If you happen to’re not from the Southern or Midwestern US, you may not have ever heard of strawberry-pretzel salad, which is the inspiration for these bars. Whereas “salad” is a part of the identify, worry not—no greens or savory dressings are concerned. Conventional strawberry-pretzel salad is comprised of a pretzel (and generally nut) crust, a candy cream cheese layer, and a strawberry gelatin topping. Our model incorporates a barely caramelly sweet-salty crust, a fluffy citrus-infused filling, and contemporary berry topping.
Strawberry-Pretzel Bars
Makes 9 to 12 bars
Crust:
- 1½ cups (210 grams) very finely crushed pretzels
- ½ cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, melted
- ⅓ cup plus 1 tablespoon (73 grams) firmly packed mild brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons (24 grams) all-purpose flour
Sauce:
- 2 cups (340 grams) chopped contemporary strawberries
- ¼ cup (50 grams) granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons (4 grams) lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon (15 grams) chilly water
- 1½ teaspoons (4.5 grams) cornstarch
Filling:
- 2 (8-ounce) packages (453 grams) cream cheese, softened
- 1½ cups (180 grams) confectioners’ sugar
- 2 teaspoon (2 grams) lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon (4 grams) vanilla extract
- 2 cups (480 grams) chilly heavy whipping cream
- 1 to 2 drops pink gel meals coloring (optionally available)
- ½ pound (226 grams) contemporary strawberries, thinly sliced
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Preheat oven to 350°F (180°F). Line a 9-inch sq. baking pan with foil, letting extra lengthen over sides of pan. Calmly spray foil with baking spray with flour.
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For crust: In a medium bowl, whisk collectively all substances till effectively mixed. Firmly press combination into backside of ready pan.
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Bake till set, 15 to twenty minutes. Let cool utterly on a wire rack. Freeze crust till chilly.
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In the meantime, for sauce: In a medium nonreactive saucepan, carry strawberries, granulated sugar, and lemon zest to a boil over medium-high warmth, stirring sometimes till sugar dissolves. Utilizing a potato masher, mash berries into small items. Prepare dinner, stirring regularly, till barely thickened, 10 to fifteen minutes.
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In a small bowl, whisk together1 tablespoon (15 grams) chilly water and cornstarch till clean; whisk into strawberry combination. Cut back warmth to medium; cook dinner, whisking continuously, till thickened, 2 to 4 minutes. Press combination by means of a fine-mesh sieve, discarding solids. Let cool utterly.
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For filling: Within the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat cream cheese at medium velocity till clean, about 1 minute. Add confectioners’ sugar, lemon zest, and vanilla; beat at medium-low velocity till clean, stopping to scrape backside and sides of bowl. Regularly add chilly cream, beating till mixed. Totally scrape backside and sides of bowl. Regularly improve mixer velocity to excessive, and beat till stiff peaks type, 1 to2 minutes.
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Unfold one-third of filling (about368 grams) onto chilly ready crust.
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Add cooled sauce and meals coloring (if utilizing) to remaining filling; beat at low velocity simply till mixed. Gently unfold onto filling in pan. Cowl with plastic wrap, making certain plastic doesn’t contact filling. Refrigerate till chilly and set, a minimum of 6 hours, or as much as in a single day.
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Utilizing extra foil as handles, take away from pan, and high with sliced strawberries simply earlier than serving. Refrigerate in an hermetic container for as much as 3 days.
