Cherry Cheesecake Puppy Chow
Ingredients:
- 6 cups Rice Chex cereal
- 1 ½ cups white chocolate chips (or vanilla candy melts)
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 (3.4 oz) box cheesecake pudding mix (instant)
- ½ cup cherry chip cake mix (or strawberry cake mix if cherry isn’t available)
- 1 cup freeze-dried cherries
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened (optional – for a drizzle)
Directions:
1. In a large bowl, measure out the Rice Chex cereal and set aside.
2. Melt the white chocolate chips (or vanilla candy melts) in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring between each until smooth.
3. Pour the melted white chocolate over the cereal and gently stir until all pieces are evenly coated.
4. In a separate large resealable plastic bag, combine the powdered sugar, cheesecake pudding mix, and cherry chip cake mix.
5. Add the coated cereal to the bag with the dry mixture. Seal the bag and shake well until every piece is thoroughly coated.
6. Spread the coated cereal mixture onto a parchment-lined baking sheet to cool and set.
7. Once set, fold in the freeze-dried cherries gently to preserve their texture.
8. For an optional drizzle, melt the softened cream cheese in the microwave for 20-30 seconds until pourable and drizzle over the puppy chow. Allow to set before serving.
Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cooking Time: 10 minutes | Total Time: 20 minutes
Kcal: Approx. 180 kcal per serving | Servings: 8 servings
Tips:
Use a gentle folding motion when adding freeze-dried cherries to avoid crushing them.
For extra flavor, chill the puppy chow for 30 minutes before serving to help the coating firm up.