more cool wHip

ok, i admit it.  my sister and i used to sneak and eat cool whip out of the tub as kids.  and i think since making my faux ice cream cake, i can't seem get it off my mind!  now that strawberries are in season i was looking for something to make with them and cool whip.  these squares have a perfect balance of sweet and salt to them between the strawberry, cheesecake, chocolate and pretzel tastes.

this past weekend i did over 20 miles of cardio, so i think i can afford the little bit of butter in this recipe.  this doesn't take a lot of time to make, but a lot of refrigeration time for the layers.  so if you have the patience to keep going back and forth, they are well worth making! =)

layered strawberry cheesecake squares with a chocolate pretzel crust

2 cups finely crushed pretzels
1/2 cup sugar, divided
13 tbs butter, divided
6 squares of Baker's semi-sweet baking chocolates
1-1/2 pkg (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
2 tbs milk
1-1/2 cup whipped topping, thawed
2 cups boiling water
1 pkg strawberry flavored gelatin
1-1/2 cups cold water
1 qt fresh strawberries, sliced

1. preheat oven to 350 degrees.  mix pretzel crumbs, 1/4 cup sugar and 10 tbs of butter (melted).  press onto bottom of 13"x9" pan.  bake 10 minutes.  let cool.
2. melt chocolate squares and remaining butter.  stir well.  pour as a layer over the pretzel mixture. refrigerate.
3. beat cream cheese, remaining sugar and milk until well blended.  stir in whipped topping.  spread as the next layer but not until chocolate layer has hardened.  refrigerate.
4. in a large bowl, add boiling water to gelatin.  stir 2 minutes or until completely dissolved.  stir in cold water.  refrigerate 1-1/2 hours or until some thickening occurs.  stir in strawberries and spoon over cream cheese layer.  refrigerate 3 hours.

tip: allow squares to sit out at room temperature for about 15 minutes before serving for easier cutting.

make about 18 servings.  enjoy! =)

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download a printable copy of this recipe at...
http://www.oncupcakemoon.com/recipes/layedstrawberrycheesecakesquares.pdf