Description
Sweet and salty Strawberry Pretzel Salad Parfaits blend creamy cheesecake layers with crunchy pretzel crumbs and fresh strawberries. Perfectly balanced dessert delivers refreshing summer vibes you’ll crave after one delightful spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
Fresh Strawberries:
- 12 to 14 strawberries
Main Base Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups mini pretzels
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
Seasoning and Binding Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons butter (melted)
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/8 teaspoon imitation strawberry extract
- Scant 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Macerate strawberries by combining with granulated sugar and refrigerate for 30 minutes to release natural sweetness and juices.
- Crush pretzels into small fragments using food processor, avoiding complete pulverization. Blend with melted butter and cinnamon until evenly distributed.
- Whip heavy cream to stiff peak consistency, carefully avoiding overbeating. Fold in brown sugar, vanilla, and strawberry extracts gently to maintain cream’s airy texture.
- Create visually appealing parfait layers in clear glasses by alternating whipped cream mixture, macerated strawberries, and pretzel crumble. Build layers systematically until glasses are filled.
- Enhance presentation by topping each parfait with delicate whipped cream swirl, fresh strawberry slice, and decorative pretzel piece. Serve chilled for optimal flavor and texture experience.
Notes
- Macerate strawberries beforehand to intensify their natural sweetness and create a more vibrant, syrupy texture.
- Use room temperature ingredients when whipping cream to achieve smoother, more stable peaks with better volume.
- Crush pretzels coarsely to maintain a delightful crunch and prevent a powdery texture in the parfait layers.
- For gluten-free version, substitute regular pretzels with gluten-free pretzels or crushed gluten-free graham crackers.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 370 kcal
- Sugar: 19 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 31 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg