Description
This retro three-layer “salad” balances a salty-sweet crunchy pretzel crust with a tangy cream-cheese–Cool Whip filling, all crowned by a glossy peach-Jell-O layer studded with juicy peaches. Its make-ahead ease and flavor contrast make it a potluck superstar and a refreshing summer treat.
Ingredients
Pretzel Crust
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2 cups (≈6 oz) small pretzel pieces
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⅓ cup granulated sugar
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6 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
Cream Layer
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8 oz (225 g) cream cheese, softened
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¼ cup granulated sugar
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1 tsp vanilla extract
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1 cup (240 g) Cool Whip or thawed whipped topping
Peach Jell-O Topping
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1 (3 oz) package peach-flavored gelatin (Jell-O)
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1 cup boiling water
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1 cup cold water
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1 (15 oz) can sliced peaches in juice, drained and chopped (reserve 2 Tbsp juice)
Instructions
1️⃣ Bake the crust:
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Preheat oven to 350 °F (175 °C).
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In a bowl, toss pretzel pieces with ⅓ cup sugar. Stir in melted butter until evenly moistened.
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Press firmly into the bottom of a 9×13″ pan. Bake 8–10 minutes until fragrant. Cool completely.
2️⃣ Prepare the cream layer:
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In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, ¼ cup sugar, and vanilla until smooth.
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Gently fold in Cool Whip until no streaks remain.
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Spread evenly over cooled crust. Refrigerate while you make the topping.
3️⃣ Make the Jell-O layer:
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In a bowl, whisk gelatin with boiling water until dissolved. Stir in cold water and reserved peach juice.
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Fold in chopped peaches.
4️⃣ Assemble & chill:
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Carefully pour the peach-Jell-O mixture over the cream layer, spreading gently.
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Refrigerate at least 4 hours (or overnight) until fully set.
5️⃣ Serve:
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Slice into bars or squares with a sharp knife. Keep refrigerated until serving.
Notes
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Nutty Twist: Replace half the pretzels with finely chopped toasted pecans.
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Fruit Swaps: Try mandarin oranges with orange Jell-O or mixed berries with berry-flavored gelatin.
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Lighten Up: Use “light” cream cheese and whipped topping.
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Make-Ahead: Assemble through Step 2 up to one day ahead; pour Jell-O layer just before chilling.
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Storage: Keep covered in refrigerator up to 3 days; crust may soften slightly but stays delicious.
Enjoy this nostalgic, sweet-and-salty centerpiece all summer long!
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 4 hrs