1Heat-treat your lemon cake mix by pouring it into a microwave safe bowl and microwaving for 60-90 seconds, stirring halfway through, then set aside to cool completely.
2Add the Chex cereal into a large mixing bowl, then set aside for later.
3In a small mixing bowl, combine melted butter, lemon zest and lemon juice.
4Add the white chocolate chips into a separate microwave safe bowl and microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring in-between, until melted and smooth.
5Pour the butter and lemon mixture into your bowl of Chex cereal, along with the melted white chocolate, then gently mix until the cereal is evenly coated.
6Combine the powdered sugar with your heat-treated lemon cake mix from earlier, then pour this into the bowl of Chex and toss to coat.
7Transfer the puppy chow onto a baking sheet, spread it into an even layer and let cool completely.
8Sprinkle the remaining lemon zest evenly over the puppy chow for added flavor and a pop of color.
Heat treating the cake mix is an important step to ensuring this Lemon Puppy Chow is completely safe to eat. You’ll add the cake mix into a microwave safe bowl and microwave for 60-90 seconds to get rid of any unwanted bacteria, then you’re good to go!
The best Chex cereal for this recipe is the original Rice Chex. If you’re going to use another flavor, I’d only recommend using Corn Chex or Honey Nut. Sticking to basic flavor options for the cereal will let the lemon flavor shine here!
Try to remember to zest your lemons before squeezing all the juice out of it. This makes zesting much easier since the lemon is still firm and in one piece. Remember to reserve a little lemon zest for garnishing later too!
I recommend microwaving the white chocolate in 30 second intervals to prevent any burning. White chocolate can be especially temperamental and prone to clumping, so it’s important to melt it down slowly.
Make sure you fully coat the Chex cereal in the lemon mixture and white chocolate. This is what the powdered sugar and cake mix will stick to. I find that if you have a bowl with a lid, it can be easier to pop the lid on and shake rather than stir.
It’s important to let this puppy chow cool completely before storing. If you store it while still warm, the powdered sugar will dissolve, and the cereal will lose that crispy texture.
The lemon in this puppy chow recipe does shorten the shelf life a bit. I have found that the cereal gets a little soggy after two days. I recommend making this right before you’re ready to serve for best results. For storage, you’ll want to keep in a sealed storage or freezer bag or in an airtight container in the freezer for the best crunchy texture.