Updated
Necessity is the mother of invention and my Sugar Free Strawberry Pretzel Salad recipe is the proof! It is a perfect treat while you are on diet, made with layers of salty and buttery pretzels, low fat cream cheese/whipped cream, and tangy strawberry jello topping. Enjoy the delicious dessert on your favorite Holidays – Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, and beyond without any guilt!
5-Star Review
I made this, and it it was amazing!!! You wouldn’t think it was sugar free at all! It was also one of the easiest desserts I have ever made, and I’ve made a TON of desserts!” -Sonja
Strawberry Pretzel Salad (Sugar Free)
This healthy strawberry pretzel salad is one of my all-time favorites. I’ve swapped out the sugar for Stevia, and am so excited to share how tasty this recipe can be when made a bit healthier.
Don’t be intimidated by the layers or number of ingredients. This healthy strawberry salad with cream cheese is real to make! It’s the perfect side dish all year long round.
Tips for Beginners
- Make a uniform crushed powder for pretzels. It helps form a firm crust.
- Use butter and cream cheese at room temperature.
- Be careful while pouring Jello liquid over the cream cheese layer. It should not mix in the cheesy layer. It is better to use a spoon and slowly add it on top. Also let the Jello liquid settle a bit in its jiggly wiggly form. If you pour while completely liquid, it will reach the crust and make the whole salad soggy.
Sugar Free Strawberry Pretzel Salad
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- 9×13 Baking Pan
- Hand Mixer OR
- Stand Mixer
Ingredients
- ¾ cup salted butter 170 grams, melted (1½ sticks)
- 2 cups crushed pretzels 120 grams (about 4 cups before crushing)
- 3 tablespoons Stevia 4.5 grams (or 38 grams granulated sugar)
- 8 ounces low fat cream cheese 227 grams
- ¾ cup Stevia 18 grams (or 150 grams granulated sugar)
- 8 ounces sugar free whipped topping 226 grams
- 2 cups water 454 grams
- 0.6 ounces sugar free strawberry gelatin mix 17 grams (2 packages)
- 14 ounces frozen strawberries 397 grams, with no sugar added
- 8 ounces crushed pineapple in 100% juice 227 grams (1 can), drained
- sugar-free whipped topping optional, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray. Set aside.
- Mix together the melted butter, crushed pretzels, and 3 tablespoons stevia (or sugar) in a medium-sized bowl.2 cups crushed pretzels, ¾ cup salted butter, 3 tablespoons Stevia
- Pour the pretzel mixture into the baking dish and press down firmly to create a flat, thin layer.Bake the crust for 7-8 minutes, then remove from the oven and allow to fully cool.
- Using a hand mixer or stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat together the cream cheese and ¾ cup stevia.8 ounces low fat cream cheese, ¾ cup Stevia
- Stir in the whipped topping until smooth.8 ounces sugar free whipped topping
- Pour the cream cheese mixture over the pretzel crust and use a spoon or offset spatula to make a smooth layer. Place in the refrigerator to chill for 30-60 minutes.
- Boil the water in a small saucepan. Once boiling, turn off the heat and stir in the gelatin mix. Allow to cool for 10 minutes.2 cups water, 0.6 ounces sugar free strawberry gelatin mix
- Stir in the frozen strawberries and crushed pineapple.14 ounces frozen strawberries, 8 ounces crushed pineapple in 100% juice
- Pour the strawberry mixture over the cream cheese layer and place back in the refrigerator for 6-8 hours, or until the gelatin is fully firmed.
- Slice and serve with a dollop of whipped cream and sliced strawberries!sugar-free whipped topping
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did you make this? Leave a comment!
How to make Strawberry Pretzel Salad Sugar Free Step by Step
Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 400°F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray. Set aside.
Prepare the crust: Mix together 2 cups of crushed pretzels, ¾ cup of salted butter and 3 tablespoons of Stevia (or sugar) in a medium-sized bowl.
Pour the pretzel mixture into the greased baking dish and press down firmly to create a flat, thin layer. Bake the crust for 7-8 minutes, then remove from the oven and allow to fully cool.
Prepare the creamy layer: Using a hand mixer or stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat together the 8 ounces of low fat cream cheese and ¾ cup of Stevia.
In the same bowl, stir in the 8 ounces of sugar free whipped topping until smooth.
Pour the cream cheese mixture over the pretzel crust and use a spoon or offset spatula to make a smooth layer. Place in the refrigerator to chill for 30-60 minutes.
Prepare jello layer: Boil the 2 cups of water in a small saucepan. Once boiling, turn off the heat and stir in the 0.6 ounces of sugar free strawberry gelatin mix. Allow to cool for 10 minutes.
Stir in the 14 ounces of frozen strawberries and 8 ounces of crushed pineapple in 100% juice.
Pour the strawberry mixture over the cream cheese layer and place back in the refrigerator for 6-8 hours, or until the gelatin is fully formed. Be careful and use a spoon to place on the cream cheese layer.
Slice and serve with a dollop of whipped cream and sliced strawberries!
Don’t mind me, I’ll just be eating this Sugar Free Strawberry Pretzel Salad for breakfast, lunch, dinner, AND dessert until Christmas!
How to Store
Transfer leftovers to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 5 days. I do not recommend freezing it.
Serving Suggestions
I’m SO excited about all of our holiday main courses we have been churning out lately! Some favorites (that would be SO tasty with this Strawberry Salad for Christmas, Easter, or Thanksgiving) include: Beef Tenderloin, Instant Pot Pot Roast, Classic Prime Rib, or even Thai Beef Brisket!
Since I shared a recipe for a healthy salad, I would love to show you few more healthy salads that you can enjoy anytime. Pineapple Pretzel Salad, Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes, Honey Glazed Carrots, Watergate Salad (Pistachio Fluff), and Cranberry Salad, are some of my favorites. Enjoy!
This was excellent! I made it for a big Easter dinner with friends. More people like my son & I are not eating sugar any longer and this was wonderful. It’s hard to find good sugar free recipes that don’t have hard to find ingredients. This was so easy to make also! Thank you for the great recipe!
When I go to spread cream cheese the pretzels are not hard and come up from the dis how to thin cream cheese mixture so it pours
Hi Dan, the cream cheese mixture is quite thick. We recommend heaping scoops over the pretzels, then smoothing with a rubber spatula!
Why the pineapple?
We like the acidic contrast it adds. It enhances the strawberry flavor as well!
If I omit the pineapple, can I just replace it w/ extra strawberries? I love strawberry pretzel salad but have never had it w/ pineapple and I’m not the biggest fan of pineapple.
Sure!
Do you think I can use less butter than suggested?
Hi Angie, the butter is necessary to hold together the crust!
Also, made this for 4th of July and put some blueberries on top. So pretty and festive. 🇺🇸❤️💙❤️💙🇺🇸
So happy to hear you loved it, Brenda!
DELISH! My 88 yr old mom lives with me. Sheis diabetic and this is one of her favorites. 😋 And when I read the recipe it did say .6 oz jello. Thanks for this wonderful recipe
So glad you both enjoyed this recipe, Brenda!
Dang I am not sure how the first one posted before I finished and fixed typos. I was wondering if I can use Greek Yogurt in place of the whipping cream. If I can also want to alert individuals with diabetes, I do get a spike in my blood sugars when using any product with fake sugar substitutes. I normally use monk fruit and stevia for that reason. I also know honey is also a good option. It is unfortunate that we have so many sugar free products that use unsafe substitutes.
We haven’t experimented with yogurt, but you could certainly try! Thanks for sharing your experience!
Hi, canned pineapple has no sugar added, so it is safe in moderation for diabetics!
Wonderful sugar-free recipe! Tips: There is an important typo in the ingredient list… should be .6 oz (or 2 boxes of .3 oz) of sugar-free jello. Not 6 oz.
I used Truvia Sweet Complete with Monk Fruit sweetness. Same quantities as the recipe indicated. Use SLICED frozen strawberries. Drain pineapple completely.
This recipe calls for 2 .3-ounce boxes of Jell-O! Thanks for sharing those tips, Anne!
The sugar free jello does weigh a lot less for the same serving size. The big SF version only weighs 0.6 oz for 8.5 servings
Anne and Jaime are right about the jello. Please take a second look and adjust the recipe because that was very confusing.