Lisa's Fruit Salad with Caramelized Pretzel Topping

Elevate your next gathering with Lisa's Fruit Salad with Caramelized Pretzel Topping—a delightful fusion of fresh fruit, creamy dressing, and sweet, crunchy pretzels that’s sure to wow any crowd. Bursting with strawberries, blueberries, pineapple, grapes, and mandarin oranges, this vibrant fruit medley is perfectly balanced with a rich, tangy dressing made from cream cheese, vanilla yogurt, and whipped topping. But what truly sets this recipe apart is the caramelized pretzel topping—a wonderful blend of salty, buttery, and sugary crunch that’s baked to golden perfection. Ready in just 30 minutes, this easy yet elegant fruit salad is perfect for brunches, potlucks, or dessert. Serve it chilled and sprinkle the caramelized pretzels on just before serving to preserve their irresistible crispness. Prepare to impress with this crowd-pleasing twist on a classic!

Nutriscore Rating: 59/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:30 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 2 cups Fresh strawberries
• 1 cup Blueberries
• 1 cup Pineapple chunks
• 1.5 cups Green grapes
• 1 cup Mandarin oranges (canned, drained)
• 4 ounces Softened cream cheese
• 1 cup Vanilla yogurt
• 1 cup Whipped topping (thawed)
• 2 cups Pretzels
• 3 tablespoons Unsalted butter
• 0.5 cup Granulated sugar
• 0.25 cup Brown sugar

Directions

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step 2

Place the pretzels in a resealable plastic bag and crush them into small pieces using a rolling pin or mallet.

Step 3

In a small saucepan, melt the unsalted butter over medium heat. Stir in the granulated sugar and brown sugar until dissolved and bubbling, about 2 minutes.

Step 4

Remove the sugar mixture from heat and immediately pour it over the crushed pretzels in a bowl. Toss to coat evenly and spread the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet.

Step 5

Bake the pretzels for 8–10 minutes, stirring halfway through to prevent burning. Let them cool completely on the baking sheet; they will harden as they cool.

Step 6

While the pretzels cool, prepare the fruit salad base by washing and chopping the strawberries, blueberries, pineapple, and grapes as needed.

Step 7

In a large mixing bowl, gently combine the prepared fresh fruit and drained mandarin oranges. Set aside.

Step 8

In another bowl, mix the softened cream cheese and vanilla yogurt until smooth. Gently fold in the whipped topping to create a light and creamy dressing.

Step 9

Pour the dressing over the fruit and carefully toss until all the fruit is evenly coated.

Step 10

Transfer the fruit salad to a serving dish and sprinkle the cooled caramelized pretzels over the top just before serving to retain their crunch.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1937.5g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2893.5

Total Fat 115.8g	0%
Saturated Fat 73.2g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1.0g
Cholesterol 230.8mg	0%
Sodium 1631.9mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 457.3g	0%
Dietary Fiber 19.7g	0%
Total Sugars 340.8g
Protein 31.7g	0%

Vitamin D 4.1IU	0%
Calcium 571.2mg	0%
Iron 7.3mg	0%
Potassium 2059.3mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 34.8%

Protein: 4.2%

Carbs: 61.0%