Fluffy Strawberry Shortcake Puppy Chow Recipe

I came up with Quick Strawberry Shortcake Puppy Chow, a playful recipe that fits perfectly as a Snack To Share for summer parties.

I made a Fluffy Strawberry Shortcake Puppy Chow that actually tastes like a grown up cereal dream gone pink. Imagine crunchy rice cereal dusted in powdered sugar and a kiss of freeze dried strawberry powder, with melty white chocolate chips hiding in every handful.

It’s the kind of Easy Dessert Treats that turns any get together into instant fun, perfect for Puppy Chow Ideas or a Snack To Share at summer parties. I kept it quick, no fuss, and a little bit addictive, so bring a bowl and some friends, you’ll see why this one gets passed around fast.

Why I Like this Recipe

– I love that it’s sweet with a little fruity punch, totally addictive and hard to stop eating.
– I like the mix of crunch and fluff, every bite’s different and kinda fun to eat.
– I like that it’s quick to throw together when I’m lazy, perfect between homework and hanging out.
– I like bringing it to parties cause it’s colorful and people actually fight over the bowl, makes me feel proud.

Ingredients

• Rice Chex cereal: Light crunchy base, mostly carbs, little fiber, helps keep it airy and crunchy.
• White chocolate chips or melts: Loads of sugar and fat, makes it sweet and creamy, not very healthy.
• Unsalted butter: Adds silky richness and fat, helps coating stick, mostly saturated fat.
• Powdered sugar: Ultra fine sweetness, clings to cereal producing that classic puppy chow coating.
• Freeze dried strawberry powder: Bright tart strawberry flavor, some vitamin C and fiber, natural color boost.
• Vanilla extract: Tiny bit of aroma that lifts sweetness, negligible calories, pure flavor.
• Pink sanding sugar or sprinkles (optional): Adds sparkle and crunch, pure sugar so just decorative not nutritious.

Ingredient Quantities

• 9 cups Rice Chex cereal
• 12 ounces white chocolate chips or white candy melts
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup freeze dried strawberry powder
• 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
• Optional 1/3 cup pink sanding sugar or sprinkles

How to Make this

1. Put 9 cups Rice Chex into a very large bowl and line a baking sheet with parchment or wax paper, set both aside. Sift the 1/2 cup freeze dried strawberry powder if it’s lumpy, then mix that with 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar and 1/4 teaspoon fine salt in a large zip-top bag or another big bowl.

2. In a microwave safe bowl melt 12 ounces white chocolate chips with 2 tablespoons unsalted butter in 20 to 30 second bursts, stirring between each burst until smooth. Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Don’t overheat or it’ll seize, if it gets chunky stop microwaving and stir until smooth.

3. Pour the melted white chocolate over the cereal and gently fold with a spatula until most pieces are evenly coated. Try not to smash the Chex, go slow and use a scooping motion so it stays fluffy.

4. Working in batches, transfer coated cereal into the zip-top bag with the powdered sugar and strawberry mix, seal and shake until everything is well coated. If you used a bowl sprinkle the sugar mix over the cereal and toss gently with a spatula.

5. Dump the coated puppy chow back onto the prepared baking sheet and use a spatula to separate any big clumps. Let it sit at room temp until the chocolate firms up, about 10 to 15 minutes. If you need it faster pop the sheet in the fridge for 5 to 10 minutes but don’t leave it too long or it can sweat when brought back to room temp.

6. If you want extra sparkle, toss about 1/3 cup pink sanding sugar or sprinkles over the still slightly tacky pieces and gently fold so some will stick. If the coating is already fully set, sprinkle on top for decoration instead.

7. Taste test and if you want a stronger strawberry punch, you can dust a tiny extra sprinkle of freeze dried powder over a portion and toss, just be gentle so you don’t powder everything into clumps.

8. Store the puppy chow in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, longer in the fridge. If refrigerated, let it sit at room temp a bit before serving so it doesn’t get chewy or sweaty.

9. Serve in bowls, paper cones, or jarred as a party favor. It’s messy and fun, so have napkins ready, trust me you won’t be able to stop picking at it.

Equipment Needed

1. very large mixing bowl (for the 9 cups Rice Chex)
2. large baking sheet lined with parchment or wax paper
3. large zip-top bag (gallon) or a second big bowl for coating
4. microwave safe bowl for melting the white chocolate
5. rubber or silicone spatula for folding and spreading, try not to smash the Chex
6. fine mesh sieve or small sifter to break up the freeze dried strawberry powder
7. measuring cups and spoons (1/2 cup, 1 1/2 cup, 1/4 tsp, etc)
8. airtight container or jars for storing and serving, dont forget napkins for the mess

FAQ

Fluffy Strawberry Shortcake Puppy Chow Recipe Substitutions and Variations

• Rice Chex cereal: Corn Chex, plain Cheerios, Rice Krispies, or any gluten free puffed rice/corn cereal if you need GF. Texture and taste will change a bit but they’ll still hold the coating.
• White chocolate chips or white candy melts: chopped white chocolate bars (better melt), almond bark/vanilla melting wafers, or white chips plus 1 tsp vegetable oil to loosen them if they’re too thick. Real white chocolate melts creamier, candy melts are easier to work with.
• Unsalted butter: coconut oil (solid, same measure, might add light coconut flavor), salted butter (skip the extra salt), or stick margarine/vegan butter for dairy free options. Results vary slightly in mouthfeel.
• Freeze dried strawberry powder: grind whole freeze dried strawberries yourself, use strawberry drink mix like unsweetened Kool‑Aid sparingly, or swap with 2–3 tsp strawberry extract plus extra powdered sugar to keep the coating dry. Adjust sweetening and color as needed.

Pro Tips

1) Heat the white chocolate slowly and don’t rush it. Microwave in short 20 second bursts and stir a lot, or better yet use a double boiler if you got one, it cuts the chance of seizing. If it does go grainy try stirring in 1 teaspoon neutral oil (vegetable or light olive) to loosen it up, works more often than you’d think.

2) Coat without crushing the Chex by working in small batches and using a scooping motion with a silicone spatula. If you find big clumps, break them apart with clean hands or a fork while the chocolate is still slightly tacky, rather than waiting until everything is rock hard.

3) For even strawberry flavor and no weird clumps, sift the freeze dried powder first and dust in two light passes instead of dumping it all at once. If you want a brighter pop of fruit, save a little powder to sprinkle on a few pieces at the end so some bites are extra strawberry-forward.

4) Store smart so it stays crisp and pretty. Keep at room temp in an airtight container for up to 3 days, and if you do refrigerate put it back to room temp before serving so it stops sweating. For gifting, pack in small jars or paper cones so pieces don’t get smashed in one big mass.