Description
Sweet Southern charm meets salty-sweet “Peach Pretzel Salad” in this irresistible dessert that blends creamy layers with crunchy pretzel crust. Refreshing peaches and smooth cream cheese create a delightful summer treat you’ll crave at every gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups pretzels
- 2 cups fresh peaches
- 8 oz cream cheese
Dairy and Sweeteners:
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 cup whipped cream
Stabilizers and Extras:
- 1 package (3 oz) peach gelatin
- 1/2 cup hot water
- 1/2 cup cold water
Instructions
- Crush pretzels into fine, uneven fragments, ensuring a mix of small crumbs and larger pieces for textural complexity.
- Melt butter and combine with crushed pretzels, pressing the mixture firmly into a 9×13 inch baking dish to create a crisp, golden crust.
- Bake the pretzel base at 350°F for 10 minutes, allowing it to develop a deep, toasted flavor and slightly hardened texture.
- In a separate mixing bowl, whip cream cheese and sugar together until the mixture becomes smooth, creamy, and free of lumps.
- Gently fold whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture, creating a light, airy filling that will rest atop the pretzel crust.
- Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over the cooled pretzel base, ensuring complete and uniform coverage.
- Slice fresh peaches into delicate, uniform pieces, arranging them attractively over the cream cheese layer.
- Dissolve peach gelatin completely in hot water, then incorporate cold water to create a vibrant, translucent liquid.
- Carefully pour the gelatin mixture over the peaches, allowing it to seep between fruit layers and create a glossy, set topping.
- Refrigerate the dessert for at least 3 hours, enabling the gelatin to set and flavors to meld together harmoniously.
- Before serving, let the salad rest at room temperature for 5-10 minutes to soften slightly and enhance its creamy texture.
Notes
- Crush pretzels with varying sizes to create an exciting crunch that adds depth and intrigue to each bite.
- Ensure butter is fully melted and evenly distributed when mixing with pretzel crumbs to guarantee a perfectly golden, crisp base.
- Whip cream cheese until completely smooth to prevent any lumpy texture that might disrupt the dessert’s silky consistency.
- For a lighter version, substitute full-fat cream cheese with low-fat alternatives and use sugar-free gelatin to reduce overall calories.
- Gluten-free option works beautifully by replacing traditional pretzels with gluten-free pretzel brands or almond flour-based crusts.
- Enhance fruit flavor by adding a splash of vanilla extract to the cream cheese layer or using fresh peach puree alongside sliced peaches.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg