About
Star-spangled sweetness coming at you! Freedom Bars are a perfect treat for Fourth of July cookouts or whenever you need a bite of luscious liberty. A creamy, crunchy, and salty crust, with just a hint of tropical citrus, serves as the base for a jammy, summer strawberry topping: you could even sprinkle them with blueberries for the full red-white-and-blue feeling! Freedom Bars are so refreshing and so good you'll want to salute them!
Ingredients
- 2 cups pretzels, finely crushed
- 3/4 cup sugar, divided
- 3/4 cup butter, melted
- 2 cups water, boiling
- 1 (6-ounce) package strawberry gelatin
- 1 pound fresh strawberries, chopped
- 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
- 1 tablespoon lime zest
- 1/4 cup lime juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
Step 1 -Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 2 -Place the crushed pretzels and 1/4 cup of the sugar together in a small bowl.
Step 3 -Stir in the melted butter.
Step 4 -Spread the pretzel mixture in a 15x10-inch baking pan.
Step 5 -Bake until golden-brown, about 9-11 minutes.
Step 6 -Allow the crust to cool completely.
Step 7 -In a bowl, add the boiling water and the gelatin and stir until completely dissolved, for about 2 minutes.
Step 8 -Gently stir in the strawberries.
Step 9 -Let the strawberry mixture cool slightly before refrigerating for at least 30 minutes.
Step 10 -In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, the lime zest, the lime juice, the vanilla, and the remaining sugar until blended.
Step 11 -Stir in the cooled pretzel mixture.
Step 12 -Spread the pretzel mixture evenly into a 13x9-inch baking pan.
Step 13 -Top with the strawberry mixture.
Step 14 -Cover and refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours.
Step 15 -Serve chilled.
