Description
This Valentine’s Strawberry Cheesecake Puppy Chow is a delightful no-bake snack mix featuring crispy rice cereal coated in a creamy strawberry cheesecake-flavored white chocolate mixture, dusted with powdered sugar and strawberry cake mix, and accented with festive Valentine-themed sprinkles. Perfect for a sweet holiday treat that’s quick to prepare and irresistibly tasty.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 5 cups rice cereal squares (like Chex)
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup freeze-dried strawberries (finely crushed)
- 1 ounce cream cheese (softened)
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup strawberry cake mix (dry)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup Valentine-themed sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare Cereal: Place the rice cereal squares in a large mixing bowl and set aside to prepare for coating.
- Melt Chocolate: In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the white chocolate chips in 30-second intervals, stirring in between each interval until smooth and fully melted.
- Mix Cheesecake Base: Add the softened cream cheese, crushed freeze-dried strawberries, vanilla extract, and salt to the melted white chocolate. Stir thoroughly until smooth and well combined to create the strawberry cheesecake coating.
- Coat Cereal: Immediately pour the creamy mixture over the rice cereal in the large mixing bowl. Gently stir with a spatula or spoon to evenly coat all the cereal pieces without breaking them.
- Combine Dry Mix: In a large zip-top plastic bag, combine the powdered sugar and dry strawberry cake mix, shaking gently to mix evenly.
- Coat with Sugar Mix: Transfer the coated cereal into the zip-top bag with the sugar and cake mix. Seal the bag tightly and shake thoroughly until every piece of cereal is fully coated with the sugar mixture.
- Cool and Dry: Spread the coated puppy chow onto a parchment-lined baking sheet in an even layer. Allow to cool and dry completely at room temperature.
- Add Sprinkles: Once the snack mix is dry, optionally mix in Valentine-themed sprinkles for a festive and colorful touch.
- Store: Store the finished puppy chow in an airtight container at room temperature until ready to serve.
Notes
- Use freeze-dried strawberries instead of fresh to prevent sogginess and maintain crisp texture.
- Puppy chow can be prepared up to 3 days ahead and stored at room temperature in an airtight container.
- Optional mix-ins like mini marshmallows or candy-coated chocolates add extra festive flavor and texture.
