Lemon Pretzel Dessert

With a sweet and salty pretzel crust followed by a cream cheese and Cool Whip middle and topped with a zesty lemon pie filling, this Lemon Pretzel Dessert is a fun twist on a traditional dessert with a light and refreshing taste that’s perfect for summer gatherings!

There’s nothing like a lemon dessert to make my kids a critic, but after trying this dessert, they all say it’s super yummy and came back for seconds! We love this fun lemon dessert’s combinations of sweet, salty, tart, and fruity! The cream cheese layer blends seamlessly with the slightly tart lemon filling and salty pretzel crust, leaving you with a burst of refreshing flavors. It’s an addicting combination that you must try!

Lemon pretzel dessert is easy to make, primarily with pantry staples and a few items from the refrigerator. This easy dessert is great for last-minute BBQs, family gatherings, and holiday parties!

How to Make Lemon Pretzel Dessert

Lemon pretzel dessert comes together effortlessly to feed a crowd. With just a little planning, a short 10-minute bake time, and then a mostly no-bake dessert, this party dessert is beginner-friendly and mom-approved!

Ingredients

• 3 cups mini pretzel twists, more if used as a garnish, too.
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2/3 cup brown sugar, packed
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 8 ounces of cream cheese at room temperature
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 8 ounces Cool Whip, thawed
• 22 ounces lemon pie fruit filling
  • After making it many times, Lucky Leaf brand lemon pie filling is the best lemon pie filling. It tends to be sweeter and not as tart.

Directions for Lemon Pretzel Salad Dessert

First, crush the mini pretzel twists using a food processor or ziplock bag with a rolling pin. Our family prefers to keep bigger pieces of pretzels for more crunch and fun; however, the smaller the pretzel pieces, the easier it will be to spread the crust out and have a consistent crust for your dessert.

Next, in a medium bowl, add the crushed pretzels, vanilla, brown sugar, flour, and melted butter and mix until well combined.

Then, pour the pretzel crumb mixture into the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish and spread it out evenly by pressing it down with the back of a spatula or wooden spoon. Bake the crust at 375°F for 8-10 minutes. Remove it from the oven and let it cool completely.

Now, make the cream cheese layer. First, in a medium mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese(must be at room temperature to prevent clumps) and powdered sugar until smooth. Then, fold in the Cool Whip and mix until just combined. Finally, evenly spread this cream cheese layer on the baked and cooled pretzel crumb crust.

Lastly, spread the lemon pie filling on top of the cream cheese layer. For best results, refrigerate this dessert for 2-4 hours before serving. If you prefer, garnish with more pretzel crumbs and lemon slices. Serve Chilled. Enjoy!

Storing Lemon Pretzel Dessert

Store this lemon pretzel dessert in a covered dish in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. The crust will become less crunchy after a few days, but this doesn’t affect the taste.

More Family Friendly Recipes

With summer in full swing, finding time for easy meals is hard, so we rely on meal prep and the slow cooker. These Slow Cooker Peach Pork Chops are one part spicy jalapeno, one part sweet peach, and totally delicious. This slow cooker recipe is a great take on the summer pork chop!

For a busy mom, the best thing about lunch is when it’s already made, and you know the kids will love it. With endless ways to customize, these Cold Ham and Cheese Picnic Sliders can be made right after breakfast and to fit every child, making them the perfect solution to lunch this summer!

Do you love fruity side dishes? Try our Easy Raspberry Fluff! The combination of smooth vanilla yogurt with instant vanilla pudding, light Cool Whip, and sweet but tart frozen raspberries make this a decadent but light dessert. It looks elegant but is easy to make and a must-have for your holiday dessert table!