Description
Sweet cherry cheesecake puppy chow delivers a delightful twist on classic snack mix. Creamy, tangy, and irresistibly crunchy, you’ll find this treat impossible to put down.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 6 cups Rice Chex cereal
- 1 cup cherry-flavored baking chips (or white chocolate chips)
Binding/Melting Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons cream cheese powder
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) cherry gelatin powder (optional)
Coating Ingredients:
- 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper, creating a clean surface for cooling the puppy chow.
- Transfer Rice Chex cereal into a spacious mixing bowl, ensuring ample room for coating.
- Combine cherry chips (or white chocolate mixed with gelatin) and butter in a microwave-safe bowl, heating in 20-second increments and stirring between each interval until the mixture becomes completely smooth and glossy.
- Incorporate cream cheese powder and vanilla extract into the melted mixture, whisking thoroughly to create a uniform blend with no lumps.
- Gently cascade the warm mixture over the cereal, using a spatula to carefully fold and ensure each cereal piece is evenly and generously coated.
- Carefully pour the coated cereal into a large zip-top bag or container, preparing for the powdered sugar dusting.
- Seal the bag securely and vigorously shake to distribute the powdered sugar, creating a complete and even coating on each cereal piece.
- Spread the finished puppy chow across the prepared baking sheet, allowing it to cool and set at room temperature for approximately 15-20 minutes.
- Once fully cooled and crisp, transfer to an airtight container for storage or serve immediately for maximum freshness and crunch.
Notes
- Pick white chocolate chips for a more authentic cherry flavor when cherry chips are unavailable.
- Use food-grade gelatin to enhance the cherry essence and create a more vibrant taste profile.
- Chill the mixture briefly to help the coating set faster and prevent clumping during sugar coating.
- Adjust powdered sugar quantity based on desired sweetness level, allowing personal taste preferences to guide the process.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 50mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 10mg