Lemon Puppy Chow

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Lemon Puppy Chow is a zesty, irresistible treat that’s bursting with sweet, citrus flavor. Crispy Chex cereal is coated in a blend of lemon juice and white chocolate, then finished with a light dusting of powdered sugar and lemon cake mix!

We’ll use lemon cake mix and white chocolate to cover our Chex cereal for a crunch sweet treat that is so hard to resist. And if you love puppy chow, be sure to try my Funfetti Puppy Chow, S’mores Puppy Chow, and Butterfinger Puppy Chow too!

Why you’ll love this recipe:

If you’re craving a sweet, zesty snack, this Lemon Puppy Chow is the perfect choice. Fresh lemon juice and zest bring a tangy brightness to every bite, while creamy white chocolate, powdered sugar, and lemon cake mix create a sweet, crunchy coating. Quick to make and bursting with flavor, this citrusy twist on a classic treat is sure to become a favorite for any occasion.

Typically puppy chow (aka muddy buddies) is a combination of chocolate and peanut butter coating the Chex cereal and finished off with a powdered sugar dusting. Although we’ll keep the idea the same, this recipe is all about sweet citrus flavoring.

Lemon Puppy Chow is such a fun twist on the classic! It’s super easy to make, loaded with a sweet citrusy flavor, and seriously hard to stop snacking on. Perfect for parties, holidays, or just whenever you’re craving something crunchy and sweet.

Ingredients you’ll need:

• Rice Chex cereal
• Butter- melted 
• Lemon zest 
• Lemon juice 
• White chocolate chips- melted 
• Powdered sugar 
• Lemon cake mix

Lemon Puppy Chow is always a huge hit for spring and summer. The crunchy cereal combined with the lemon flavored white chocolate is dangerously addictive! I find myself popping handfuls in my mouth at a time because it’s just that good. I grew up calling it “puppy chow,” but this recipe is also referred to as lemon muddy buddies.

The crunchy Chex and the creamy lemon and the powdered sugar coating….are you kidding me? It’s a no-brainer! You couldn’t get more “lemon bar” than this unless you actually just made lemon bars. But who would want to do that when they could just do this?  I didn’t think so!

Plus, it’s a total crowd-pleaser—whether you’re whipping up a batch for a party, a holiday, or just because you need a snack that tastes like sunshine. And let’s be real, anything covered in white chocolate and powdered sugar is an automatic win!

How to make the best Lemon Puppy Chow:

• Heat-treat your lemon cake mix by pouring it into a microwave safe bowl and microwaving for 60-90 seconds, stirring halfway through, then set aside to cool completely.
• Add the Chex cereal into a large mixing bowl, then set aside for later.
• In a small mixing bowl, combine melted butter, lemon zest and lemon juice. 
• Add the white chocolate chips into a separate microwave safe bowl and microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring in-between, until melted and smooth.
• Pour the butter and lemon mixture into your bowl of Chex cereal, along with the melted white chocolate, then gently mix until the cereal is evenly coated. 
• Combine the powdered sugar with your heat-treated lemon cake mix from earlier, then pour this into the bowl of Chex and toss to coat.
• Transfer the puppy chow onto a baking sheet, spread it into an even layer and let cool completely.
• Sprinkle the remaining lemon zest evenly over the puppy chow for added flavor and a pop of color.

I seriously cannot get enough of this stuff. It’s sweet (but not in an overpowering way) and crunchy in that way that makes it hard to walk away from, but it also has a refreshing light and bright flavor, just like lemonade. It’s like a little snack of sunshine!

Lemon Puppy Chow is a great recipe for anyone looking to try a fun twist on regular Chex Mix. With its bright citrus flavors, melted chocolate, and powdered sugar coating, it’s a crunchy snack that’s hard to resist. 

Each bite offers the perfect blend of tangy and sweet, making it a yummy treat for birthday gatherings, football parties, holidays, or just because. Whether you’re sharing it with friends or enjoying it yourself, this easy recipe is sure to become a favorite!

This Lemon Puppy Chow recipe is sweet, tart, crunchy, chocolatey, and sugary all at the same time. I guarantee that it’ll curb whatever kind of sweet tooth you’ve got going on!

My top tips:

• HEAT TREATING CAKE MIX: Heat treating the cake mix is an important step to ensuring this Lemon Puppy Chow is completely safe to eat. You’ll add the cake mix into a microwave safe bowl and microwave for 60-90 seconds to get rid of any unwanted bacteria, then you’re good to go!
• CEREAL VARIETIES: Chex cereal is sold in a variety of flavors but the best one for this recipe is the original Rice Chex. If you’re going to use another flavor, I’d only recommend using Corn Chex or Honey Nut. Sticking to basic flavor options for the cereal will let the lemon flavor shine here!
• LEMON ZEST: Try to remember to zest your lemons before squeezing all the juice out of it. This makes zesting much easier since the lemon is still firm and in one piece. Remember to reserve a little lemon zest for garnishing later too!
• MICROWAVING: I recommend microwaving the white chocolate in 30 second intervals to prevent any burning. White chocolate can be especially temperamental and prone to clumping, so it’s important to melt it down slowly.
• COAT EVENLY: Make sure you fully coat the Chex cereal in the lemon mixture and white chocolate. This is what the powdered sugar and cake mix will stick to. I find that if you have a bowl with a lid, it can be easier to pop the lid on and shake rather than sir.
• COOLING: It’s important to let this puppy chow cool completely before storing. If you store it while still warm, the powdered sugar will dissolve, and the cereal will lose that crispy texture.
• STORING: The lemon in this puppy chow recipe does shorten the shelf life a bit. I have found that the cereal gets a little soggy after two days. I recommend making this right before you’re ready to serve for best results. For storage, you’ll want to keep in a sealed storage or freezer bag or in an airtight container in the freezer for the best crunchy texture.

Looking for more snack mixes? Try these out!

• Oreo Peanut Butter Popcorn
• Caramel Chex Mix
• Cinnamon Roll Popcorn
• Lucky Charms Snack Mix
• Gooey Coconut Almond Chex Mix
• Peanut Butter Popcorn
• Churro Bugles
• Captain Crunch Peanut Butter Puppy Chow
• Marshmallow Caramel Corn
• Butter Toffee Pretzels

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