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

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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.

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Questions

What oven temperature does Pretzel Salad need?

For Pretzel Salad, the oven is set to 350 F (about 175 C) in step 1. The longest stretch at that heat is 10 minutes, in step 3.

Why fold instead of stir in Pretzel Salad?

Step 9 reads: "Gently fold in 4 oz softened cream cheese until fully combined." Folding keeps the air you just beat in. Stirring at step 9 would knock it out and the result would come out dense.

Can I make Pretzel Salad dairy-free?

Yes. The dairy in Pretzel Salad 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 Pretzel Salad 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 do I store and reheat Pretzel Salad?

Store Pretzel Salad 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.

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