Strawberry Pretzel Bars

Some recipe contest entries are completely unique and deserve awards just for their creativity. Strawberry pretzel bars, a runner-up in our Strawberry Desserts contest, is a case in point. This dessert combines a crust made from salty, crunchy pretzels with a rich cream cheese base topped with strawberries suspended in gelatin. Odd as it sounds, the flavors and textures blend perfectly here. When we made Judith’s recipe, here’s what we discovered:

Test Kitchen Discoveries

• Salty pretzel crumbs combined with brown sugar and butter make as crisp a crust as graham crackers. The saltiness accents the flavor of the fresh strawberries and cuts the sweetness of the cream cheese filling.
• Prepare the gelatin with white grape juice for a neutral-flavored, transparent gelatin that won’t compete with the flavor of the strawberries.
• Make sure the gelatin completely dissolves when warm; otherwise there may be lumpy bits suspended in it.