What Is Puppy Chow — With a Strawberry Twist?
Traditionally, Puppy Chow (also called “Muddy Buddies”) combines cereal + melted chocolate (and oftentimes peanut butter) + powdered sugar for a crunchy-sweet snack. Wikipédia+1
In this version, we swap chocolate + peanuts for white chocolate, strawberry flavor, and optional fruitiness to mimic the taste of classic Strawberry Shortcake — so you get white‑chocolatey sweetness + strawberry crunch + cereal crispiness in one quick, crowd‑friendly treat.
Ingredients (makes ~8–10 cups)
| Ingredient | Amount / Notes |
|---|---|
| Plain Rice Chex cereal (or Corn Chex) | 6 cups |
| White chocolate chips (or white candy melts) | 1 ½ cups |
| Strawberry jam (or small amount jam/coulis) — optional for extra flavor | ¼ cup Lemon Tree Dwelling |
| Unsalted butter | 2 tablespoons (helps white chocolate melt smoothly) Lemon Tree Dwelling |
| Powdered (confectioners’) sugar | 2 cups — for the classic puppy‑chow “dust” Lemon Tree Dwelling+1 |
| Freeze‑dried strawberries, roughly chopped or lightly crushed | ½ to 1 cup (optional but adds strawberry “pop”) 12 Tomatoes+1 |
Optional add-ins: white chocolate chips, sprinkles, small marshmallows — for extra fun & texture
Instructions
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Melt the white chocolate base
In a microwave‑safe bowl (or double boiler), combine white chocolate chips + butter (and jam, if using). Melt in 20–30 second intervals, stirring between each until smooth and fully melted. Be gentle — white chocolate burns easily. Lemon Tree Dwelling+1 -
Coat the cereal
Place the 6 cups cereal in a large bowl (or brown paper grocery bag / large zip‑top bag for easier mixing). Pour the melted white‑chocolate mixture over the cereal. Gently stir or shake (if using bag) until the cereal is evenly coated. -
Add powdered sugar
Add the 2 cups powdered sugar to the coated cereal. Cover/shake until every bit of cereal is generously coated — this gives the classic “powdery” puppy chow finish. Lemon Tree Dwelling+1 -
Stir in strawberries
If using freeze‑dried strawberries, fold them in now (roughly chopped or lightly crushed), so you get bursts of strawberry flavor & a nice crunch. For extra strawberry flavor, you can also gently mix some strawberry “powder” into the powdered sugar before coating. 12 Tomatoes+1 -
Let it set
Spread the mixture on a baking sheet or parchment paper to cool a bit (about 10–15 minutes). This helps theADVERTISEMENT
