Cranberry Pretzel Salad Recipes Whip up this cranberry pretzel salad for the holidays—it’s a total vibe! The salty pretzel crust brings the perfect crunch, while the sweet, creamy layers keep it smooth. Toss in that cranberry sauce for a tart pop, and boom—it’s holiday-ready!

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Reasons You’ll Love Cranberry Pretzel Salad Recipes

Holiday MVP: Need a festive dish for the holidays? This one’s a winner! Works as a side or dessert, and trust me, everyone’s gonna crush it.
Sweet & Salty Vibes: This cranberry pretzel salad hits all the right notes—sweet, salty, and just the right amount of tart. Every bite’s a flavor bomb!
Prep Like a Pro: Holidays can get wild, so make this bad boy 1-2 days ahead. More chill time for you to hang with the fam!

Ingredients in Cranberry Pretzel Salad Recipes

Cranberry pretzel salad is the ultimate holiday side dish with simple ingredients that scream festive vibes! The cranberry sauce gives it that holiday flavor boost. Check out the recipe card below for the full deets.
Pretzels: Crushed up pretzels make the best salty base for this sweet treat!
Brown Sugar: Adds just the right touch of sweetness to the crust.
Butter: Holds the crust together like a champ.
Raspberry Gelatin: Can’t find raspberry? Cranberry gelatin works too—if you can score it!
Cranberry Sauce: Just one can gives all the holiday feels.
Cream Cheese: The creamy layer’s MVP with a tangy kick.
Granulated Sugar: Sweetens up the creamy layer perfectly.
Whipped Topping: Cool Whip’s easy, but homemade whipped cream takes it next level!

How to Make Cranberry Pretzel Salad Recipes Salad

This creamy, sweet cranberry pretzel salad is the ultimate holiday side or dessert! It’s a breeze to whip up, perfect to prep ahead, and a fun twist on the classic pretzel salad. Your crew will totally dig this cranberry-loaded version!

Mix Up the Crust: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Toss the crushed pretzels, brown sugar, and melted butter in a bowl until it’s all mixed up.

Bake It Off: Press that buttery pretzel mix into a greased 13×9-inch pan. Bake it for 8 minutes, then pull it out and let it cool completely.

Jello Time: While the crust’s in the oven, make the jello following the box instructions. Stir in the cranberry sauce to take it up a notch. Let the jello chill at room temp for about an hour until it cools down

Mix It Up: Grab a hand mixer and beat the cream cheese and sugar in a big bowl until it’s super smooth and creamy.

Fold in the Cool Whip: Gently fold in the Cool Whip until everything’s all blended together like a dream.

Layer It On: Spread that creamy mix over the pretzel crust, making sure you cover it edge-to-edge to keep the jello from sneaking through. Pop it in the fridge to chill while the jello cools down.

Pour and Chill: Once the jello’s cooled, pour it nice and slow over the cream cheese layer. Spread out the cranberry chunks to look just right. Let it chill in the fridge for at least 4 hours or overnight.

Serve It Up: When you’re ready to dig in, top it off with a dollop of whipped cream and maybe a cranberry for that extra festive vibe. Enjoy!

Tips For Success

This recipe is a holiday lifesaver! Perfect for those busy days when you need something ready to go. Just pop it in the fridge, and it’ll be ready to wow your guests.

Fridge-Friendly: Keep it fresh by storing it in the refrigerator, tightly wrapped in plastic. It’ll stay good for up to 3 days.
Plan Ahead: For the best results, whip this up a day ahead. It needs at least 4 hours to chill and set, but letting it sit overnight makes it even better!