Raspberry Jello Pretzel Dessert

Can I just take a moment to talk about the complete deliciousness that is this Raspberry Jello Pretzel Dessert?  It’s fan-flipping-tastic!  I just made up a new word, and I’m totally loving it.  🙂

I’ve seen a bunch of recipes floating around Pinterest for this wonderful side dish that’s often called a jello “salad”, but my Mom handed down a recipe card for this delectableness that came from a family member. So I gave our version a try and it is worthy of praise, bows, and whatever other celebratory words and actions you could possibly give it.

It does require some prep time, just because of the whole layer thing and allowing it to set in between, but I promise you it’s SO worth it!

1/2 cup butter

1 1/2 cups crushed pretzels

4 Tbsp. sugar

8 oz. cream cheese

1/2 cup sugar

8 oz. Cool Whip

1 large pkg (6 oz.) raspberry JELL-O

2 cups boiling water

1 (12 oz.) pkg. frozen raspberries

Melt butter, add pretzels and sugar.  Mix well and press into a 9×13″ pan.  Bake 10 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.  Let cool.

Mix cream cheese, sugar, and Cool Whip.  Spread on top of pretzel crust.  Let set in fridge.

Stir JELL-O with boiling water until the mixture fully dissolves.  Let cool quite a bit at room temperature, just until you see that the steam has mostly stopped emitting, then add raspberries.  Pour on top of cream cheese layer.  Spread it around so it’s even.  Let set in the refrigerator.

A crunchy crushed pretzel crust with a creamy whipped cream cheese middle layer, followed by the “cherry” on top, a cool, raspberry jello finish.  I can’t get enough of the whole raspberries floating around inside, too!

This, folks, is what you call perfection!  Because of its gorgeous red and white colors, it also doubles wonderfully as a holiday dessert!  I’m thinking I’ll make up another pan for our Christmas Eve baked ham dinner.  Oh, my mouth is watering already just thinking about it!

My son peeled off the jello layer and ate the other part separately, just so he could watch it jiggle on his fork.  🙂  I can’t blame him.  It’s kind of fun!

Whoever came up with jello is genius!  We don’t eat it often around our house, but when we do, we really make it count by dressing it up with other yummy complimentary ingredients.

I love confections that are both beautiful and scrumptious, and this is definitely one of those.

Eat it the first day for optimal pretzel crunchy-ness!  This incredible raspberry jello treat will definitely become a new holiday dinner tradition at our house!  I don’t think I’ll be able to resist eating it all year round too!

Enjoy!