Cherry Cheesecake Puppy Chow Recipe

So, Let Me Tell You About My Cherry Cheesecake Puppy Chow Obsession

Okay, true story: I first made this on a random Tuesday while procrastinating on actual life stuff—bills, laundry, all that jazz. (Spoiler: neither got done that day, but at least dessert happened!) For me, Cherry Cheesecake Puppy Chow is this delicious love child of the retro snack mix and, well, my stubborn craving for cheesecake at any time of day. The first time I brought it to a family BBQ? Only the dog was disappointed, because he couldn’t have any. Sometimes I think the biggest challenge with this recipe is just not eating it all straight from the mixing bowl. Anyway, let’s dive in before I get all misty-eyed about powdered sugar.

Why You’ll Totally Want to Make This

I make this when I need a sweet pick-me-up (or when I’m avoiding awkward Zoom calls). My family goes absolutely bonkers for it because it’s creamy, crunchy, and sweet—the holy trinity. Sometimes I throw this together just to feel fancy without turning on the oven (win!). If you’ve ever been let down by bland snack mixes before, this is like an edible apology. Word to the wise: the powdered sugar situation gets messy, so have a damp cloth ready. Trust me. I learned the hard way not to wear black while making this.

Grab These Ingredients (But, Y’know, Improvise If Needed)

• 6 cups rice Chex cereal (corn works if that’s what’s left in the pantry—no judgment!)
• 1 cup white chocolate chips (I’ve used vanilla Almond Bark when chips were hiding somewhere mysterious)
• 4 oz cream cheese, room temp (I sometimes zap mine for 10ish secs if it’s cold, but don’t walk away or it turns into a sad puddle)
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter (melted—Grandma would only use real butter, but honestly, margarine works fine in a pinch)
• 1 cup powdered sugar, but have more nearby for coating—feels like you always need more than you think
• 1 (3.4 oz) box cheesecake instant pudding mix (if you can’t find it, vanilla works but you lose a little of that tart cheesecake tang; not the end of the world)
• 1/2 cup freeze-dried cherries (way easier to find than you’d think, but I used dried cranberries once and didn’t hate it)
• 1/2 cup mini graham cracker pieces (optional, but don’t skip unless you hate happiness)

Here’s How I Usually Pull This Off

1. First up, dump the Chex into the largest bowl you own. If yours is MIA, split it in two smaller bowls. Probably you’ll spill some, but that’s life.
2. In a microwave-safe bowl, go for 30 second bursts melting the white chocolate chips, butter, and cream cheese together. Stir every zap. Don’t freak out if it looks lumpy—it smooths out mostly (I promise!). This is where I sneak a little taste, for “quality control.”
3. Once smooth-ish, stir in the cheesecake pudding mix. Don’t worry if it’s a bit thick; just keep mixing until it’s blended. (It’ll look a little weird. That’s normal.)
4. Pour that mixture over your Chex and gently toss. I use a silicon spatula, which is fancy talk for the one that survived last year’s burnt caramel incident. Try to coat the cereal but accept imperfect coverage.
5. Now, tip everything into a big zip-top gallon bag (or two, if you doubled because you live on the wild side). Dump in the powdered sugar. Zip tight and shake like you’re trying to win the lottery. If it’s still sticky, add more sugar and shake it again; think of it as a light workout.
6. Once it’s all powdery and beautiful, toss in the freeze-dried cherries and mini graham cracker pieces. I use my hands for this because spoons are overrated, but up to you.
7. Spread it out on a baking sheet to cool/dry for a few minutes. Or just wait ten seconds if you have no chill (I never do).

A Few Notes (Yep, Learned The Hard Way)

• If your chocolate seize up, don’t panic! Just add a teaspoon of coconut oil and heat gently. Actually, I find it works better if you go slow with the microwave; impatience does not pay here.
• Once, I tried color sprinkles to make this “festive”—looked cute, tasted weird. Maybe skip that.
• The pudding mix can create little clumps—just smoosh them into the cereal as best you can. It’s rustic, okay?

Variations I’ve Tested—Some More Successful Than Others

• I swapped white chocolate for semi-sweet once. Don’t do it. It’s weird with the cherries—unless you like that sort of thing, in which case, you do you!
• Freeze-dried raspberries also work for a tangier punch. But someone’s kid declared it “too sour”.
• For a gluten-free situation, use GF cereal and skip the grahams. No drama, still delicious.
• Oh, and if you’ve ever tried adding actual cherry preserves? Yeah, it gets way too sticky. Just trust me.

Handy Gear—But You Can Totally Improvise

• Large mixing bowl (if you don’t own one, that old pot at the back of the cupboard works just fine)
• Microwave-safe bowl, but a saucepan over low heat does the job if you’re feeling old-school
• Gallon zip-top bag—if you’re bag-less, just use a big airtight container and shake with wild abandon

How I (Try to) Store It

I keep it in an airtight container on the countertop; fridge makes it weirdly solid. That said, in my house it never lasts more than a day! A friend said it freezes fine, but honestly who has that kind of self-control?

Serving This Stuff and Maybe a Little More

I love throwing it in a big bowl for movie night. Sometimes I go full party mode and portion it into little paper cups for “mingle snacks” (fancy, I know). My cousin likes sprinkling it on ice cream—which sounds a bit much but okay, live your best life. By the way, you can serve it with coffee and, weirdly, people start talking about their childhoods. Don’t ask me why.

Things I Learned the Hard Way (Pro “Tips”)

• Do NOT skip lining the sheet pan for cooling—unless you enjoy prying sticky cereal off metal. I once tried to “save time” and…yeah, don’t repeat my mistakes.
• Let it cool before closing up in a container or you get soggy, sad puppy chow. I know it’s tempting, but patience! (Well, as much as you can muster.)

The FAQs—Real Questions I’ve Gotten, Pinky Swear

• Can I use regular cherries instead of freeze-dried? Sure, but they make things sticky fast. I’d stick with the dried or freeze-dried kind for less mess.
• Is this safe for dogs? Ha, no. Despite the name, this is for humans only! Always get that question.
• Can I double the batch? Oh, absolutely—but you’ll need two bags (and maybe a second person to share the sugar-shaking fun!)
• What about using other pudding mixes? Funny you ask! I tried chocolate one time—tasted fine, but lost all that “cheesecake” charm.
• Do I have to sift the powdered sugar? Honestly, I never bother. Lumps are part of the charm, right?
• For more Puppy Chow shenanigans, Sally’s Baking Addiction has a classic recipe that’s also great; or if you want snack mix ideas for a crowd, I’ve actually used tips from Bon Appetit—they have some legit flavor combos.

And, if you still have questions (or just want to share disaster stories), honestly just drop me a note because snack mix chat is my favorite kind of chat. Happy munching!

★★★★★ 4.80 from 120 ratings

Cherry Cheesecake Puppy Chow Recipe

yield: 8 servings

prep: 15 mins

cook: 5 mins

total: 20 mins

A delicious sweet snack mix featuring cherry and cheesecake flavors in a crunchy, chocolatey puppy chow treat. Perfect for parties or as an indulgent dessert snack.

🖨️ Print Pin Recipe

Ingredients

• 6 cups rice cereal squares (Chex)
• 1 cup white chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup cherry preserves or cherry pie filling
• 1/3 cup cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
• 1/4 cup freeze-dried cherries (optional, for garnish)

Instructions

1. 1
   In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine white chocolate chips and cream cheese. Microwave in 20-second intervals, stirring until smooth and melted.
2. 2
   Stir in cherry preserves and vanilla extract into the melted mixture until well combined.
3. 3
   Gently fold in the rice cereal squares, coating them evenly with the cherry cheesecake mixture.
4. 4
   In a large zip-top bag, add powdered sugar and graham cracker crumbs. Add coated cereal to the bag, seal, and shake until all pieces are fully coated.
5. 5
   Spread puppy chow on a baking sheet to cool. Garnish with freeze-dried cherries if desired. Allow to set before serving.

CLICK FOR NUTRITION INFO ↑

Approximate Information for One Serving

Serving Size: 1 serving

Calories: 290 caloriescal

Protein: 3gg

Fat: 8gg

Saturated Fat: 0g

Trans Fat: 0g

Cholesterol: 0mg

Sodium: 0mg

Potassium: 0mg

Total Carbs: 50gg

Fiber: 0g

Sugar: 0g

Net Carbs: 0g

Vitamin A: 0

Vitamin C: 0mg

Calcium: 0mg

Iron: 0mg

Nutrition Disclaimers

Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.

Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.

To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings. Result will be the weight of one serving.

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