It's like magic!!

We celebrated Christmas with Andy's extended family for the first time in a few years. Due to Covid and schedule we had not been able to make it, this year we made the drive there and back in a day. I wanted to bring a dish that was cold for dinner since it was easier to travel with in the winter - I picked Pretzel Magic. Andy says I've made it before for this crowd but I couldn't remember. My family calls it a salad... it's probably not really a salad... I mean it's a Midwestern salad for sure! The kids helped me beat up the pretzels - they each got 5 whacks at a time with a rolling pin. Then a little mixing here, jello making there, and some strawberry slicing and we were ready to roll! I waited until the end of the line to get food, hardly any of my "salad" was taken. My heart sank. I thought I brought a winner. I got a scoop and moved on. My kids only wanted the jello parts. Oh well. But then... there was talking and my name being brought up - then a request for the recipe! I looked later - an almost empty pan. YAY for a win! Gotta love an empty pan at a pot luck!
This is also a salad/dish that I refused to eat as a kid. I thought it was gross... my dad too - until we both tried it and oh man all those wasted years of missing out. My kids currently are in the missing out category. Someday they'll find the magic of Pretzel Magic!

Pretzel Magic
What you need:
2 1/2 cup pretzels (crushed fine)
3 tbsp brown sugar
1 cup butter
1 pkg (6oz - this is the larger one) instant strawberry Jell-O
1 16 oz container fresh strawberries, sliced
1 8 oz pkg cream cheese
1 cup sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 cool whip (8 oz container)

Make it!
For best results you must chill between steps. this is an easy dessert to make but it does take time due to chilling. Allow 6-8 hours to complete the entire recipe.
Preheat oven to 350. Crush pretzels in a zip top bag with a blunt object – whack away.
Combine pretzels, brown sugar, and melted butter and press into a lightly greased 9 x 13 pan.
Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely.
Once it is slightly cool throw crust in the refrigerator to allow it to get really cold (anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour).
Beat cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Blend in cool whip with a spatula. Spread over cooled crust. Back in the fridge.
Next, make your Jell-O according to the package directions minus 1 cup of water. Put your bowl of Jell-O in the fridge to allow it to partially cool before putting it on top of your cream cheese layer.
Slice your strawberries, then place them on top of your chilled layer of cream cheese and cool whip.
Once your Jell-O chilled to about the constancy of jam or pudding (about an hour or two in the fridge) you're ready! Spoon and/or pour over cream cheese layer.
Return the pan back to the fridge until your jello is completely set (about an hour).
Serve and enjoy!