I love this Jello Salad, and I'm so glad you have it out here! I had lost my recipe, but here it is! Thanks so much! :*)

Just a quick question, is the cream cheese supposed to be at room temperature or straight from the fridge?!

I just made the salad and I think that I ate more of the ingredients before they got in the bowl but hope it goes over well tomorrow! Umm The sugar cool whip and cream Cheese mix. I licked the bowl clean. It was delicious!

My family wrestles for the mixer beaters after I've made the second layer! What I like most about this recipe is it's very difficult to mess it up. Probably the worst thing you can do (besides burning the bottom layer) is putting the second layer on before the first layer has completely cooled. This dessert is always a hit and there are never leftovers!

My mom makes it every year and people are always wanting to take the leftovers home because we dont have a big family and my mom usually makes a lot. It doesnt all get eaten for the dinner but they bicker over which one takes the leftovers home. It tastes very good and is usually the hit of the desserts. It is easy to make and is a very good dessert.

I just made this for the first time. Do you put in the cold water to the jello or just the hot?? I'm guessing just the hot since the strawberries are still partially frozen. That's how I did it this time but I would like to know cause something tells me I'll be making this again. Thanks alot for your help.

I add crushed pineapple with strawberries, saving juice to add as cold portion, then follow the directions for hot so the jello will dissolve. Thaw the strawberries before you make it.

Sondra. When heat the jello, I actually put in the frozen strawberries to defrost. Also, I let the hot jello cool for 10-15 minutes before I pour the jello on top of the pretzel/cream cheese base.

I use sugar free raspberry jello with well drained pineapple. I also use fat-free cool whip and reduced fat cream cheese. Instead of sugar in the crust I used Blue Agave sweetener in the crust... everyone enjoys the dessert with less fat and sugar! YUMMY!

If I make this recipe about 36 hours before serving it, will the pretzel layer get soggy?

Hi Jan,

It won't taste as fresh, and yes, the pretzels may be a little bit soggy. For best taste, prepare this 3-12 hours before serving.

-- CM

The main thing is to make sure the pretzel layer is completely covered with the Cool whip/cream cheese/sugar layer to keep the pretzels from getting soggy, especially in the corners. Every bit has to be covered or the jello goes to the bottom. This dessert is delicious! I also see variations in the above comments here that I will have to try as well.

I only have one word to say, AWESOME!

I go Loco over this dessert every time I make it. I hide it from my family in the dishwasher. It is so good. I can't stop thinking about it right now. I will go right this down in my journal. LOVE IT!

LOCO

I love this dessert!! Someone brought it to our church Valentines celebration last night. I can't wait to make it, and when I do I will add sliced bananas in addition to the frozen strawberries. I also love dark berries and think they would be wonderful too!!!

Made this for a green-themed St Patty's day party and used Lime Jello instead... it went fast and people raved about it:) In the future I would stick to strawberry or another red jello, because the green looked a little muddy once the strawberries were added... it tasted great, however!!

Karen, maybe for green jello use Kiwi.

Regarding the use of kiwi in the jello, I believe I've read not to use kiwi or fresh pineapple. Something about the enzymes causing the gelatin to break down. Anyway... I love this very versatile dessert... easy and yummy!

You could always add marshmallows to the lime jello. And yes, the enzymes on fresh pineapple (I've never heard of kiwi, but that sounds right) will break down the gelatin, but canned works fine.

It is fresh pineapple, fresh kiwi, and fresh mango that interfere with with gelatin jelling.

My d-i-l makes this for gatherings. It is always a huge hit! My son, who doesn't like cream cheese, raves about this dish. (He doesn't realize there is cream cheese in it). It is definitely YUMMY!

My mom has been making this for as long as I can remember, but we never put fruit in the jello. The beauty of this recipe is that the jello is flexible! My brother hates berries, so she usually made it with lime or orange flavored jello. Now we almost always make it with raspberry jello.

Does anyone else have a problem sealing the second layer over the first so the jello doesn't get into the pretzels?

A friend of mine has celiacs disease so this recipe can easily be made with gluten free pretzels (which are readily available in stores now). That makes this a wonderful dessert that EVERYONE can enjoy!

I love this dessert! I had a colleague make it for a college party/school function - like 7-8 years ago! And I just had the mind to make it. I am on the same page with Erica from Florida... how do you get the jello not to seep into the pretzels and 2nd layer? I am going to see how it turns out, but in honor of independence day, will decorate the top like the American flag using extra whipped cream and blueberries...