Pretzel Jello

Submitted by Mikael S.
Recipe included in the Nov 2014 RS Newsletter

This is so good it is almost a dessert.  Great for Holiday Parties.

2 C. broken pretzels (measure 2 C. after broken)

3 T. sugar

¾ C. melted butter

8 oz cream cheese, room temp

½ C. sugar

16 oz cool whip, divided, thawed

20 oz frozen sliced strawberries or 1 qt fresh(no sugar added), thawed

6 oz Strawberry Jello (Can buy 2 of the 3 oz pkgs)

2 C. boiling water

Preheat oven to 400.  Mix the pretzels, 3 T. sugar and melted butter in the bottom of a 9 X 13 pan.  Bake for 7-8 minutes.  Set aside to cool (minimum of 1 hour).  Beat together cream cheese, 8 oz cool whip and ½ C. sugar.  Spread over cooled crust.  In another bowl combine gelatin and boiling water.  Stir until jello is dissolved.  Add thawed strawberries (include juice). Pour over cream cheese layer and put whole thing in fridge.  Refrigerate until set (minimum 4-6 hours).  Just before serving, top with remaining coolwhip if desired.