PRESSED AND DRESSED STRAWBERRY PRETZEL SALAD

PRESSED AND DRESSED STRAWBERRY PRETZEL SALAD

3 cups crushed and chunky pretzels
1 1/2 stick butter, (melted)
4  or more tablespoons white granulated sugar
2 reg  package cream cheese, softened
2 1/2 cups confectionary sugar

tsp vanilla
1 16 oz  cool whip carton , thawed but still thick (partially thawed)
2 (3 ounce) packages strawberry gelatin or one large package
2 cups boiling water

1 cup cold water

2 packages 1 pound frozen strawberries can use fresh (slice them thinner)

Preheat oven to 350F.

Make Crust

crush your pretzels.. leaving some fine and some with a crunch can do by hand or use a food processor

slightly microwave one stick of butter,

Stir together crushed pretzels, melted butter and 3 tablespoons white sugar;

mix well and press mixture into bottom of 9×13-inch baking dish.

Then sprinkle more granulated sugar on top

and a sprinkle of brown sugar press down with palm of hand.

Bake 8 – 10 minutes, until set; set aside to cool.

FILLING

in separate bowl  cream together cream cheese and confectionary sugar. add vanilla

Fold in whipped topping. (refrigerate while your waiting for the crust to cool)

Then  Spread mixture onto cooled crust.

put in fridge to chill while you work on the rest…

TOPPING

Prepare your strawberries.. using 2 – 1 lb. bags of frozen strawberries or 2-3 packs fresh..

you can leave some whole but most of them slice thinner.

sprinkle about 1/4 cup granulated sugar over the strawberries to sweeten

Next boil 2 cups of water on the stove in medium sauce pan

Dissolve 2 small boxes of strawberry gelatin in boiling water.

Stir in frozen strawberries and  let set for one minute. turn off heat (can add crushed pineapple if desire)

put mixture in fridge to chill and let partially set up then pour over chilled cream cheese mixture

refrigerate over night until set

Ready to Serve =)