Every year around the holidays, I always look forward to my mom, Mary Moore’s, pretzel jello salad. She got the recipe from a co-worker over 30 years ago, and ever since, it’s been a staple at every family gathering. As someone who can’t bake to save my life, I’ll always be thankful for my mom most of all, but her cooking is definitely a bonus. Her food always brings everyone together and makes the holidays feel complete.

What you’ll need:

(For crust)

• ¾ cup melted butter
• 3 tbsp. sugar
• 2 ½ cups crushed pretzel sticks

(For topping)

• 1 8-ounce package of cream cheese
• 1 cup of sugar
• 1 medium Cool Whip
• One large package of strawberry Jell-O
• One 16-ounce package of frozen strawberries (mostly thawed)

Instructions:

1. Mix melted butter, 3 tablespoons, sugar and pretzels
2. Press into a 9 x 13 dish and bake 8 minutes at 400 degrees
3. Let cool completely
4. Mix cream cheese and 1 cup sugar
5. Stir in Cool Whip
6. Spread on the crust
7. Allow to chill in the fridge
8. Dissolve the Jell-O mix into 2 cups of boiling water
9. Stir in strawberries until no longer frozen
10. Refrigerate until cool