Name: No-Bake Pineapple Pretzel Salad
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 3 min
Total time: 18 min
Ingredients: 8 ounces cream cheese (softened); 1/2 cup sugar; 8 ounces Cool Whip (thawed); 20 ounce can crushed pineapple (well-drained); 1 stick butter (melted); 1 1/2 cups pretzels (broken into pieces); 1/4 cup sugar

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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!

Bowl of no-bake pineapple pretzel salad next to whole pineapple

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 baked in a crust, but heating them for three minutes in the microwave to become carmelized 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.

Close up pineapple fluff with candied pretzels sprinkled on top

Pineapple Pretzel Salad

This recipe is similar to Strawberry Pretzel Salad that I’ve made many times and will have to dig out of the archives soon. 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 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.

Pineapple pretzel fluff in white bowl next to serving spoon & whole pineapple

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 mixer, mix together 1/2 cup sugar and cream cheese.
Add Cool Whip and pineapple and refrigerate a few hours or overnight.
Mix melted butter, crushed pretzels and 1/4 cup sugar together.
Microwave 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.

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Other Easy No-Bake Dessert Recipes

Printable Recipe for No-Bake Pineapple Pretzel Salad