Festive Cranberry Pretzel Delight Salad Recipe
This Festive Cranberry Pretzel Delight Salad is a delightful holiday dessert salad combining a buttery pretzel crust, sweet and tangy cranberry gelatin layer, and a creamy whipped cream cheese filling. Perfectly chilled and topped with whipped topping and berries, it offers a refreshing balance of salty, sweet, and tart flavors that make it a standout at any festive gathering.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours 23 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert Salad
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Crust
- 2 ½ cups pretzels, crushed
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- ¾ cup butter, melted
Gelatin Layer
- 1 (6-ounce) box instant raspberry gelatin or 2 (3-ounce) boxes cranberry gelatin
- 1 (14-ounce) can whole berry cranberry sauce
Cream Layer
- 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 (8-ounce) container whipped topping, thawed
Instructions
- Prepare the crust: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. In a mixing bowl, combine the crushed pretzels, brown sugar, and melted butter. Stir until well blended.
- Bake the crust: Press the pretzel mixture evenly into a lightly greased 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking dish. Bake for 8 minutes, then remove from oven and allow it to cool completely to set properly.
- Make the gelatin layer: While the crust is baking, prepare the instant gelatin according to the package instructions. Stir in the entire can of whole berry cranberry sauce. Let the gelatin mixture cool to room temperature and sit for about an hour until it thickens but is not fully set.
- Prepare the cream cheese layer: In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and granulated sugar together using a hand mixer until smooth and creamy with no lumps.
- Fold in whipped topping: Gently fold the thawed whipped topping into the cream cheese mixture until fully incorporated and smooth.
- Assemble the salad: Once the crust is cooled and the gelatin is thickened, pour the gelatin mixture carefully over the cream cheese layer in the dish. Distribute the cranberry pieces evenly by moving them gently if needed.
- Chill and serve: Refrigerate the assembled salad for at least 4 hours or overnight to allow all layers to set completely. Before serving, top with an additional dollop of whipped topping and garnish with a fresh cranberry or two for a festive touch.
Notes
- For easier slicing, ensure the salad is thoroughly chilled before cutting.
- You can substitute raspberry gelatin with cranberry gelatin for a more traditional flavor.
- Allow the gelatin mixture to cool sufficiently so it doesn’t melt the cream cheese layer when poured.
- Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- This recipe can be doubled to serve a larger crowd using a bigger dish.
Keywords: cranberry salad, pretzel crust, holiday dessert, festive salad, layered salad, cream cheese dessert
