Strawberries, dairy, and the word salad… this must be healthy, right? Yep, I actually served it to my kids as a side one night when we had steak. I had planned on this being dessert. Baked sweet potatoes were supposed to be the side. But, I was a few days late in using up the sweet potatoes. So, I told the kids we were having steak and strawberry pretzel salad! They were a bit surprised since they haven’t been able to have jello for several years due to being allergic to artificial food color. Not only was I able to find dye-free jello, but I used gluten-free pretzels so Tasha could enjoy it too! Since I’ve pinned many a recipe of this concoction, I was excited to finally make it as part of the Pinterest Challenge this month.
Salad?
My kids wanted to know what made this a salad instead of a dessert. I didn’t know but I have vivid childhood memories of my aunts, grandmothers, and great aunts bringing jello salads out with the meal.
Put a fruit or a vegetable with jello and it’s instantly a salad?
Apparently, post World War II saw a boom in jello creations. This article was really fun to learn more about it.
I know there were tons of crazy jello recipes, including one that had lamb chops in it! Eeeewwwwww…… But I always loved Strawberry Pretzel Salad. Cheesecakey and strawberry yumminess over a pretzel crust.
Turns out the kids love it too! I’ve actually made this several times since.
The inspiration for making a version of this salad my family could enjoy came from putting together several yummy strawberry recipes. Particularly Strawberry Delight from Hillary at Embellishments.
Gluten-Free Dye-Free Strawberry Pretzel Salad
Thanks to Aldi, we’re able to find affordable gluten-free options for Tasha, like the pretzels. Frankly, I don’t really care for pretzels but I do like the gluten-free ones! Strawberry jello at Aldi is also colored naturally instead of with red-40, which my kids are allergic to.
Hillary’s recipe calls for dream whip. I don’t know what that actually is but cool-whip is an option. Even better than cool whip? Real whipped cream!
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I’ve learned to just double this recipe from the start. I did make it for JuneBug’s friends and found my whole family prefers the gluten-free pretzels over regular ones.
Pinterest Challenge Blog Hop
To join next month’s #pinterestchallenge, click here to sign-up ⇒ August Pinterest Challenge.
Now let’s see what other things Pinterest inspired! Head over and visit the other hosts to see what they crafted, cooked, built, or tried!
Erlene – My Pinterventures • Jenny – Cookies Coffee and Crafts
Debbee – Debbee’s Buzz • Laurie – My Husband Has Too Many Hobbies
Bri – Halfpint Design • Julie – Sum of their Stories
Lisa – Blogghetti • T’onna – Sew Crafty Crochet
Beverly – Across the Boulevard • Debra – Shoppe No. 5
Roseann – This Autoimmune Life • Terri – Our Good Life
Chelc – Inside The Fox Den • Cherryl – Farm Girl Reformed
Leslie – Once Upon a Time & Happily Ever After • Katrin – Kreativ K
Kelley – Simply Inspired Meals • Joanne – Our Unschooling Journey
Toni – Small Home Soul • Gail – Purple Hues and Me
Rebecca – Hello Central Avenue • Gwen – Geez, Gwen!
Marie – DIY Adulation • Habiba – Craftify My Love
Kristie – Teadoddles • Marie – The Inspiration Vault
Lydia – Lydia’s Flexitarian Kitchen • Maria – Simple Nature Decor
Michelle – Our Crafty Mom • Emily – Domestic Deadline
Alexandra – Eye Love Knots
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If you liked this recipe, I’d love for you to pin and share it!
This “salad” is so good! A co-worker I used to work with made this for potlucks at work & I loved it. I haven’t had it in years. I’ll have to make it. Aldis has great stuff.
That looks good! I have never had a jello salad but this sounds like something I’d like. Pinned.
So good! Perfect for a hot summer day, it looks delicious!!
This looks seriously delicious and I love that it’s so easy to whip up and share with your loved ones. I’m not personally gluten free but I’ve found gluten-free pretzels by Gratify I really like better than traditional pretzels. They are tasty, crunchy, but not super dense. I can’t wait to try your recipe!
How clever to use gluten free pretzels to update a classic!
I love this salad. I don’t have to worry about what I eat but this is great that you have a recipe most people can enjoy.
I remember having this as a child as well! I’m so glad gluten free pretzels are so readily available now! Pinning!
My family always served jello salads with the meal, too. Yours looks great and it’s wonderful that you could create a dish that your whole family can enjoy. Pinning.
This is really delicious! will pin t to my recipe board.
Strawberry salad is one of my favorite things on a Summer buffet! It’s great you were able to make adjustments to suit the dietary needs of your family!
What a delicious recipe! Love all things strawberry!
This looks so yummy and perfect for a hot summers day! Will have to try making this for my Aunty who is a Celiac!! Thank you so much for sharing!
I grew up eating a version of this and love it! It’s great that you can make it gluten free and dye free for your family! Pinned.
My kiddos would LOVE this too! What a fun surprise to have for dinner. I’m intrigued by the gluten free pretzels. I’m not a huge fan of regular pretzels either but might need to try the GF version. I try to keep the dyes to a minimum as well so what a great find! Thank you.
This looks yummy! I’m always looking for new recipes to try, especially gluten free!
This looks so good and delicious! The recipe is easy for a novice cook like me and I can’t wait to try it!
Maureen | http://www.littlemisscasual.com
Looks very yummy. Might have to try this out on the hubby.
#triumphanttales
Oh wiow this looks super yummy! Thanks for sharing this with us at #TriumphantTales, look forward to seeing you back next week!
This looks really good! #dreamteam
Looks yummy. I love jello. #DreamTeam
A jello salad sounds very interesting and for a second, I half expected it to be served with salad leaves hehe! Thanks for joining us for the #dreamteam
This is one of our families favorite salads, but I’ve never made it gluten free. Thanks for sharing the recipe with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
I love this recipe, the combination of pretzels, a bit of salty and the sweetness of strawberries has to be delicious!!
Pinned!!
I would love to have you stop by and share on #OMHGFF.
Have a great weekend!
Your strawberry salad looks so yummy Thanks for sharing at the Inspiration Spotlight party @DearCreatvies See you again soon. Pinned and sharing.
That sounds so interesting. I think I may try this for my next potluck event.
I love anything with sweet and salty combined – especially Strawberries! Thank you for sharing with Home and Garden Thursday!
Kathy
Stopping by from Sharefest. I love that Aldi doesn’t use artificial colors!
While this recipe is gluten free, it is not actually dye free if you are using strawberry jello. The flavored jello packets have red 40 in them.
Name brand Jello is gull of red 40, as are most off brand versions. However the Aldi brand doesn’t have red 40 (or at least didn’t when I made and wrote this post). Obviously check the label, but part of why my family loves Aldi is because we can find options without artificial food coloring.