Description

This Blackberry Pretzel Dessert is a delightful layered treat featuring a crunchy pretzel crust, creamy sweetened cream cheese filling, and a fruity blackberry Jell-O topping with fresh berries. Perfectly chilled and garnished with extra pretzel pieces and blackberries, it’s an easy make-ahead dessert that balances sweet, tart, and salty flavors with a variety of textures.

Ingredients

Scale

Crust

2 cups crushed pretzels
3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
1/4 cup granulated sugar

Cream Cheese Layer

8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
1 cup whipped topping (such as Cool Whip)

Blackberry Jell-O Layer

1 (6 oz) package blackberry-flavored Jell-O
2 cups boiling water
1/2 cup cold water
2 cups fresh blackberries (or thawed frozen blackberries)

Topping and Garnish

1 cup whipped topping (such as Cool Whip)
Fresh blackberries (optional, for garnish)
Pretzel pieces (optional, for garnish)

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Instructions

Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the pretzel crust.
Prepare and bake the crust: In a medium bowl, mix together the crushed pretzels, melted unsalted butter, and granulated sugar until well combined. Press this mixture evenly into the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish. Bake for 10 minutes until set and aromatic, then remove from oven and let it cool completely to firm up before adding the filling.
Make the cream cheese layer: Using a mixer, beat the softened cream cheese with powdered sugar until completely smooth and creamy. Gently fold in 1 cup of whipped topping to create a light, airy filling. Spread this mixture evenly over the cooled pretzel crust. Refrigerate to chill and set while preparing the next layer.
Prepare the blackberry Jell-O layer: Dissolve the blackberry-flavored Jell-O powder in 2 cups of boiling water, stirring until fully dissolved. Then stir in 1/2 cup of cold water and allow the mixture to cool slightly but not set. Fold in the fresh or thawed blackberries carefully to distribute them evenly. Pour this cooled Jell-O and blackberry mixture over the cream cheese layer in the dish. Place back in the refrigerator to chill and fully set, usually about 2 hours or until firm.
Add the topping and garnish: Once the Jell-O layer has fully set, spread the remaining 1 cup of whipped topping over the dessert evenly. Garnish the top with additional fresh blackberries and pretzel pieces if desired to add extra visual appeal and flavor contrast. Serve chilled for best texture and taste.

Notes

Ensure the pretzel crust cools completely before adding the cream cheese layer to prevent melting and mixing layers.
You can substitute fresh blackberries with frozen blackberries thawed and drained.
For a less sweet option, reduce the sugar amounts slightly according to taste.
This dessert needs refrigeration to set properly; plan ahead for at least 2 hours chilling after layering.
Use full-fat cream cheese and whipped topping for the best creamy texture.
Garnishes are optional but add a nice finishing touch and textural contrast.