Tropical Fruit Pretzel Salad

Name: Tropical Fruit Pretzel Salad
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 7 min
Total time: 22 min
Ingredients: 1 cup roughly chopped pretzels; ½ cup chopped pecans; ¾ cup brown sugar; ¾ cup butter (melted); 3 cups mixed sliced/diced tropical fruit (kiwi, mangos, pineapple, and strawberries); 8 ounces cream cheese (softened); ½ cup granulated sugar; 1 tsp vanilla; 3 cups Cool Whip (or whipped cream)

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This Tropical Fruit Pretzel Salad is cool and creamy with sugared pretzels and fresh fruit. Serve this summer salad at your next cookout!

tropical fruit pretzel salad in a glass bowl

With the endless stream of summer cookouts, it’s time for another summer salad recipe. This Tropical Fruit Pretzel Salad is cool and creamy with crunchy brown sugar pretzels and tropical fruit. It’s definitely more of a dessert salad than a healthy green salad and the combination is irresistible!

How To Make Tropical Fruit Pretzel Salad

chopped brown sugar pretzels on a cookie sheet

Step 1: Make the Brown Sugar Pretzels

Pour the brown sugar, chopped pretzels, and chopped pecans into a bowl. I bought these already chopped pecans to make things easier. Pour in the melted butter and mix everything together.

Spread the mixture on a large baking sheet with sides (I used my jelly roll pan). Bake at 400 degrees for 5-7 minutes. Allow the mixture to cool, and then break it into small pieces.

chopped kiwiw, mangos and strawberries in a bowl

Step Two: Chop Up the Fruit

Cut up three cups of tropical fruit. I cut up 3/4 cup each of kiwi, mangos, pineapple, and strawberries (not tropical, but I added them for the pop of color). Place the fruit in the fridge until ready to serve.

whipped cream cheese topping in a mixing bowl

Step Three: Cream Cheese Mixture

Beat softened cream cheese for two minutes, until light and fluffy. Add the sugar and vanilla and stir until smooth. Fold in the whipped cream. Store in the fridge until ready to serve.

a spoonful of the tropical fruit pretzel salad

Step Four: Combine and Serve

Keep the brown sugar pretzels, fruit, and cream cheese mixture separate until right before serving. Then, add the brown sugar pretzels and tropical fruit to the cream cheese mixture.

Stir everything together in a large bowl and serve immediately. This Tropical Fruit Pretzel Salad is just the kind of dessert people are looking for at backyard cookouts! It’s cool and creamy with the right amount of crunch, and there won’t be any leftovers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Cool Whip be used instead of whipped cream?

Yes, you will need three cups of whipped cream.

Can this pretzel salad recipe be made without the chopped pecans?

Yes, you can swap the chopped pecan with more chopped pretzels.

My sugared pecans and pretzels are too mushy/oily. What went wrong?

They probably need to be baked longer but watch so that it doesn’t burn. It’s almost like making toffee, and every oven is different. Even the pan you use can make a difference in how things cook.

Will the leftovers be good?

No, the leftovers of this salad end up getting watery, and the pretzels get soggy. It’s best to enjoy it right after mixing it up.

How finely should the pretzels be chopped?

They are roughly chopped so that the pieces are small enough to be eaten in one bite, but big enough so that you get a good crunch.

More Dessert Salads

This Caramel Apple Pretzel Salad recipe is perfect for fall.
Strawberry Pecan Pretzel Salad is one of the MOST POPULAR recipes!
Make a Very berry pretzel salad with four kinds of berries.
Blueberry Pretzel Salad is a summer favorite!