Pretzel Salad

Name: Pretzel Salad
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: German
Ingredients: 2 cups pretzel twists, coarsely crushed; 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted; 1 cup caramel sauce; 1.25 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips; 4 oz cream cheese, softened; 2 cups heavy whipping cream, cold; 2 tbsp powdered sugar; 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

A deceptive no-bake dessert with a buttery pretzel crust, creamy chocolate-caramel middle, and whipped cream topping. Sweet, salty, and addictive.

40 minEasyServes 8480 cal/serving

GermanDessertOvenStandard

Ingredients

2 cups pretzel twists, coarsely crushed
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 cup caramel sauce
1.25 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
4 oz cream cheese, softened
2 cups heavy whipping cream, cold
2 tbsp powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

1

Preheat oven to 350°F. Combine 2 cups coarsely crushed pretzel twists with 1/4 cup melted unsalted butter and mix well.
2

Press the mixture into the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking pan.
3

Bake for 8-10 minutes until lightly toasted. Remove and let cool slightly.
4

Spread 1 cup caramel sauce over the cooled pretzel crust.
5

Sprinkle 1.25 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips evenly over the caramel.
6

Let sit for 1-2 minutes to soften slightly, then use an offset spatula to spread the melted chocolate in an even layer.
7

In a large bowl, beat 2 cups cold heavy whipping cream until soft peaks form.
8

Add 2 tbsp powdered sugar and 1/2 tsp vanilla extract, and continue beating until stiff peaks form.
9

Gently fold in 4 oz softened cream cheese until fully combined.
10

Spread or layer the whipped cream mixture over the chocolate layer.
11

Chill for at least 2 hours before serving.
12

Cut into squares and serve cold.

Questions

Can I make Pretzel Salad dairy-free?

Yes. The dairy in this entry is 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted, 4 oz cream cheese, softened, 2 cups heavy whipping cream, cold. Swap the butter for olive oil where it melts, or a plant-based block butter where it is creamed; the cheese for a plant-based melting cheese (expect a milder flavor); the cream for full-fat coconut milk or an oat cooking cream. The richness shifts slightly, but the method does not change.

Can I make Pretzel Salad gluten-free?

Yes. The gluten in this entry is 2 cups pretzel twists, coarsely crushed. Swap the bread or crumbs for a gluten-free loaf or gluten-free panko. Everything else proceeds as written.

How long does Pretzel Salad keep?

Store it airtight: two to three days at room temperature or up to a week refrigerated. It freezes for up to two months; thaw at room temperature.

Can I halve or double Pretzel Salad?

Yes. As written it serves 8. Every ingredient in this entry carries precomputed half and double quantities, and the app's batch dial rewrites them inside each step. Doubled, split it across two pans and rotate them halfway; one crowded pan bakes unevenly.

Serve it with

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