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Bake the Crust: Press the pretzel mixture firmly into the bottom of a greased 9×13 inch baking dish. This will form the base of your cheesecake delight.
Bake the pretzel crust in the preheated oven for about 10 minutes, or until it’s lightly golden brown. Keep an eye on it to prevent burning.
Cool Completely: Take the baked pretzel crust out of the oven and let it cool completely on a wire rack before adding the next layer. This is important to prevent the cream cheese layer from melting.
Creamy Cheese Filling: In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy.
For an extra burst of vanilla flavor, you can use a vanilla bean instead of vanilla extract. Scrape the seeds from the vanilla bean pod and add them to the cream cheese mixture along with the pod itself. Remove the pod before folding in the whipped topping.
Fold in the Fun: Gently fold in the whipped topping to the cream cheese mixture until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can deflate the whipped topping and make the filling dense.
Layer it Up! Pour the prepared cream cheese mixture over the cooled pretzel crust. Spread it out evenly using a spatula to create a smooth layer.
Strawberry Delight: In a separate bowl, dissolve the strawberry gelatin completely in the boiling water. Stir constantly to ensure there are no lumps.
You can use fresh or frozen strawberries for this recipe. If using frozen strawberries, thaw them completely and drain any excess liquid before adding them to the gelatin mixture.
Gently Does It: Once the gelatin mixture has cooled slightly (but not set), gently fold in the sliced strawberries. Be careful not to break the strawberries.
Pour and Chill: Carefully pour the strawberry gelatin mixture over the cream cheese layer in the baking dish. Tilt the dish slightly to spread the strawberry mixture evenly if needed.
Setting the Stage: Cover the baking dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or until the gelatin layer is completely set. Ideally, leave it overnight for the best results.
Serve and Savor! When ready to serve, cut the Strawberry Crunch Cheesecake Delight into squares and enjoy the delightful combination of textures and flavors!