Description
Lemon Pretzel Salad is a delightful layered dessert featuring a crunchy pretzel crust baked to perfection, topped with a creamy sweetened cream cheese layer, and finished with a tangy lemon pudding and whipped topping mixture. This no-fuss dessert combines salty and sweet flavors for a refreshing treat perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Crust
- 2 cups crushed pretzels
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
- 1/4 cup sugar
Cream Cheese Layer
- 1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
Lemon Pudding Layer
- 1 package (3.4 oz) instant lemon pudding mix
- 1 1/2 cups cold milk
- 1 container (8 oz) whipped topping (like Cool Whip)
- 1/4 cup sugar
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the pretzel crust.
- Make Crust Mixture: In a medium bowl, combine the crushed pretzels, melted butter, and 1/4 cup sugar. Stir thoroughly until all ingredients are well blended.
- Form Crust: Press the pretzel mixture evenly into the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish, ensuring a uniform crust layer.
- Bake Crust: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake the crust for 10 minutes. Once baked, remove and let it cool completely to set.
- Prepare Cream Cheese Layer: In a separate bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with powdered sugar until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Spread this evenly over the cooled pretzel crust.
- Make Lemon Pudding Layer: In another bowl, whisk together the lemon pudding mix, cold milk, and 1/4 cup sugar until thickened. Gently fold in the whipped topping until well combined and fluffy.
- Assemble Dessert: Spread the lemon pudding mixture evenly over the cream cheese layer, smoothing the surface for an appealing finish.
- Chill: Refrigerate the assembled dessert for at least 2 hours or until fully set to allow flavors to meld and layers to firm up.
- Serve: Slice and serve chilled. Enjoy the perfect balance of sweet and salty flavors in this refreshing dessert!
Notes
- Ensure the cream cheese is softened for easy mixing and a smooth layer.
- Cool the pretzel crust completely before adding the cream cheese layer to prevent melting.
- For best results, refrigerate the dessert overnight to enhance set and flavor melding.
- You can substitute the instant lemon pudding mix with homemade lemon gelatin or pudding if preferred.
- This dessert is best served chilled and stored in the refrigerator.
