Vegan Strawberry Pretzel Salad

This vegan strawberry pretzel salad is not a salad in any respect — it is a scrumptious dessert! It begins with a crunchy, salty pretzel crust that is coated in a candy, creamy filling and topped with a recent strawberry layer.

I nonetheless have loads to study regional American delicacies, even if I always develop recipes. Living proof: final vacation season, I requested my Facebook page which basic vacation dessert they needed veganized. I bought so many responses for treats I used to be accustomed to, like vegan tiramisu and vegan shortbread cookies, in addition to ones that had been new to me, like vegan pfeffernüsse (they had been scrumptious!). However one repeated request left me scratching my head — vegan strawberry pretzel salad.

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So many questions! Why put pretzels in a salad? Do not they get soggy? And did not I particularly ask for dessert requests?

Because it seems, strawberry pretzel salad is a dessert. I realized that in components of the Midwest, a dish served chilly is perhaps known as a salad, even when it’s totally a lot not a salad. This one is a layered deal with. It has a pretzel crust — salty, crunchy, candy… good begin. The standard model is made with a filling of cream cheese and Cool Whip, however we’re utilizing a candy cashew and coconut cream filling as an alternative. All of it will get topped off with strawberries embedded in Jell-O, which we’ll be changing with vegan Jell-O.

And whereas the vacations are nonetheless a great distance off as I am posting this, vegan strawberry pretzel salad can also be a wonderful summer time deal with! The cool creamy filling, juicy strawberry topping, and crunchy pretzel crust are scrumptious any time of 12 months, however the mixture is mainly heaven on a sizzling summer time day.

Substances You will Want

Under is an in depth picture tutorial on easy methods to make this dish. Scroll all the way in which down if you would like to skip proper to the recipe!

Pretzels. You should utilize normal skinny pretzels, mini pretzels, or pretzel sticks. Simply avoid thicker varieties like nuggets and rods.
Vegan butter. Most shops will carry this within the fridge case, close to the common butter.
Sugar. Use natural sugar to maintain the recipe vegan.
Uncooked cashews. These will make up a lot of the creamy base for the filling. Make sure that they’re uncooked (not roasted), and be ready to soak them in water to melt them up.
Coconut cream. To not be confused with equally named merchandise, like cream of coconut (why do they do that?). Coconut cream is bought in cans, often close to the canned coconut milk.
Non-dairy milk. You should utilize any unflavored and unsweetened non-dairy milk that you just’d usually drink. Learn my guide to dairy-free milk for those who need assistance selecting.
Coconut oil. Coconut oil solidifies at the next temperature than different oils, so it helps our filling to set. This implies no substitutions. Utilizing refined coconut oil will keep away from any coconut taste in your filling.
Lemon juice.
Vanilla extract.
Salt.
Fruit juice. For max strawberry taste, use a juice that comprises some strawberry. I used a strawberry-kiwi mix. Strawberry lemonade is one other good choice. In case you go along with one other selection, you may most likely need it to be pink, though you possibly can add coloration. You may as well add strawberry extract if it does not have any strawberry taste.
Recent strawberries.

How It is Made

Under is an in depth picture tutorial on easy methods to make this dish. Scroll all the way in which down if you would like to skip proper to the recipe!

Steps 1 & 2: Put together. Preheat your oven to 350°F and grease the within of your 9 x 13-inch baking pan.

Bowl of crushed pretzels mixed with vegan butter and sugar.

Step 3: Combine the crust. Stir crushed pretzels, melted vegan butter, and sugar collectively in a big bowl.

Steps 4 & 5: Press and bake. Press the pretzel combination into the underside of your baking pan and pop it into the oven for about 10 minutes.

Step 6: Cool. Let the crust cool utterly on a cooling rack. You can also make the filling within the meantime.

Blended cashew cream and coconut cream mixture in a blender.

Step 7: Make the filling. Place every thing in a blender or meals processor — soaked uncooked cashews, coconut cream, non-dairy milk, sugar, coconut oil, lemon juice, vanilla, and salt. Mix it up till it is good and clean.

Baking dish with creamy filling layer over a pretzel crust.

Steps 8 & 9: Pour and Chill. Pour the filling over the crust, clean it out, and canopy the pan. Stick it within the fridge for at the very least 4 hours, till it is utterly set.

Whisk and saucepan filled with fruit juice.

Steps 10 & 11: Make the vegan gelatin. Whisk the agar into half of your juice in a saucepan. Warmth it up and let it simmer for two minutes. This prompts the agar. When it is performed, whisk in the remainder of the juice then let it cool till it is simply lukewarm.

Bowl of unset vegan gelatin with fresh strawberries.

Step 12: Add the strawberries. As soon as the combination is lukewarm you possibly can add your sliced berries. The liquid will most likely begin to set from the berries cooling it down, so stir it up and transfer on to the following step instantly.

Vegan Strawberry Pretzel Salad in a baking dish.

Steps 13 & 14: Prime and chill. Unfold the strawberry combination over the filling. Make sure that to unfold it out evenly. Cowl the pan, then chill it till the highest layer is about. It ought to solely take about an hour.

Tip: Topping not gelling? It is tremendous necessary that the liquid simmers for a full 2 minutes in step 10. This prompts the agar, and the topping won’t gel for those who take a shortcut.

Slice of Vegan Strawberry Pretzel Salad with whipped cream and mini pretzel on top.

Step 15: Serve. It is strawberry pretzel salad time! You are about to find that these items is severely higher than the identify would point out. I topped mine with some non-dairy whipped topping, however it’s completely not essential. Slice and dig in.

The best way to Retailer

Vegan strawberry pretzel salad is finest saved within the unique baking dish, coated tightly in plastic. It’s going to hold within the fridge for 3 to 4 days. Since it is best served chilled, this can be a nice make-ahead dessert!

Variations

Gluten-free model. This complete recipe may be made gluten-free for those who use gluten-free pretzels.
Berry swap. You should utilize nearly any kind of berry right here — raspberries, blueberries, blackberries. For that matter, strive a very completely different fruit. Mango pretzel salad, anybody?
Topping variations. Conventional strawberry pretzel salad is made with strawberry Jell-O, however you can also make your topping with any sort of fruit juice. Make it a strawberry-grape pretzel salad, why do not ya?
Cinnamon crust. Add a bit cinnamon to the crust — only a teaspoon or so, a la Auntie Anne’s!

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Recipe

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Prep Time 20

Cook dinner Time 15

Whole Time 5 35

Substances

For the Crust

2 cups crushed pretzels (about 6 ounces — Word 1)
¾ cup vegan butter, melted
¼ cup natural granulated sugar

For the Filling

1 ½ cups uncooked cashews, soaked in water 4-8 hours, drained and rinsed
1 (14 ounce/397 gram) can coconut cream, strong portion solely (discard any liquid within the can)
½ cup unflavored and unsweetened non-dairy milk
⅔ cup natural granulated sugar
¼ cup melted coconut oil
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon salt

For the Topping

2 cups fruit juice, divided (Word 2)
1 ½ teaspoons agar agar powder
1 pound recent strawberries, hulled and sliced

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Grease the within of a 9 x 13-inch baking pan.
To make the crust, add the pretzels, melted butter, and sugar to a big mixing bowl. Stir till well-combined.
Switch the combination to the baking pan, then press it evenly into the underside.
Bake the crust for 10 to 12 minutes, till it darkens simply barely.
Place the crust on a cooling rack and let it cool utterly.
To make the filling, place all substances right into a blender or meals processor, and mix till clean, stopping to scrape down the within of the pitcher or bowl as wanted.
Pour the filling over the pretzel crust and use a spatula to clean out the highest.
Cowl the baking dish and place it within the fridge to relax for at the very least 4 hours, till the filling is totally set.
You can also make the topping as soon as the filling is about (do not make it too quickly or it’ll begin to set). Whisk 1 cup of the juice and agar collectively in a small saucepan and place it over medium warmth. Convey the juice to a boil, scale back the warmth and let it simmer for a full 2 minutes, whisking regularly.
Take away the pot from the warmth and whisk within the remaining cup of juice. Let the combination cool till it is simply lukewarm. Verify on it regularly to verify it hasn’t began to set. In case you discover it setting, transfer on to the following step instantly.
As soon as the juice has cooled to lukewarm, pour it into a big bowl and stir within the strawberries. Work rapidly from this level, because the berries will quiet down the juice and may begin the setting course of, notably if they have been within the fridge.
Pour the topping over the filling, gently smoothing it out and repositioning the berries as wanted.
Cowl the dish and chill till the topping is about, at the very least one hour.
Slice, serve and revel in!

Notes

The best technique to crush your pretzels is to position them in a big bag and crush them with a rolling pin. They do not should be damaged down to only crumbs — hold some bigger bits.
Ideally use a fruit juice with some strawberry in it. I used a strawberry-kiwi mix and it labored properly. Fruit punch will work, however you might wish to add some strawberry extract. You may as well add just a few drops of pink meals coloring if the colour is barely off (though I might stick to juices within the pink or pink vary). You might also wish to add some sugar to style in case your juice is not very candy.