Pineapple Pretzel Salad

Is it the crunchy salt pretzels or the creamy dreamy topping we’re most obsessed with? Hard to say, but this Pineapple Pretzel Salad is a Midwestern treat that is always a show stopper.

 

This is a potluck favorite around here!

Actually, yes. In the Midwest, this is a salad.

You hear salad and you think lettuce leaves and croutons. I get it.

But here? In the Midwest? We do it a little different.

Our pineapple pretzel salad is a potluck favorite around here. In some families (like mine), you’ll find it on the dinner table next to the twice baked potatoes and slow cooker spiral ham.

In other families, you’ll find this on the dessert table.

It really doesn’t matter when you eat it, it just matters that you give it a try – because it’s a favorite for a reason.

Crunchy, buttery, salty, sweet pretzels are topped off with a creamy, dreamy pineapple fluff situation.

I’m going to be upfront with you – this recipe does call for Cool Whip. (*gasp* *shock* *horror*)

Sometimes you just roll with it, you know? A little Cool Whip is not the end of the world. 🤷‍♀️

Welcome to the Midwest.

3 Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe:

Sweet + Salty: It’s all about the balance and this one nails it!

Easy Peasy: The crust comes together in minutes and the topping is stirred up in one bowl. A chill in the fridge brings it all together!

Crowd Favorite: People might be

What is pineapple pretzel salad? 

The name is pretty weird and, if you’ve never had this, you’re probably imagining some horrific combination of lettuce, pretzels, and pineapple. 

I have no idea why this is called a salad, because there is really nothing salad-y about it!

This is sliced and served in squares. The base is made of buttery baked pretzels and the topping is this glorious mix of pineapple, Cool Whip, cream cheese, pudding mix, and sugar.

This easily doubles as a dessert, if you don’t think it’s a great option as a side dish, but I’ve gotta tell you – a plate full of ham, hashbrown casserole, jiffy corn casserole, and this pineapple pretzel salad is what Easter dreams are made of.

Ingredient Notes:

Pretzels – Any shape of pretzels will work here since they’re getting crushed. We use salted – the salty sweet combo is amazing.

Butter – Melted butter will get poured into the pretzels to help form the crust.

Sugar – Just a touch of sugar adds the perfect balance of salty and sweet to the crust and it helps hold the pretzel base together. We’ll also add a bit to the filling.

Pineapple – We’re using canned crushed pineapple, which makes this dessert perfect for any time of year.

Cream Cheese – This adds some thickness and richness to the filling while cutting the sweetness a bit.

Cool Whip – We’ve never tried this with homemade whipped cream. We like that Cool Whip is stabilized and will hold up well.

Vanilla Pudding Mix – This helps make the filling fluffy and thick. You’ll just use a box of dry pudding mix and add it right to the cream cheese Cool Whip mixture. No need to prepare it first.

Step by Step Photos:

Crush up a bag of pretzels and stir them together with melted butter and sugar.

Smooth the pretzels into a 9×13 dish and bake for 10 minutes to set the crust.

Add the cream cheese, Cool Whip, sugar, and pudding mix to a bowl and stir to combine. Fold in the pineapple.

Spread the pineapple filling over the crust and pop it in the fridge for 4 hours to firm up.

Karly’s Tips & Tricks:

We’ve tested (and eaten) this recipe quite a few times so you know it’s going to be perfect! Here are a few of my best tips:

• Extra Crunch: Add a handful of crushed pecans or a sprinkle of toasted coconut on top for a fun twist.
• Crushed Pretzels: Pop them in a ziptop bag and beat them with a rolling pin or meat mallet. Alternately, blitz them in a food processor until crushed.
• Leftovers: We find this is best enjoyed within around 24 hours, but it will keep longer than that. The texture just isn’t quite as good after it sits longer.

More Pineapple Recipes:

This pineapple casserole is a bit different, but it’s definitely worth trying. So good!

My pineapple coleslaw is the perfect topping for your pulled pork.

It’s hard to go wrong with this zucchini bread with pineapple. So moist and tasty.

My baked coconut shrimp has the most amazing pineapple dipping sauce to go with it.