Candied pretzel pieces are sprinkled over a whipped topping and cream cheese fluff to become the BEST No-Bake Pineapple Pretzel Salad.
If there was an official must have dish for all potlucks, holiday meals and parties this would be it! People will ask for the recipe because it is unbelievably creamy and delicious!
Also Called Pineapple Pretzel Fluff
Whipped topping and cream cheese mix together to create a fluffy base. Pretzels are microwaved in butter and sugar until they become candied. The sweet and salty pretzel pieces are sprinkled over the fluff for one of the most addictive dessert salads we’ve eaten!
I love that two simple mixtures make one of the best flavor combinations for a light dessert. These mixtures can each be prepared the day before. Wait until it’s time to serve to sprinkle the candied pretzels over top of the fluff. Mixing them too soon will result in soggy pretzels.
No-bake desserts save precious time and effort. Typically the pretzels would be oven baked in a crust, but heating them for three minutes in the microwave to become caramelized is such a time saver.
A few of our other favorite no-bake desserts are Strawberry Banana Split Cake, Peanut Butter Cookies, Chocolate & Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats, Almond Bark Specials, Angel Food Cake Trifle and 5 Ingredient Chocolate & Peanut Butter Bars.
Pineapple Pretzel Salad
This recipe is similar to Strawberry Jello Pretzel Salad that I’ve made many times for Easter or other holidays. It also makes me think of a dessert salad my mom makes calls Watergate Salad with the colored marshmallows and a pudding mix. I like Pineapple Pretzel Fluff because it’s sweeter and has fruit in it.
The sweetest dessert salads I’ve had came from my Grandma. She always made 7 Up Jello Salad which is sweet, rich and refreshing! Cherry Coke Jello Salad which is much sweeter and features cherry pie filling, cherry gelatin and cherry coke was another speciality. Again I think this pineapple fluff salad has the perfect balance and is the BEST dessert salad.
A friend shared this recipe with me because it’s a family favorite. I was skeptical that it was too simple to be impressive until I gave it a try. Never again will I underestimate a sweet and salty pretzel fluff.
The light, fluffy and sweet citrus flavors remind us of our other tropical recipes: Pina Colada Cake and Orange Cake with Pineapple Icing.
Tips for Making Pretzel Fluff
- To use as a side dish and light dessert use crushed pineapple in natural juices
- Drain pineapple well in a strainer, not just in the can or you will have more of a pineapple soup than a pineapple fluff
- Well-drained pineapple will help the pineapple pretzel salad set-up properly
- Defrost frozen topping in the refrigerator overnight for the best quality
- To make this pretzel salad ahead of time mix up each of the two components, but keep them separate until serving time & know that candied pretzels may stick together and need broken up again
- Mix candied pretzels and fluff just before serving to prevent pretzels from becoming soggy
- Break pretzels in a zip lock bag that is not completely sealed to allow air to release
- If using a rolling pin be careful not to make crumbs of the pretzels
- Both mixtures can be stirred together to accomplish the same amazing taste, but the look if very plain because everything is white like the whipped topping
- Garnishing with candied pretzels looks much more attractive
Pineapple Pretzel Salad Recipe
- Using a large bowl and a mixer, mix together 1/2 cup sugar and cream cheese.
- Fold in or slowly mix Cool Whip and pineapple. Then refrigerate a few hours or overnight.
- Mix melted butter, crushed pretzels and 1/4 cup sugar together.
- Microwave crushed pretzel mixture for 3 minutes, stirring after each minute.
- Allow to cool and stir occasionally to prevent sticking together.
- Stir together with first mixture just before serving.
Other Easy No-Bake Dessert Recipes
- Best No-Bake Peanut Butter Cookies
- Cottage Cheese with Pineapple Salad
- Classic Cookie Salad
- St. Patrick’s Day
- Easy Christmas Tree Treats
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats
Printable Recipe for No-Bake Pineapple Pretzel Salad
No-Bake Pineapple Pretzel Salad
Ingredients
Pineapple Fluff
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 8 ounces Cool Whip thawed
- 20 ounce can crushed pineapple well-drained
Candied Pretzel Topping
- 1 stick butter melted
- 1 1/2 cups pretzels broken into pieces
- 1/4 cup sugar
Instructions
Pineapple Fluff
- Mix together softened cream cheese and 1/2 cup sugar.
- Add Cool Whip and pineapple. Refrigerate for a few hours or overnight.
Candied Pretzel Topping
- Mix together melted butter, pretzels and remaining sugar in a microwave safe bowl with room to stir.
- Microwave for 3 minutes, stirring after each minute.
- Allow to cool and stir occasionally as it cools so it won't stick together.
- Mix with first mixture just before serving.
Notes
- To use as a side dish and light dessert use crushed pineapple in natural juices
- Drain pineapple well in a strainer, not just in the can or you will have more of a pineapple soup than a pineapple fluff
- Well-drained pineapple will help the pineapple pretzel salad set-up properly
- Defrost frozen topping in the refrigerator overnight for the best quality
- To make this pretzel salad ahead of time mix up each of the two components, but keep them separate until serving time & know that candied pretzels may stick together and need broken up again
- Mix candied pretzels and fluff just before serving to prevent pretzels from becoming soggy
- Break pretzels in a zip lock bag that is not completely sealed to allow air to release
- If using a rolling pin be careful not to make crumbs of the pretzels
- Both mixtures can be stirred together to accomplish the same amazing taste, but the look if very plain because everything is white like the whipped topping
- Garnishing with candied pretzels looks much more attractive
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Nutrition
Shared on Weekend Potluck
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