Lemon puppy chow is a fun citrus and vanilla twist on classic muddy buddies. It is bright and easy to make.
If you are looking for a fun new sweet snack mix, you are in the right place. This recipe combines crunchy cereal, creamy white baking chips and fresh squeezed lemon into a munchable package.
Puppy chow has always been a favorite treat for my family. Despite the name, it is not intended for dogs, it is a sweet snack mix that is also called muddy buddies.
It is built on Chex cereal and usually includes chocolate and other flavorings. The classic puppy chow recipe is made with chocolate, peanut butter and powdered sugar.
We have made several fun flavor twists based on the original. Brownie batter puppy chow is a popular option and so is squirrel chow.
I though it would be fun to do a bright flavor for spring and summer. There was a pile of fresh lemons in the refrigerator, so lemon seemed like a natural choice.
Making the lemon muddy buddies
Start by melting down some butter. I like to get the butter mostly melted before adding the chocolate because sometimes cold butter takes longer than expected to melt and it’s not worth risking scorching your chocolate.
Now stir a bag of vanilla baking chips into the melted butter. Heat the chips using short bursts in the microwave until it stirs smooth.
Now stir in the zest of one lemon and a couple of Tablespoons of fresh squeezed lemon juice. Add the cereal and stir to coat.
Now spoon the mixture into a zipper bag with powdered sugar. Make sure that bag is good and sealed and shake it until all of the cereal is coated.
It’s really that easy, you can do the whole process in less than ten minutes. Easy peasy lemon squeeze-y!
Storing puppy chow
Snack mixes like this store best at room temperature. Make sure it is completely set before you transfer it to an airtight container for storage.
In a cool dry place, puppy chow should store for at least a week. Prolonged exposure to hear and humidity can make it get a little soft, but it will still taste good.
Frequently Asked Questions
What flavor of Chex should I use for puppy chow?
Rice Chex (or similar) is my personal preference for making puppy chow or muddy buddies. However corn Chex or Crispix also work well. You can even use a combination of them if you have several boxes to use up.
Can I use other citrus fruit in this recipe?
Yes! Key lime puppy chow would be fun or use a fresh orange fo
More fun cereal based snack mix recipes
For a savory snack mix, try taco Chex mix. It is similar to the original salty snack, but with taco flavors.
Or try making dilly ranch Chex mix for another crunchy savory winner. It is perfect for ranch dressing lovers.
Peanut butter maple snack mix is a perfect after school treat, road trip snack or portable pick me up! It is full of flavor, texture and plenty of crunch.
Or try making apple pie Chix mix for a cinnamon apple twist on munchy mixes.
Did you make this recipe? Please leave a review in the recipe card below!
Lemon Puppy Chow
Ingredients
- 8 cups rice or corn Chex cereal
- ¼ cup butter
- 12 oz white baking chips
- 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
- zest from 1 lemon
- 1½ cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Melt butter in large microwave safe bowl.¼ cup butter
- Stir in white chips and cook in 20 second bursts until they stir smooth.12 oz white baking chips
- Add lemon zest and lemon juice, stirring to combine.2 Tablespoons lemon juice, zest from 1 lemon
- Fold in cereal until coated.8 cups rice or corn Chex cereal
- Spoon cereal into a gallon zipper bag. Add the powdered sugar, seal the bag, then shake until the cereal is coated.1½ cups powdered sugar
- Spread the puppy chow out to cool.
- Once completely set, put in an airtight container for storage.
Baker
Saturday 30th of March 2024
Made 3 different batches and each time, lemon juice made the creamed white chips gritty and clumpy. Very disappointing and very pricey as a loss.
Carlee
Sunday 31st of March 2024
It does look a little crazy when you put the lemon juice in there. But by the time you stir in the cereal and coat it in powdered sugar, it works out.
Stacy
Monday 14th of November 2022
I love lemon and was super excited to try this recipe. It was great the first day it was made but the next morning the cereal was soft and it made it really difficult to enjoy because it was almost a stall chip consistency. I was so disappointed because I thought we had a new snack. I waited for it to cool a couple hours and then transfered it to a airtight container so I can't imagine it being any different on the next batch. It was wonderful if we could have eat it all the same day I made it.
Andrea Nine
Tuesday 12th of April 2022
You know I love lemon and I love any kind of puppy chow so this is a win-win!
Carlee
Tuesday 12th of April 2022
It is so easy and so good!