1 (8 oz) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
2 (3 oz) packages strawberry flavored gelatin
2 cups boiling water
2 cups sliced strawberries, fresh or frozen and thawed
Directions
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
In a medium bowl, mix crushed pretzels, melted butter, and 3 tablespoons of sugar. Press the mixture into the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish.
Bake the pretzel crust in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. Allow it to cool completely.
In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and 1 cup of sugar until smooth. Fold in the thawed whipped topping until well combined.
Spread the cream cheese mixture over the cooled pretzel crust, ensuring it reaches all the edges to prevent the gelatin layer from seeping through.
In a separate bowl, dissolve the strawberry gelatin in 2 cups of boiling water. Stir in the sliced strawberries. Allow it to cool slightly, but not set.
Gently pour the gelatin mixture over the cream cheese layer. Refrigerate until the gelatin is fully set, about 2-4 hours.
Cut into squares and serve chilled.
Variations & Tips
For a fun twist, try using different flavored gelatins and matching fruits, like raspberry gelatin with fresh raspberries. You can also add a bit of crushed pineapple into the cream cheese mixture for extra tropical flavor. If you prefer a less sweet dessert, reduce the sugar in the cream cheese layer to 3/4 cup. This recipe is quite forgiving, so feel free to tweak it to suit your taste!