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Walking Strawberry Pretzel Salad

This recipe creates a portable, deconstructed version of the classic strawberry pretzel salad. It combines salty crushed pretzels with creamy vanilla pudding, sweet strawberry Jell-O, and fresh strawberries, topped with whipped cream. It's a quick, no-bake dessert perfect for on-the-go enjoyment, offering a delightful balance of sweet, salty, and creamy textures.
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 2 people
Calories 2498.4 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Large Mixing Bowl For combining components if not layering directly into bags.
  • 1 Spatula or Spoon For scooping and layering ingredients.
  • 1 Paring Knife For chopping fresh strawberries.
  • 1 Cutting Board For safely chopping strawberries.
  • 2 Snack bags/cups Original pretzel bags or small clear cups for serving.

Ingredients
  

Main

  • 2 1.5-oz. bags mini pretzels (such as Snyder’s)
  • 1 5.5-oz. pkg. vanilla pudding (such as Snack Pack)
  • 1 3.25-oz. pkg. strawberry jello (such as Jell-O)
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh strawberries plus more for garnish
  • 1/2 cup frozen whipped topping thawed (such as Cool Whip) or whipped cream

Instructions
 

  • Gently crush the mini pretzels directly in their bags, or transfer them to a bowl and lightly crush them for a varied texture.
  • Chop the fresh strawberries into small pieces, reserving a few for garnish if desired.
  • Ensure the frozen whipped topping is fully thawed in the refrigerator.
  • Open one bag of crushed mini pretzels and spoon about half of the crushed pretzels into the bag, forming the base layer.
  • Carefully squeeze or spoon approximately half of one vanilla pudding snack pack over the pretzel layer.
  • Follow with about half of one strawberry jello snack pack, spooning it gently over the pudding.
  • Add a generous portion of the chopped fresh strawberries on top of the jello layer.
  • Dollop about half of the thawed whipped topping onto the strawberry layer.
  • Repeat steps 4-8 with the second bag of pretzels and remaining ingredients, creating layered desserts in each bag.
  • Garnish each "walking salad" with extra fresh strawberry pieces if desired, and serve immediately for best texture.

Notes

To maintain the critical crunch of the pretzels, ensure they are added just before serving or layered strategically within the individual bags. Pre-crushing them slightly can also enhance the texture contrast. For a richer, more vibrant strawberry flavor, consider macerating the chopped strawberries with a touch of sugar for 10-15 minutes before adding them. Always ensure the whipped topping is fully thawed but still chilled to achieve the desired creamy consistency. For enhanced presentation in a "walking" format, layer the components, starting with pretzels, then pudding, Jell-O, strawberries, and a dollop of whipped topping, repeating as space allows. Chilling the assembled components briefly before serving will help everything set and meld flavors.