Strawberry-Pretzel Squares

[fitfool]

Growing up, my neighbor made this dessert for big get-togethers (and with 9 grown-children, it seemed like every holiday was a big reunion). I adored this recipe and was thrilled every time I saw this being served. Spotted this recipe years later on the kraftfoods.com website and was happy to see it was pretty simple to make and tasted just as good as I remembered.

2 cups finely crushed pretzels
1/2 cup sugar, divided
2/3 cup butter or margarine, melted
12 oz. (1-1/2 [8-oz] pkg.) Cream Cheese, softened [I used two 8oz packages.]
2 Tbsp. milk
1 cup thawed Cool Whip Whipped Topping [I used 1.5 cups]
2 cups boiling water
1 pkg. (8-serving size) Strawberry Flavor Gelatin
1-1/2 cups cold water
1 qt. (4 cups) strawberries, sliced

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix pretzels, 1/4 cup of the sugar and the butter. Press firmly onto bottom of 13x9-inch baking pan. Bake 10 min. Cool. [Note: Don't skimp on the butter. I tried to reduce the amount of butter called for but then the pretzel crumbs just didn't stick together very well.]
   
   
2. Stir boiling water into gelatin in large bowl at least 2 min. until completely dissolved. Stir in cold water. Refrigerate 1-1/2 hours or until thickened (spoon drawn through leaves definite impression).
   
   
3. Beat cream cheese, remaining 1/4 cup sugar and milk until well blended. Gently stir in whipped topping. Spread over crust. Refrigerate until ready to use.
   
   
4. Stir strawberries into the thickened jello. Spoon over cream cheese layer. Refrigerate 3 hours or until firm. Cut into 20 squares to serve. Store leftover dessert in refrigerator.
   
   

Got this recipe from the Kraftfoods.com website.

Healthy Living
Trim 2 grams fat per serving by preparing with PHILADELPHIA Neufchatel Cheese, 1/3 Less Fat than Cream Cheese, fat free milk and COOL WHIP LITE Whipped Topping.

Substitute
Prepare as directed, using 2 pkg. (4-serving size each) JELL-O Brand Strawberry Gelatin.

Nutrition (per serving)

	Calories 	200 		
	Total fat 	13g 		
	Saturated fat 	8g 		
	Cholesterol 	35mg 		
	Sodium 	        260mg 		
	Carbohydrate 	20g 		
	Dietary fiber 	1g 		
	Sugars 	        14g 		
	Protein 	3g 		
	Vitamin A 	8%DV 		
	Vitamin C 	15%DV 		
	Calcium 	2%DV 		
	Iron 	        0%DV 	

Thread at cooking

Comments

[drowning-spirit.livejournal.com]

oohhh this looks yum!

[kastinkerbell.livejournal.com]

I looooooved this when I was little!
Thanks so much for posting this! I was actually just thinking the other day that I wanted to track down the recipe for this, but I had no idea where to start. Thanks!!

[fitfool.livejournal.com]

You're welcome. Let me know what you think of it when you try it out :)

[kitarra.livejournal.com]

This looks like such a guilty pleasure! But I betcha its nummy!

[fitfool.livejournal.com]

No guilt at all! Pretzels and strawberries are healthy, right? There were some suggestions for reducing some of the calories and fat in the recipe towards the bottom of the page.

[joynt.livejournal.com]

Yum, i like this one too. I think more of it at church luncheons and that 20th century women's club lunches though. I love the saltiness of pretzels with sweet things.

[fitfool.livejournal.com]

Oh...oddly the only memories I had of this dish were at the neighbor's house. But yes...the sweet and salty combination were just perfect.

[chrit.livejournal.com]

Interesting! My family always makes this the complete opposite way. Jello on bottom, the cream and pretzels on top. In a giant bowl.

This way might yield less mess. Thanks!

[lucylou95816.livejournal.com]

I make this too for big parties..couple of differences. I use hot pineapple juice instead of boiling water for the jello, and I spread the cream cheese sugar over the pretzels and then spread the cool whip. I also use mix berries instead of just strawberries...its a definite hit.

[bd1.livejournal.com]

Normally not my type of dessert but that looks wonderfully yummy. I bet I'd eat it all up!!!

[bd1.livejournal.com]

(I didn't have many jello type desserts growing up so my sweet tooth runs more toward ice cream, cake, chocolate, etc.)

Oh gosh...

[(Anonymous)]

I haven't seen this in years. My MIL used to make it and it is nothing short of a tastebud feast!!!! Going to memories now!

Re: Oh gosh...

[gracehatter.livejournal.com]

Lol..forgot to log in. Hope you are well...I just made your S&P Shrimp last week and was thinking of you.

[littlepinkcanoe.livejournal.com]

I love this, used to bring it to all work pot lucks. I like to use raspberry jello and fresh raspberries instead of the strawberries but it's tasty no matter what

[xaintius.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't mind if you sent that to me via UPS.

X.

[fitfool.livejournal.com]

heh...I wouldn't mind getting some of this in the mail either!

[jessacord.livejournal.com]

What a yummy combination of sweet and salty -- I can't remember the last time I had this.

[fitfool.livejournal.com]

You'll just have to make it then :)

[alchemi.livejournal.com]

That looks really damn yummy.

[fitfool.livejournal.com]

Oh it is...it is very yummy. My neighbor made it better than I do though. My version doesn't seem to have the same zing hers does.

[springsign.livejournal.com]

Hi J.,

I was just wondering about you, how you are doing and all. I hope you're well, and if you're not, I hope you're on you're way to better? ;)

I was just thinking of you and thought I'd say hi. So, hi! And hugs to you.

Robin

[fitfool.livejournal.com]

Hi Robin, Life is indeed getting better. Thanks for thinking of me! I posted some updates today to try to make up for my LJ delinquency.

[onemeatball.livejournal.com]

Hey there. Haven't seen a post from you in a while. I haven't posted much either but I thought I'd just say hi. Hope you're doing okay.

[fitfool.livejournal.com]

I've been very far behind with my LJ. But posted over a few things. Thanks for saying hi! :)

[ukyochan.livejournal.com]

just wanted to pop in and post a hello and to see how you were doing. gosh, that looks good. :D::::: *mems*

[medwriter.livejournal.com]

Hi. Just wondering if I had missed a post. I hope you are doing okay.

[fitfool.livejournal.com]

I've been very delinquent with my LJ. But I posted updates now. Thanks for asking!

Hi,

[gracehatter.livejournal.com]

Just checking in on you. I have not been faithful to my LJ and thus am looking to see what is up with my few friends. Hope you are well, grace

Re: Hi,

[fitfool.livejournal.com]

I've been lax with my LJ too. Just posted updates.

Korean Food Site

[(Anonymous)]

Thought you'd find this site interesting:

http://www.trifood.com/index.html

They don't have recipes for everything, but they do give a description and picture, which can help in Googling the recipe or just knowing what to order in a Korean restaurant.

- Jen from Melrose

[dikubu.livejournal.com]

Hi! Just popping in to say hello, and find out how you're doing! Hope you're taking care of yourself and feeling a bit better. Anyways, take care.

[fitfool.livejournal.com]

Hi there...thanks for checking on me. I posted some updates. :)