Fluffy Strawberry Shortcake Puppy Chow
This fluffy strawberry shortcake puppy chow is a sweet, crunchy snack coated in creamy white chocolate and a strawberry-vanilla powdered sugar mix. Made with rice cereal and freeze-dried strawberries, it delivers the nostalgic flavor of strawberry shortcake in a fun, snackable treat perfect for parties, movie nights, or gifting.
Ingredients
Puppy Chow Base
- 9 cups rice square cereal such as Rice Chex
- 12 oz white chocolate chips high-quality
- 0.5 cup unsalted butter
Strawberry Coating
- 1 cup freeze-dried strawberries blended into powder
- 1.5 cups powdered sugar
- 0.25 cup instant vanilla pudding mix dry
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 pinch salt
Instructions
- Place the freeze-dried strawberries in a blender or food processor and pulse until they become a fine powder. In a large zip-top bag, combine the strawberry powder, powdered sugar, instant vanilla pudding mix, and a pinch of salt. Shake well to combine.
- Pour the rice square cereal into a large mixing bowl and set aside.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the white chocolate chips and butter. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until completely melted and smooth. Stir in the vanilla extract.
- Immediately pour the melted chocolate mixture over the cereal. Gently stir with a spatula until all the cereal pieces are evenly coated. Work quickly so the chocolate does not set too soon.
- Transfer the coated cereal into the prepared zip-top bag with the strawberry mixture. Seal the bag with some air inside and shake vigorously for about one minute until every piece is evenly coated.
- Spread the coated cereal onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper in a single layer. Allow it to cool completely for about 20 minutes until the coating sets.
Notes
For extra flavor and texture, mix in crushed golden sandwich cookies or additional white chocolate chips once the puppy chow has cooled. Stir gently when coating the cereal with chocolate to prevent breaking the squares. If you don't have a blender, place the freeze-dried strawberries in a zip-top bag and crush them with a rolling pin until powdered.
