Creamy Apple Cinnamon Pretzel Salad
A nostalgic fall dessert featuring layers of crunchy pretzel crust, creamy whipped cream cheese, and cinnamon-spiced apples. Perfect for potlucks, bake sales, or cozy family gatherings—this salad is a crowd-pleaser with irresistible sweet, salty, and creamy flavors.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups mini pretzels, crushed
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 3 cups apples, peeled and diced (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp recommended)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- Pinch of salt
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup heavy cream (or whipped topping)
- 1/3 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Crush pretzels into rough crumbs.
- Mix crushed pretzels, melted butter, and brown sugar in a bowl. Press firmly into the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Bake pretzel crust for 10 minutes until golden and fragrant. Cool completely.
- Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add diced apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice, and a pinch of salt.
- Sauté apples for 8-10 minutes, stirring often, until soft but not mushy. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.
- In a medium bowl, beat softened cream cheese until smooth. Add heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. Beat until fluffy and glossy.
- Spread cream cheese mixture evenly over cooled pretzel crust.
- Spoon apple cinnamon mixture over creamy layer and gently spread. Swirl for presentation if desired.
- Cover with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (overnight preferred) to set.
- Cut into squares or scoop into bowls to serve. Garnish with extra cinnamon or toasted pecans if desired.
Notes
Let crust and apple filling cool before layering to prevent melting. For gluten-free, use gluten-free pretzels. Make a day ahead for best flavor and texture. Substitute whipped topping for heavy cream if desired. Add toasted pecans or walnuts for extra crunch. Salad is best served chilled and keeps well for up to 3 days in the fridge.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/12 of recipe (abou
- Calories: 270
- Sugar: 18
- Sodium: 260
- Fat: 16
- Saturated Fat: 9
- Carbohydrates: 30
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 3
Keywords: apple cinnamon dessert, pretzel salad, fall potluck, creamy apple salad, easy fall dessert, potluck recipe, autumn dessert, comfort food