Made with cheesecake pudding, strawberry jello, whipped cream, and pretzels, this Walking Strawberry Pretzel Salad is a fun, portable version of the classic dessert. Perfect for summer BBQs, graduation parties, baby showers, and more.
Strawberry Pretzel Salad in a Bag
After my walking banana pudding was such a hit, I decided to turn some of my other favorite desserts into portable versions too. This Walking Strawberry Pretzel Salad is a fun version of the classic and great for enjoying a treat while walking so you’re not tied to the table.
To keep things simple, I swapped the traditional cheesecake layer for cheesecake pudding, which adds a lovely smooth, creamy texture to the pretzel salad as well. And while I used homemade whipped cream, you can opt for Cool Whip or canned whipped cream to keep things even easier.
This strawberry pretzel salad in a bag is perfect for gatherings and parties, where there’s just not enough table for everyone. I love to serve them with disposable spoons so there’s virtually no clean up!
Why You’ll Love This No Bake Dessert
Here are a few reasons to love this fun dessert recipe.
- Only 7 ingredients required. You’ll find that the ingredient list for this recipe is short and each ingredient is easy to find.
- Quick prep and assembly. Though you do need to plan enough time for the jello to set, this strawberry pretzel salad takes minimal active time to prepare and assemble.
- Perfect for summer. Full of fresh strawberries, this dessert is perfect for summer, especially BBQs and picnics!
What Is Strawberry Pretzel Salad?
Strawberry pretzel salad is an old fashioned dessert and, as you may have guessed, it’s not really a salad at all. It’s a no bake dessert made with a layer of crushed pretzels, a whipped cream/cheesecake-like filling, and strawberry jello on top. There are also variations like this mandarin orange pretzel salad with an orange twist.
This walking strawberry pretzel salad recipe keeps those classic elements, with a few changes – like cheesecake pudding instead of a cream cheese layer.
Ingredients Needed
This easy no bake dessert requires just 7 simple ingredients.
(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for details and measurements.)
- Strawberry jello – For the strawberry flavor and red color.
- Cheesecake pudding – Be sure to use INSTANT pudding, not cook and serve.
- Milk – Whole milk will give you the best texture.
- Mini pretzels – Purchase the individual 1 ounce bags.
- Heavy whipping cream – The base of the homemade whipped cream.
- Powdered sugar – Sweetens the whipped cream.
- Fresh strawberries – You can’t have strawberry pretzel salad without fresh strawberries!
How to Make Walking Strawberry Pretzel Salad
This easy strawberry pretzel salad recipe requires just a few minutes of hands on and assembly time, though keep in mind the jello needs to be prepared in advance.
(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for details and measurements.)
- Prepare the jello. Prepare the strawberry jello according to package directions. Chill in the fridge until solid, then use a spoon to chop it up.
- Make the pudding. In a separate bowl, whisk the pudding and milk vigorously for 2 minutes, then chill in the fridge to thicken for 5 minutes.
- Make the whipped cream. While the pudding thickens, beat the heavy whipping cream and powdered sugar until stiff peaks form.
- Prepare the pretzel bags. Carefully cut the top of each pretzel bag. Transfer the pretzels to a plastic bag. Reserve a few for garnish and crush the rest. Fold the top of each bag down to form a 1/2″ collar.
- Assemble each bag. Transfer a couple tablespoons of pretzel pieces back into each bag, then top with a spoonful of pudding, a spoonful of jello, a spoonful of whipped cream, and a few strawberry slices. Repeat until the bag is full, finishing with a few whole mini pretzels and strawberry slices.
Tips & Variations
Here are a few things to keep in mind when preparing your walking strawberry pretzel salad, as well as a few variations.
- Make it super fast using prepared ingredients. Prepared Snack Pack pudding and jello cups can be used instead of boxed pudding and jello, if preferred.
- Try it with your favorite whipped topping. You can use Cool Whip or Reddi Whip instead of homemade whipped cream, if preferred to make these even quicker.
- Use a baking dish for easy assembly. To easily fill the pretzel packs, I recommend standing them up in a baking dish with higher sides. This is also a great/easy way to serve them to a group!
Can These Be Prepared In Advance?
You’ll want to serve your walking strawberry pretzel salad soon after assembling, to prevent the layers from running together and the pretzels from becoming soggy. However, remember that the jello needs to set fully so you may want to make that a day in advance for a quick and easy assembly before serving.
More Easy No-Bake Dessert Recipes:
I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!
Walking Strawberry Pretzel Salad
Ingredients
- 1 box (3.4 ounce) strawberry jello gelatin
- 1 box (3.4 ounce) Instant cheesecake pudding
- 2 cups cold whole milk
- 12 individual bags (1 ounce each) mini Pretzels
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 3 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 2 & 1/2 cups fresh strawberries , thinly sliced
Instructions
- Prepare strawberry jello according to package directions and allow it to chill in the fridge until completely solidified. Then use a spoon to chop it up so you can easily spoon and divide between the bags.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the instant cheesecake pudding and milk. Whisk vigorously for 2 minutes until thickened, then place in the fridge for 5 minutes to set.
- While the pudding chills, in another bowl combine the heavy whipping cream and powdered sugar. With an electric mixer, beat until stiff peaks have formed.
- Using scissors, carefully cut the top across the seam of the mini pretzel packs. Empty out the pretzels into a reusable plastic bag (reserve a few per bag for garnish) and lightly crush up the rest.
- Fold over the top opening of the bags to form a 1/2″ collar (this will make the packet a little sturdier for eating out of.)
- Put a couple tablespoons of the pretzel pieces back into the bottom of each Pretzel bag, then top with a spoonful of pudding, a spoonful of strawberry jello, a spoonful of whipped cream, and a couple slices of strawberries. Repeat those layers until full to the top (finishing with a couple whole mini pretzels and strawberry slices for presentation.)(TIP! This is easier if you have a tray or baking dish with higher sides so you can stand them up while filling. It's also a great way to serve them to a group!)
- Serve with some disposable spoons for easy clean up!
