Description

This Strawberry Dessert Salad with Toffee is a delightful no-bake treat combining fluffy cream cheese and whipped topping with a crunchy toffee mix of pretzels and pecans, layered with fresh diced strawberries. A perfect balance of creamy, sweet, and crunchy textures makes this dessert salad a crowd-pleaser, ideal for potlucks, family gatherings, or a refreshing summer dessert.

Ingredients

Scale

Cream Cheese Mixture

8 oz (1 package) cream cheese, softened
½ cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
8 oz whipped topping

Toffee Crunch Topping

1 cup pretzels, chopped
½ cup pecans, chopped
¾ cup brown sugar
¾ cup melted butter

Fruit

2–3 cups strawberries, diced

Instructions

Preheat Oven and Prepare Strawberries: Preheat your oven to 400°F (204°C). Wash the strawberries thoroughly, then dice them and set aside for later use.
Make Toffee Crunch Topping: In a bowl, combine the chopped pretzels and pecans with the melted butter and brown sugar, mixing well. Spread this mixture evenly on a parchment-lined cookie sheet with edges to prevent butter from spilling. Bake for 7-9 minutes, watching closely to avoid burning. Once golden and bubbly, remove from oven and let it cool completely.
Prepare Cream Cheese Mixture: While the toffee crunch cools, whip the softened cream cheese with vanilla extract and sugar until fluffy and smooth. Gently fold in the whipped topping until fully incorporated, creating a light and creamy base.
Combine All Ingredients: Just before serving, gently fold the diced strawberries and cooled toffee crunch topping into the cream cheese mixture, ensuring the crunch remains intact and the berries are evenly distributed.
Serve and Enjoy: Transfer the completed dessert salad into a serving dish and enjoy immediately for the best texture and flavor balance.

Notes

Ensure the toffee crunch has completely cooled before mixing into the cream cheese mixture to avoid melting it.
Use fresh, ripe strawberries for the best flavor; frozen strawberries may become too watery.
You can substitute pecans with walnuts if preferred.
This dessert is best served fresh but can be refrigerated for up to 4 hours before serving.
For a lighter version, use reduced-fat cream cheese and light whipped topping.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: Strawberry dessert salad, toffee dessert, cream cheese salad, pretzel toffee topping, easy dessert, no-bake dessert