nostalgic comfort.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups salted pretzels, crushed (sticks or mini twists)
  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 3/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream, cold (or 1 tub whipped topping)
  • 2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup water
  • Zest of 1 orange (optional, recommended)
  • 1 (3 oz) packet cranberry or raspberry gelatin (Jell-O)
  • Fresh cranberries or orange slices (optional garnish)
  • Extra whipped cream (optional garnish)
  • Crushed pretzels (optional garnish)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
  2. Crush pretzels into small pieces. Mix with melted butter and 1/4 cup sugar in a bowl. Press into the bottom of the baking dish.
  3. Bake crust for 10 minutes. Let cool completely.
  4. In a saucepan, combine cranberries, 3/4 cup sugar, water, and orange zest. Simmer over medium heat for about 10 minutes until berries burst and sauce thickens.
  5. Remove from heat and stir in gelatin until dissolved. Let cool to room temperature.
  6. Beat cream cheese until smooth. Add powdered sugar and vanilla, beat until fluffy.
  7. In a separate bowl, whip heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Gently fold whipped cream into cream cheese mixture until smooth.
  8. Spread cream cheese mixture evenly over cooled pretzel crust.
  9. Pour cooled cranberry gelatin over cream layer and gently spread.
  10. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or overnight.
  11. Cut into squares and garnish with whipped cream, fresh cranberries, orange slices, or crushed pretzels as desired.

Notes

For best results, let each layer cool before assembling. Use cold cream for whipping. Gluten-free pretzels and dairy-free substitutes work well. Make ahead for deeper flavor. Clean knife between cuts for neat squares.

Nutrition

Keywords: cranberry pretzel salad, holiday dessert, creamy cranberry salad, potluck dessert, sweet and salty dessert, Thanksgiving dessert, Christmas dessert

Find it online: https://jodierecipes.com/creamy-cranberry-pretzel-salad-recipe-easy-sweet-and-salty-holiday-dessert/