Introducing Lemon Puppy Chow, a delightful spin on the traditional Muddy Buddies recipe, bringing a burst of citrusy delight to each bite. This snack merges the crunch of Chex cereal with the tangy sweetness of lemon.
I love making it in the summer months. I bring it as a treat for summer parties, picnics, and potlucks. Really just about anytime we need to bring something.
The light citrus flavor isn’t overly sweet. I have a hard time resisting and eating just a few. The taste resembles a lemon meringue pie with it’s bright flavor.
Holiday Food Gift
This is one of those easy recipes that makes a pretty food gift. The best part about this recipe is that it is so easy, inexpensive, and people love it. I like to gift quart jars of this during the holiday season.
What is Lemon Puppy Chow?
If you have never tried the lemon version, it’s the citrus counterpart to the classic recipe of traditional puppy chow. For those unfamiliar, Peanut butter Muddy Buddies is a homemade snack featuring cereal, chocolate, peanut butter, and powdered sugar.
Tips for Lemon Puppy Chow Success:
This simple recipe can be perfected with the following tips:
- White Baking Chips: Use white baking chips instead of white chocolate chips for best results. They melt more smoothly and evenly, ensuring a perfect coating on your cereal.
- Microwave Chips in Short Intervals: Heat the chips for 1 minute or less at a time, stirring between each interval to prevent burning.
- Use Low Heat with a Double Boiler: When melting white chocolate, do it gently. Use a double boiler or bowl over a small pot of water. Low heat and a gentle simmer works best.
- Coating Evenly: Use a large plastic bag for mixing to ensure every piece of Chex cereal is thoroughly coated without any mess.
- Cool Completely: Allow the coated cereal to cool fully on a cookie sheet before storing to avoid clumping and maintain crispiness.
- Fresh Lemon Zest: For the best flavor, use fresh lemon zest. A micro plane zester is ideal for obtaining fine, aromatic zest without the bitter white pith.
Lemon Puppy Chow Snack Mix Recipe
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Kitchen Essentials
Ingredients
- 5 Cups Rice Chex
- 4 Cups Corn Chex
- 11/2 Cups White Baking Chips
- 4 Teaspoons Lemon Zest grated
- 2 Tablespoons Lemon Juice
- 1/4 Cup Butter softened
- 11/2 Cups Powdered Sugar
text ingredients
Instructions
Stove Top Directions:
- Place cereal in a large bowl and set aside.
- Make the lemon zest and set aside.
- In the top of a double boiler or a metal bowl over hot water, add the baking chips, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Melt the chips and stir until smooth. Remove from heat and stir in the butter until blended.
- Pour the lemon chocolate mixture over the cereal. Gently toss to coat.
- Add powdered sugar and gently toss to coat. For the plastic bag option: add the powdered sugar to a 2-gallon resealable food storage plastic bag. Add in the cereal mixture, seal the bag, and shake until all the cereal is well-coated.
- Spread onto waxed paper to cool. Store in an airtight container.
Microwave Directions:
- Use a microwavable bowl. Microwave white chocolate baking chips, butter, lemon zest, and juice uncovered on high for 1 minute. Stir.
- Microwave for 30 more seconds and stir. If the mixture isn’t smooth, continue microwaving for 15-second intervals and stirring until smooth.
- Pour the mixture over the cereal, gently stir until the cereal is evenly coated.
- Add powdered sugar and gently toss to coat. For the plastic bag method: add the powdered sugar to a 2-gallon resealable food-storage plastic bag. Add in the cereal mixture, seal bag, and shake until all the cereal is well-coated.
- Spread onto a waxed paper-lined baking sheet to cool. Store in an airtight container.
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How to Make Lemon Zest:
Lemon zest is made from the outer lemon peel. It’s always a good idea to wash your lemon thoroughly. Use a micro plane zester or the fine side of a box grater to gently scrape the lemon’s outer yellow skin, avoiding the bitter white pith underneath. Collect the zest in a bowl, ready to use in your recipes.
Recipe Variations:
This simple recipe offers numerous ways to switch up the flavors of this fun snack:
Lemon Blueberry Puppy Chow: Add dried blueberries for a lemon-blueberry combination that adds color and flavor.
Coconut Lemon Puppy Chow: Mix in shredded coconut for a tropical twist. You can also use coconut oil instead of butter for melting the chocolate.
Mint Lemon Muddy Buddy: Add a few drops of mint extract for a refreshing lemon-mint combination. Start with a small amount and adjust to taste.
Lemon Almond Puppy Chow: Mix in slivered or chopped almonds for a nutty crunch that complements the lemon flavor.
Lemon Raspberry Puppy Chow: Add freeze-dried raspberries for a tart and sweet lemon-raspberry combo that adds a pop of color and flavor.
Cheesecake Lemon Puppy Chow: Mix in some crushed graham crackers and a touch of cream cheese flavoring for a delightful lemon cheesecake twist.
Lemon Pistachio Puppy Chow: Incorporate chopped pistachios for a unique and delicious lemon-pistachio flavor.
Lemon Ginger Puppy Chow: Add a bit of ground ginger or finely chopped candied ginger for a zesty lemon-ginger variation.
Cranberry Lemon Muddy Buddy: Mix in dried cranberries for a festive and tangy lemon-cranberry combination.
We hope you enjoyed this easy recipe. No bake desserts are always welcome on the menu at our house. This lemony snack mix is one to keep in your recipe box.
You can find Victoria crocheting, quilting, and creating recipes. She has cooked in restaurants for over 20 years, including many larger parties. She learned to crochet when she was just 11 years old and has been crocheting ever since; over 50 years now. Over 40 years ago, she loved her first class in sewing and continues to hone her skills in quilting. Many have enjoyed the handmade gifts over the years. In her professional career, she has worked in management in a wide variety of businesses including higher education as a dean of a division. All the while attending college part-time to achieve her doctorate in higher education with an emphasis in e-learning.
easy and delicious