Strawberry-Lime Bars

Name: Strawberry-Lime Bars
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 2 dozen
Ingredients: 2 cups finely crushed pretzels (about 6 ounces); 3/4 cup sugar, divided; 3/4 cup butter, melted; 2 cups boiling water; 1 package (6 ounces) strawberry gelatin; 1 pound fresh strawberries, chopped; 2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened; 1 tablespoon grated lime zest; 1/4 cup lime juice; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Total Time Prep: 25 min. + chilling Bake: 10 min. + cooling

Yield 2 dozen

Contest Winner

Test Kitchen Approved

Our family loves fresh strawberries, so I look for different ways to use them. This tempting, yummy dessert has sweet strawberries, tart lime and salty pretzels. —Alexandra Barnett, Forest, Virginia

Ingredients

2 cups finely crushed pretzels (about 6 ounces)
3/4 cup sugar, divided
3/4 cup butter, melted
2 cups boiling water
1 package (6 ounces) strawberry gelatin
1 pound fresh strawberries, chopped
2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
1 tablespoon grated lime zest
1/4 cup lime juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°. Place crushed pretzels and 1/4 cup sugar in a small bowl; stir in melted butter. Spread out in an ungreased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. To toast, bake until golden brown, 9-11 minutes. Cool completely.
Meanwhile, in a bowl, add boiling water to gelatin; stir 2 minutes to completely dissolve. Gently stir in strawberries. Cool slightly. Refrigerate 30 minutes.
In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, lime zest, lime juice, vanilla and remaining sugar until blended. Stir in cooled pretzel mixture. Spread into an ungreased 13x9-in. baking pan. Top with strawberry mixture. Refrigerate, covered, 2 hours or until firm.

Nutrition Facts

1 bar: 201 calories, 13g fat (7g saturated fat), 36mg cholesterol, 240mg sodium, 21g carbohydrate (14g sugars, 1g fiber), 3g protein.

Recipe Creator