Description
A festive, no-bake dessert featuring a salty pretzel crust, a creamy middle layer, and vibrant red and blue Jell‑O with fresh berries. Perfect for summer celebrations like the 4th of July.
Ingredients
- 3 cups pretzels
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 8 oz whipped topping, thawed
- 1 (3 oz) box blue raspberry Jell‑O
- 1 (3 oz) box strawberry or cherry Jell‑O
- 1/2 cup fresh blueberries (optional)
- 1 cup sliced fresh strawberries (optional)
- 2 cups boiling water (1 cup per Jell‑O)
- 2 cups cold water (1 cup per Jell‑O)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Crush pretzels, then mix with sugars and melted butter. Press into a greased 9×9″ dish. Bake 8–10 minutes, then cool completely.
- Beat cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Fold in whipped topping. Spread evenly over cooled crust, sealing edges. Chill at least 30 minutes.
- Dissolve blue Jell‑O in 1 cup boiling water, then add 1 cup cold water. Cool to room temperature. Pour over cream layer. Add blueberries if using. Chill ~3 hours until set.
- Repeat with red Jell‑O. Cool, pour over set blue layer. Add strawberries if using. Chill another 4 hours or overnight until firm.
- Slice into squares, serve chilled, and optionally garnish with whipped cream or extra berries.
Notes
- Use frozen berries if fresh aren’t available—just thaw and drain them.
- For more servings, use a 9×13 pan; layers will be thinner.
- Chill each Jell‑O layer completely before adding the next to avoid mixing.
- Serve within 1–2 days for best crust texture.
- Add festive toppings like sprinkles or flag picks for flair.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 square
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 24g
- Sodium: 270mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
