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 15×10-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 13×9-inch baking pan.
Step 13 –Top with the strawberry mixture.
Step 14 –Cover and refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours.
Step 15 –Serve chilled.