Strawberry Pretzel Squares

My aunt makes “Strawberry Pretzel Salad” every year for the holidays and my mom absolutely loves it!  When she saw this recipe in one of my recipes books, she requested I make it, so I did.  It was a hit :)

From:  Kraft Foods
Prep Time: 25 min  Total Time: 4 hr 55 min     Makes: 20 servings

 

What You Need!

2 cups finely crushed pretzels
1/2 cup  sugar, divided
2/3 cup butter or margarine, melted
1-1/2 pkg.  (8 oz. each) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
2 Tbsp. milk
1 cup  thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping
2 cups boiling water
1 pkg.  (6 oz.) JELL-O Strawberry Flavor Gelatin
1-1/2 cups cold water
1 qt.  (4 cups) strawberries, sliced

 

Make It!

HEAT oven to 350°F.
MIX pretzel crumbs, 1/4 cup sugar and butter. Press onto bottom of 13x9-inch pan. Bake 10 min. Cool.
BEAT cream cheese, remaining sugar and milk until blended. Stir in COOL WHIP; spread over crust. Refrigerate.
ADD boiling water to gelatin mix in large bowl; stir 2 min. until completely dissolved. Stir in cold water. Refrigerate 1-1/2 hours or until thickened (spoon drawn through leaves definite impression). Stir in strawberries; spoon over cream cheese layer. Refrigerate 3 hours or until firm.
My Notes:

• I didn’t crush up the pretzels as finely as it directed, but it still tasted good (although it was not near as pretty as the picture)
• I used as much lowfat stuff as possible:
• Skim Milk
• Reduced Fat Cream Cheese
• Lite Cool Whip
• I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter Cooking Butter