Lemon Puppy Chow Recipe

There's something about lemon that holds a special place in my heart. (And belly.) This Lemon Puppy Chow recipe is sweet, tart, crunchy, chocolatey, and sugary all at the same time. I guarantee that it'll curb whatever kind of sweet tooth you've got going on.

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Sweet, tangy lemon

Hello friends. You NEED to make this recipe RIGHT AWAY. I just devoured half the bag of this Lemon Puppy Chow Recipe by myself...in one sitting. It's literally the perfect snack! You can eat it with your hands and there's no clean up required because you can dig in right out of the bag.

There's something about lemon that holds a special place in my heart. (And belly.) This Lemon Puppy Chow recipe is sweet, tart, crunchy, chocolatey, and sugary all at the same time. I guarantee that it'll curb whatever kind of sweet tooth you've got going on.

Don't love lemon as much as I do? Don't worry. I have a few other puppy chow recipes linked in this blog post if you're looking for something a little different.

Another cake box remix with just a few ingredients

Rice Chex Cereal: I used about half a family sized box.

Lemon Supreme Cake Mix: I love the amount of flavor they pack into this dry cake mix.

Powdered Sugar: For some extra sweetness.

White Chocolate: I used Ghirardelli white chocolate chips.

Lemon Extract: To really crank up that lemon flavor.

Lemon Zest: DO NOT just lemon juice. It will negatively affect the recipe.

Kitchen tools

To make Lemon Puppy Chow, you'll need a mixing bowl, microwave safe dish, rubber spatula, measuring cups, and a gallon size storage bag.

Let's make this Lemon Puppy Chow

1. In a microwave safe bowl, melt white chocolate in 30 second increments, stirring between each rotation. Once completely melted, add in lemon zest and stir.
2. Pour Rice Chex cereal into a gallon size storage bag. 
3. Pour melted white chocolate in the bag. Zip and gently toss until all of the cereal is covered. You can do this in a mixing bowl if you prefer.
4. Combine powdered sugar and dry lemon supreme cake mix in a bowl. Then, fold together. 
5. Add sugar mixture into the storage bag. Zip it back up and toss around. 
6. Let puppy chow chill in the refrigerator for 8 hours or overnight prior to consuming. Feel free to add more lemon zest if you want even more lemon flavor.

Customize your puppy chow

While this Lemon Puppy Chow is delicious, you can customize it to your liking with other fun flavors! Add in butter for a smooth, rich flavor, or try a different dry cake mix like red velvet, vanilla, carrot, or even gingerbread. Use sprinkles to make your snack more colorful and festive.

You can make this puppy chow recipe gluten-free, dairy-free or vegan with the right types of chocolate & mixtures if desired.

Want to make it more like a trail mix? Pretzels, animal crackers, M&Ms, nuts, or small pieces of solid white chocolate would be a fabulous addition to this Lemon Puppy Chow.

I like to store puppy chow in a fresh container rather than what it’s made in. Use a Tupperware or fresh baggie.

Lemon puppy chow tips

How should I store puppy chow?
Store in an airtight container for up to one week. I personally like to keep mine in the refrigerator.

Any tips for success?
The secret is to get the right ratio of chocolate to powdered sugar—and in this case, cake mix. This recipe was tested a few times to ensure that it is 🙂

Anything I should watch out for?
DO NOT use lemon juice in this recipe in place of lemon extract or zest. It will make your cereal soggy. Also, use a large enough bowl or storage bag to ensure equal coating on your cereal. And make sure you’re using a microwavable safe bowl when melting the white chocolate.

What's the best way to melt chocolate?
You can melt chocolate in the microwave in a microwave-safe bowl. Be sure to keep an eye on it and stir until it's completely melted. You can also create a double boiler on the stove top, which will melt the chocolate with steam. Fill a sauce pan about half way with water and simmer. Place a heat-safe bowl just large enough to fit on top of the sauce pan over the water and add your chocolate. Keeping the heat low, stir the chocolate with a rubber spatula in the bowl until melted.

Check out these other amazing recipes

Funfetti Puppy Chow

S'mores Puppy Chow

Oreo Puppy Chow

Funfetti Pancake Bread

S'mores Brownie Skillet

Chocolate Pretzel Bark

I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. It’s my passion to create dishes that can be shared with others. Tell me something you loved, something that you think it might need, or just say hi!

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