Patriotic Walking Jello Pretzel Salad Recipe

Transform a traditional dessert into a simple and irresistible snack with our Red White and Blue Walking Pretzel Salad! Simply upgrade individual pretzel packs with jello and cheesecake filling, then garnish with whipped cream and sprinkles. Easy, budget-friendly, and absolutely charming!

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Strawberry pretzel salad is a classic summer dessert. But why go through the hassle of making a full layered dessert when you can toss everything in a bag and walk away? This simple no-bake Jello pretzel salad features a short list of pre-made ingredients, making it perfect for a quick summer snack. And since it's prepared right in the pretzel bag, it's a quick treat you can whip up in a flash.

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Reasons We Love This Walking Pretzel Jello Salad

Who says dessert has to be complicated? The Walking Pretzel Jello Salad is here to change the game for foodies, dessert enthusiasts, and home cooks alike. This fun, no-bake treat is everything we love about summer desserts and more. Here's why we can't get enough of it:

• It's a Portable Dessert: The Walking Pretzel Jello Salad is made right in individual mini pretzel bags, which means you can simply grab it and go. Perfect for picnics, BBQs, or snacking while chasing the kids around.
• No-Bake = No Hassle: This recipe is completely no-bake, saving you time and energy. It's ideal for those moments when you want something sweet without all the effort.
•  A Perfect Sweet-and-Salty ComboThe crunch of salty pretzels paired with the creamy cheesecake filling and fruity Jello is a flavor mash-up made in dessert heaven.
•  It's Festive and Patriotic: It is decorated with a mix of red Jello cups, blue Jello cups, and patriotic sprinkles. It's the ultimate treat for Memorial Day, the 4th of July, or any summer gathering.
• Kids and Adults Love It Alike: This dessert is as fun to make as it is to eat. With its colorful layers and playful design, it's a hit with kids. Meanwhile, its nostalgic nod to the classic strawberry pretzel salad makes it a win for adults, too.

Looking for more portable snack ideas? Give these reader favorites a try!

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What Do I Need to Make This Jello Pretzel Salad Recipe?

This simple dessert recipe is made using a handful of packaged ingredients, making it a no-muss, no-fuss treat! Mix up your own sweet and salty summer snack for Memorial Day or the 4^th of July using this short list of ingredients:

• Individual mini pretzel bags
• Cheesecake pudding (or homemade cheesecake filling)
• Red Jello cups
• Blue Jello cups
• Reddi Whip or whipped topping
• Patriotic sprinkles

How Do I Make This Jello Pretzel Salad Recipe?

Inspired by the classic layered dessert, this walking pretzel salad is packed with sweet and salty flavor. But since it's deconstructed and made to enjoy on the go, it couldn't be easier to make! Just follow these three simple steps to whip up this easy treat for your next summer get-together.

Step One: Prepare the Pretzels

Prepare cheesecake pudding according to instructions (or make a homemade cheesecake filling). To make this deconstructed dessert, start by cutting the top off each pretzel bag, snipping off around one inch of the bag to leave plenty of room for the rest of the dessert ingredients. Then, while holding the bag shut with one hand, use the other hand to crush the pretzels inside the bag. Simply break the pretzels into small pieces, without completely crushing them into crumbs.

Step Two: Fill the Bags

Once all the pretzels are crushed, open each bag and add around two tablespoons of cheesecake pudding to each bag. Then, use a spoon to break up the Jello in each cup into smaller, bite-sized chunks. Spoon around one tablespoon of blue Jello into each bag, then around one tablespoon of red Jello.

Step Three: Decorate the Individual Desserts

Transfer the whipped topping to a piping bag, if using, then decorate the top of each dessert bag with dollops of whipped cream. Garnish with patriotic sprinkles before serving.

How Do You Store Walking Pretzel Salad?

These individual desserts taste best when they're served right away, so it's not suggested that you store them after you're finished serving the pretzel bags. The pretzels will begin to get soggy the longer the ingredients sit in the bags. It's best to keep the ingredients separated until you're ready to serve the desserts.

Jello Pretzel Salad Recipe Ideas

Since this recipe is simple to make, it's also simple to adjust! Try these recipe ideas to create a unique treat for every party you host this summer.

• Substitute vanilla pudding. The cheesecake pudding is a great option for a quick dessert. But if you don't have any on hand, you can substitute this ingredient with vanilla pudding. Simply use premade cups of pudding to speed up the preparation process.
• Make your own Jello. If you have a little bit of extra time on your hands to make this dessert, you can also prepare your pretzel bags with powdered Jello. Simply follow the instructions on the box to make the Jello, allow it to set, then cut it into bite-sized pieces before adding it to the pretzel bags.
• Mix in some fresh fruit. Give your pretzel dessert a fresh flavor with the addition of some sliced strawberries, raspberries, banana slices, or blueberries. Toss the fresh berries with a small amount of sugar, then spoon them into the bags with the cheesecake and Jello.
• Use salted or unsalted pretzels. Depending on how salty you like your sweet and salty desserts, you can use salted or unsalted pretzels to make your own pretzel salad. Either will taste great when combined with the rest of the dessert ingredients!
• Try different Jello flavors. Red and blue Jello are perfect for a summer party because it adds a patriotic flair to your dessert. But you can swap out those patriotic colors for just about any Jello flavor you want!
• Make your own cheesecake filling. Whip up a fresh, no-bake cheesecake filling to add to your walking pretzel desserts by combining 8 ounces of softened cream cheese with ½ cup sugar and one teaspoon vanilla extract. Then, fold in 1 cup of Cool Whip. Spoon the mixture into the pretzel bags in place of the premade cheesecake filling.
• Add some pie filling. Another fun way to add sweetness to your pretzel salad is with pie filling. Swap the Jello for cherry or strawberry pie filling for a simple addition to this on-the-go dessert.
• Try using Teddy Grahams. Looking to leave out the salty element of this dessert? Grab box of individual bags of Teddy Grams for a quick and easy substitution for the pretzels in this recipe.
  

  Patriotic Walking Jello Pretzel Salad Recipe

  Transform a traditional dessert into a simple and irresistible snack with our Red White and Blue Walking Pretzel Salad! Simply upgrade individual pretzel packs with jello and cheesecake filling, then garnish with whipped cream and sprinkles. Easy, budget-friendly, and absolutely charming!

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  Course: Snack

  Cuisine: 4th of July, American

  Keyword: Patriotic Walking Jello Pretzel Salad Recipe

  Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

  Servings: 10 servings

  Calories: 190kcal

  Equipment

  • Disposable Spoons
  • Scissors
  • Frosting Bag With or Without Tip (optional)

  Ingredients

  • 10 Pack Individual Mini Pretzel Packs 0.92 ounces each bag
  • 1 ¼ Cups Cheesecake Pudding or cheesecake filling (see instructions below)
  • 2 Red Jello Cups
  • 2 Blue Jello Cups
  • Reddi Wip or Whipped Topping
  • Patriotic Sprinkles

  Homemade Cheesecake Filling (this may be substituted for cheesecake pudding)

  • 8 ounces cream cheese softened
  • ½ cup white granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup Cool Whip

  Instructions

  • Using a pair of scissors, cut the top off each pretzel bag off. I will snip about an inch off and then remove more later on, if desired.
  • Hold the open portion of the bag mostly closed and use the other hand to crush the pretzels inside the bag. You don’t want to crush them to dust, just break them into smaller pieces.
  • Dollop about 2 tablespoons of the cheesecake pudding into each bag. You can use a frosting bag to do this or just dollop it in with a spoon.
  • Without removing the jello from the cups, use a spoon to break up the jello so it’s in smaller chunks. Place 1 tablespoon of blue jello into each pretzel bag and then 1 tablespoon of red jello into each bag.
  • Cut the tops of the bags shorter at this point, if desired.
  • Top with as much whipped cream as you prefer.
  • Garnish with a dash of patriotic sprinkles and enjoy!

  Homemade Cheesecake Filling (this can be substituted for the cheesecake pudding)

  • Combine 8 ounces of softened cream cheese with ½ cup sugar and one teaspoon vanilla extract. Then, fold in 1 cup of Cool Whip. Spoon the mixture into the pretzel bags in place of the premade cheesecake filling.

  Notes

  Tips for making the perfect pretzel salad:
  Keep ingredients separated until ready to serve to avoid a mushy mess.
  Consider using vanilla pudding as a substitute for cheesecake filling.
  Choose between salted or unsalted pretzels based on your preference.
  Don't worry about measuring, just dollop ingredients in with a spoon.
  Use a frosting bag for easy assembly and less cleanup.
  Avoid crushing pretzels with sealed bags to prevent mess.

  Nutrition

  Calories: 190kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 9mg | Sodium: 464mg | Potassium: 126mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 2IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 13mg | Iron: 2mg