I’ve made this low-carb Strawberry Pretzel Dessert twice in five days. My whole family cannot get enough of it, especially my husband – he even licked the kids’plates clean “so it goes to waist and not to waste!” 😀
(Except, this low-carb Trim Healthy Mama version of the classic dessert is waist-friendly, as it’s free from both sugar and gluten!)
My favorite part of the traditional Strawberry Pretzel dessert is the pretzel crust, so I spent the most time trying to get that part juuuuuuust right. Nothing beats the sweet ‘n salty layer combined with the creamy middle, and sweet, Jello-set strawberry topping!
Using sprouted pretzels might have worked, but they would have made this low-carb Strawberry Pretzel dessert a Crossover, which I wanted to avoid.
Instead, the winning combination ended up being made from melted butter, coarsely chopped pecans, almond flour, sweetener and salt. My kids didn’t even know I hadn’t used pretzels! The crunchy, salty, sweet layer is my favorite part and really makes the whole dessert.
The creamy middle is made by simply beating a package of softened cream cheese and folding it together with sweetened whipped cream.
While the middle layer sets in the fridge, you can start working on the topping, which is my other favorite part! The naturally colored and flavored “Strawberry Jello” is made using Celestial Raspberry Zinger Tea, sweetener, lemon juice, and unflavored gelatin.
I used one packet of Knox unflavored gelatin for the recipe to keep it free from special ingredients, but you can also use 1 tablespoon of Trim Healthy Mama’s Just Gelatin or Great Lakes.
Both times, I served this low-carb Strawberry Pretzel Dessert on the same day I made it, and the baking dish got cleaned out. Like most desserts made with alternative sweeteners, I still think it tastes best the next day, but you can totally get away with serving it right after the “jello” has set.
Wouldja look at those sweet, creamy, and crunchy layers?!
Oh, so good together.
If you prefer, you could also use raspberries instead of strawberries in this dessert.
I hope you enjoy the low-carb version of this classic as much as our family does!
This low-carb Strawberry Pretzel Dessert is a deliciously slimming version of the classic, made without sugar, gluten, or artificial colors and flavors! A THM S with no special ingredients. Sweet 'n salty, creamy 'n crunchy goodness! You may substitute raspberries for strawberries. Gentle Sweet can be used in place of xylitol in half the amount, or Super Sweet in a quarter of the amount.Low Carb Strawberry “Pretzel” Dessert | THM: S
Ingredients
Instructions
Notes
This is one of my favorite desserts. Thank you for this version!!
This might be my husband’s favorite dessert recipe. Thanks for THMing it. Looking forward to trying!!
Can neufchatel cheese be a replacement for full fat cream cheese or no?
I need to know the answer to this question as well!!!!
Yes! Every time I’ve made it I use that kind!
Yes
So I’m allergic to almond. Is there a reason you use almond flour, instead of wheat flour (no gluten perhaps?). What would you suggest I used instead? Rice flour perhaps? (I’m new to all this, but easing into it)
My daughter is allergic to nuts so i plan to use nut free granola for the crust. I use oat flour in place of wheat for most recipes as we eat mostly gluten free.
Wheat flour and rice flour are not on plan alternatives for thm recipes.
A classic I never heard of. Wondered if pulverized soaked oats would work in lieu of almond flour, re: questions above.
You can’t use a traditional flour like wheat because grains (including rice) all contain high amounts of carb. Because they want to keep this a low carb dessert, she is avoiding that. If you can’t use almonds, you might try coconut flour, or ground flax seed.
You could try old fashioned rolled oats, blended to a flour in a blender.
If it is just almonds and not all nuts you could sub an equal amount of pecan flour.
Could you break down the total amount of carbs, please.
Would THM baking blend work instead if almond flour? Also Gentle Sweet instead of xylitol?
i dont have xytilol due to it being so poisonous to dogs. Is swerve an acceptable substitute? Love this dessert so would love to find a low carb version! Tks!
I am not sure if you have tried yet, but I made this with Swerve and it turned out great! I would say it took setting overnight for the Swerve to fully dissolve in the creamy filling but it is still very good.
What amount of swerve did you use. Was it the same amount as the xytilol?
Also what are the macros on this pls?
Why couldn’t you use sugar free strawberry jello?
Sugar free jello uses off plan sweeteners that may still raise blood sugar and are generally not considered healthy.
Cathy, sugar free jello uses toxic sugar substitutes & color dyes
Could you please provide the net carbs for this recipe…. thanks
Net carbs per serving if using 12 servings is 4.5 grams
Where’s the nutritional facts for this dessert?
This was DELICIOUS!!!
(I may have had a piece for morning snack, afternoon snack, and dessert…They were small! I cut it into 16 pieces!)
My hubby couldn’t believe it was already gone. 😉
Our kids all enjoyed it. some liked the top and middle, some the middle and bottom. LOL!
Brilliant idea to use salty pecans to mimic pretzels!
This was super delicious!!
Thanks for another good recipe.
I made this dessert this afternoon, and it was so good! My mom even liked it. That says a lot! It totally cured my craving for strawberry pretzel salad. Thank you so much!! I’ll definitely be making this again.
What are the macros on this dessert, please? Those of us following Keto would appreciate the #s, please. Thank you.
You can put the recipe in any of the free online carb counters …
I doubled the recipe to make a 9×13 pan for our (large) family dinner as part of the family is THM or grain-free. It was wonderful. I think I would triple the gelatin portion next time as, even with the extra strawberries, that portion was “thinner” than I’d like. Thanks for the fabulous recipe!
This is setting up in the fridge tonight for Bible Study tomorrow! Only thing I felt was a little off was the gelatin layer. I may make another batch to pour on top of first layer to beef it up. Thank you!!!
This was so good!! Whole family loved it – thanks!!
This is now my all time fav THM dessert!! Thank you!!!
Could I substitute sour cream for cream cheese? We can’t have cream cheese and I have read that sour cream is a substitute for it. Thanks
I made this also – altho – Did I miss something about how much water for the “jello” – I used 1/4 c cold, then 1/4 hot as recipe says and it was extremely thick, I ended up adding additional (1/2 c plus) hot water to be able to pour over and it did jell could have used more, almost was like liquid gummie bears 🙂 on top
PS – I always love your recipes tho :{)
I am also wondering about the “jello” layer. It didn’t seem like enough water. It was super gelled after 10 minutes in the fridge even stirring halfway and was difficult to spread on top of the strawberries. And there didn’t seem to be enough. Are the water measurements off?
Same.
Can you please address the comments on the gelatin layer? I made the gelatin twice thinking I’d done it wrong. It doesn’t come out like the photo at all. Are your liquid amounts off? It doesn’t make that thick of a layer and it is so terribly thick. Gummy bears would be accurate.
I just made the recipe, and it’s setting in the fridge. I may have adding a 1/2T more of water, but it was more to dissolve the gelatin since I pulled the water off at simmering and left it in with the tea bags perhaps a bit too long. It had a tiny rim around the edge of the bowl that I was using after being in the fridge for 10minutes and stirring halfway through. I suspect that it was because I used THM beef gelatin rather than pork gelatin. If you used Knox pork gelatin, it’s stronger, and likely, less is needed. I had no issues pouring it over my strawberries.
This question wasn’t answered, but can I substitute THM baking blend instead of almond flour? Do I just use a little less? There is coconut flour in it.
This is BETTER than the one with pretzels! Thank you!
Does it have to be raspberry zinger tea? Or can I use the black cherry ones? I have the tea variety but we finished the raspberry ones first.
I was also thinking any red fruity tea would work to flavor and color the gelatin. My jello amount too was so scant, it didn’t even cover all the berries. Next time I am going to make much more in terms of the liquid portion.
I would like to know the answer here also. I have hibiscus tea which would give the color, but not sure if it would be great for the recipe. Thank you in advance!
How many carbs, fats, etc
THM doesn’t count those. Maybe, you should dump Keto and join us on the light side.
my gelatin layer was too thick as well:/ Adding water helped but it was still really thick! I use the THM just gelatin. Does that make a difference after all?
I just noticed that 1 packet of gelatin is a little over 2 tsp not 1 tbsp. I am wondering if that is the issue. I am going to lessen the amount of gelatin.
Yes! The first time I made it used a packet which is 2-1/2 teaspoons. The second time I used a tablespoon and it was awful. I ended up removing the top and blending it with a little water and spreading it over it when I served it.
This dessert is amazing!
Has anyone used frozen strawberries?
I was so excited about this dessert turned THM, but I was let down by the jello part. I used 1tbsp of THM Just Gelatin and the 1/4c of cold and hot water and it was more like a gritty jam. Followed recipe to a T, even when my husband said to do something else. Wasn’t enough to cover the dish or even turn into jello. My husband made a good point of why are we adding the Gelatin to cold water instead of boiling water? So we’ll try the recipe again and double the Gelatin and make it in the boiling water instead of cold. Hopefully it will dissolve and turn into jello because of this.
I didn’t see the answer to using baking blend in place of almond flour.
My thoughts would be no. Coconut flour, I think, is much thirstier than almond flour so the liquid needed wouldn’t be the same.
Made this for my sister’s birthday it was so delicious! She likes thm and low carb/no white sugar. I am usually critical of these recipe, but it tastes amazing! I will definitely be making again.