Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. It's essential to get your oven ready, as a properly heated oven ensures that the crust bakes evenly and turns golden.
Next, add the pretzels to a food processor. Blend them for about a minute or two until they are finely crushed. You want them to be crumbly, resembling coarse sand.
In a mixing bowl, combine the crushed pretzels, melted butter, and sugar. Mix until well combined. The mixture should hold together when pressed.
Press the pretzel mixture firmly into the bottom of a 9-inch pie plate, creating an even layer. Make sure it’s compact, as this will form the crust.
Place the crust in the preheated oven and bake for 10 minutes. Keep an eye on it; you want it to turn a light golden brown. Once done, remove it from the oven and let it cool completely.
In another mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the cream cheese and sugar until smooth and creamy. This step is crucial for a lump-free filling.
Gently fold in the Cool Whip until well combined, ensuring you maintain the light and fluffy texture. Be careful not to deflate the mixture.
Once the crust is completely cool, spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over it, making sure to cover all edges. This layer is where the magic happens!
Refrigerate the pie for about 30 minutes to allow the filling to firm up a bit before adding the next layer.
While the pie sets, combine the water, sugar, and cornstarch in a saucepan. Bring this mixture to a boil, stirring constantly until it becomes clear and thickens slightly. This should take about two minutes.
Remove the saucepan from the heat and add the strawberry Jell-O, stirring until it dissolves completely. Allow this mixture to cool for about 15 minutes.
After the filling has cooled, arrange the sliced strawberries on top of the cream cheese layer. Now, SLOWLY pour the cooled Jell-O mixture over the strawberries, ensuring an even layer.
Refrigerate the pie for at least 4 hours, or until the Jell-O is fully set. The longer it chills, the more delicious it becomes!
Store in the fridge until you're ready to serve it. Enjoy each bite of your homemade Strawberry Pretzel Pie!