Creating Strawberry Pretzel Salad is straightforward if you follow these simple steps:

1. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Prepare the Pretzel Crust: In a bowl, mix the crushed pretzels, melted butter, and ¼ cup of granulated sugar until well combined. Press this mixture firmly into the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish to form the crust.
3. Bake the Crust: Place the pretzel crust in the preheated oven and bake for about 10 minutes, or until lightly golden. Remove from the oven and let it cool completely.
4. Make the Cream Cheese Layer: In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth. Gradually add the remaining ½ cup of granulated sugar and mix until combined. Gently fold in the whipped topping until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
5. Spread the Cream Cheese Mixture: Once the pretzel crust has cooled completely, spread the cream cheese mixture over the crust evenly.
6. Prepare the Strawberry Topping: In another bowl, dissolve the strawberry gelatin mix in 2 cups of boiling water. Stir in the cold water and mix well. Let this mixture cool slightly.
7. Add the Strawberries: Once the gelatin is partially set, gently stir in the sliced strawberries.
8. Combine Layers: Pour the gelatin and strawberry mixture over the cream cheese layer in the baking dish.
9. Chill: Cover the dish and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and 20 minutes, or until set completely.
10. Serve: Once set, cut into squares and serve chilled.

These steps will guide you in creating this incredible Strawberry Pretzel Salad effortlessly.