Description
Apple Cinnamon Pretzel Salad is a delightful layered dessert combining a crunchy pretzel crust with a creamy cream cheese filling and a warm, spiced apple pie topping. It offers the perfect balance of sweet, creamy, and crunchy textures with aromatic cinnamon-spiced apple filling making it an irresistible treat for any occasion.
Ingredients
For the Crust:
- 4 cups pretzels, finely ground
- 12 tbsp butter, melted
- ⅓ cup sugar
For the Filling:
- 16 oz cream cheese, room temperature
- 8 oz whipping cream
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
For the Apple Pie Filling:
- 5 cups Granny Smith apples, peeled and thinly sliced
- ½ lemon, juiced
- 1 cup sugar
- Pinch of salt
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/16 tsp ground cloves
- 1/16 tsp ground nutmeg
- ½ cup water
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
- 3 tbsp water (for slurry)
Instructions
- Prepare the Crust: Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a mixing bowl, combine the finely ground pretzels, melted butter, and sugar until evenly mixed. Press this mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of a 9×13-inch casserole dish. Bake for 10 minutes, then remove from the oven and allow to cool completely.
- Prepare the Filling: In a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth and creamy. Add the powdered sugar and mix thoroughly. Slowly pour in the whipping cream, continuing to beat until the mixture is smooth, light, and spreadable. Pour this cream cheese filling over the cooled pretzel crust and spread it evenly.
- Prepare the Apple Pie Filling: In a large stock pot, combine the peeled and sliced apples, lemon juice, sugar, salt, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and water. Cook over low to medium heat for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the apples become tender. Meanwhile, mix the cornstarch and 3 tablespoons of water in a small bowl to create a slurry. Stir this slurry into the apple mixture, and continue cooking while stirring constantly until the filling thickens to a consistency similar to apple pie filling. Remove from heat and let cool completely.
- Assemble the Salad: Once the apple pie filling has cooled, spoon it evenly over the cream cheese layer in the casserole dish.
- Chill & Serve: Refrigerate the fully assembled dessert for at least 1 hour to allow it to set properly. Slice into squares and serve chilled. Enjoy this deliciously layered apple cinnamon pretzel salad!
Notes
- Use Granny Smith apples for their tartness, which balances the sweetness of the dessert.
- Make sure cream cheese is at room temperature to avoid lumps in the filling.
- The pretzel crust can be pulsed finely in a food processor for better texture.
- Cooling each layer thoroughly ensures clean, distinct layers and easy slicing.
- Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
