Strawberry Pretzel Salad

Instructions:

1. Preparing the Pretzel Crust: a. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). b. In a medium-sized bowl, combine the crushed pretzels, melted butter, and sugar. Mix well until the pretzel crumbs are evenly coated. c. Press the pretzel mixture into the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish to form an even crust. d. Bake the crust for 10 minutes or until it becomes golden brown. Allow it to cool completely.

2. Making the Cream Cheese Layer: a. In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and sugar until smooth. b. Gently fold in the whipped cream or whipped topping until the mixture is well combined. c. Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over the cooled pretzel crust, ensuring complete coverage.

3. Creating the Strawberry Gelatin Layer: a. Dissolve the strawberry-flavored gelatin in boiling water in a separate bowl. Stir until the gelatin is completely dissolved. b. Add cold water to the gelatin mixture and stir well. c. Fold in the sliced strawberries and mix until they are evenly distributed. d. Carefully pour the strawberry gelatin mixture over the cream cheese layer in the baking dish.

4. Chilling and Serving: a. Refrigerate the Strawberry Pretzel Salad for at least 4 hours or until the gelatin layer is fully set. b. Once set, cut the dessert into squares or rectangles. c. Serve chilled and enjoy the delightful combination of sweet strawberries, creamy filling, and crunchy pretzels.