Chilled Strawberry Dessert with a Pretzel Crust

A buttery pretzel crust sits beneath a cream cheese layer and strawberry gelatin topping. Chill each layer as directed to keep the finished dessert neatly separated.

Ingredients

For the crust

• 1½ cups crushed pretzels

• ¾ cup butter, melted

• 4½ tablespoons granulated sugar

For the cream layer

• 2 packages cream cheese (8 ounces each), softened

• 1 cup granulated sugar

• 1 container whipped topping (8 ounces), thawed

For the strawberry topping

• 2 cups boiling water

• 1 package strawberry gelatin (6 ounces)

• 1 package frozen strawberries (16 ounces)

Directions

1. Heat the oven to 350°F. Mix the pretzels, melted butter, and crust’s sugar, then press firmly into a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.

2. Bake for about 10 minutes, until lightly toasted. Cool completely.

3. Beat the cream cheese and its cup of sugar until smooth. Fold in the whipped topping.

4. Spread over the cooled crust, reaching the edges to create a seal. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes, until firm.

5. Dissolve the gelatin in the boiling water. Stir in the frozen strawberries until thawed. Let the mixture cool and begin to thicken slightly.

6. Spoon gently over the cream layer. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or longer until the gelatin is fully set, before slicing.

Recipe source: Allrecipes.