Orange Creamsicle Puppy Chow (it is PEOPLE food!) is a super fun citrus twist on a classic! Sweet vanilla and orange flavor mean you get your favorite ice cream treat in the hand-held form! Don’t miss my traditional Puppy Chow or S’mores Puppy Chow!
Orange Creamsicle Puppy Chow
So you might be wondering what the heck this crazy creation is? Let me break it down for you. Chex cereal coated in vanilla chocolate (although not technically chocolate) that has been flavored with orange extract and a wee lil’ bit of orange zest. That concoction is then coated in confectioners sugar. But then the real test begins… can you stop with one handful? Nope! It seriously tastes like orange creamsicle and I LOVELOVELOVE how stinkin easy it is!
How to Make Creamsicle Puppy Chow
Five simple ingredients make up this treat!
- Chex cereal
- vanilla candy coating
- orange extract
- orange zest
- confectioners sugar
IMPORTANT: You CANNOT use white chocolate morsels in this, the extract will make it seize instantly and be a giant mess and waste of ingredients. In the image above you can see the vanilla candy coating in a block of 8 squares. They come in a handy dandy microwavable tray. You can add the extract and zest right to the melted “chocolate” and stir until incorporated. Just to reiterate, this won’t work with white chocolate morsels.
In case you are wondering, Orange Extract is found at most grocery stores. In the off chance you don’t feel like heading to the store but have all of the other ingredients, you can also get it on amazon.
Start by melting the vanilla candy coating. Once it is fully melted and smooth, you can add the orange extract and zest. Stir well. Now pour the chocolate over the cereal and stir with a spatula.
Pour the chocolate-coated cereal into a large sealable plastic bag and then add the confectioner’s sugar. Shake shake shake.
Pour that onto a cookie sheet and spread it into a flat layer so that every piece can dry. (We sometimes skip this step and eat right out of the bag 😇)
If you happen to have extra zest you can sprinkle the rest of it over the puppy chow. I was not a huge fan of this as orange zest can be a tad bitter, but it does add a little color so folks know what they are getting. Speaking of color…
Food Color: Yay or Nay?
You can add orange food color or 1 small drop of red and 1 small drop of yellow. I prefer to add it to the confectioner’s sugar, and this works best by adding the confectioner’s sugar to a plastic bag, adding the food color, and tossing it until it has changed in color. You can add more food color as needed. This step can take a few minutes, so having the kids help can be an option!
You can also use a food processor to make colorful confectioner’s sugar. Add all sugar to the food processor and then add in your food color. The exact amount varies depending on the color you want to achieve, so I recommend starting with a small amount. Mix for about 30 seconds and then add in more color as desired.
Can This Recipe Be Doubled?
Yes! You can easily double this recipe. Just make sure you have a large enough bowl to mix the ingredients in and that you can work in batches when coating the cereal with chocolate.
How Long Does Puppy Chow Last?
You can store the puppy chow in an airtight container (or in the bag you made it in) on the counter or in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, but I doubt it will last that long! (That is the official answer BTW, I have never refrigerated puppy chow.)
Puppy Chow Variations
I love all of the easy ways you can change up muddie buddies. Some of my favorite variations are:
- Lemon Puppy Chow
- Classic Puppy Chow
- Sprinkles (Birthday Cake) Puppy Chow
- Banana Cream Puppy Chow
- Brownie Puppy Chow
- S’mores Puppy Chow
Want More Orange Creamsicle Treats?
Orange Creamsicle Puppy Chow
Ingredients
- 8 ounces vanilla chocolate, Candiquick
- 1 teaspoon orange extract
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- 1-2 drops orange food color (optional, I did not use)
- 4 cups Rice Chex cereal
- 1 cup confectioners sugar
Instructions
- In a large bowl, add the cereal.
- Melt the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl for 30 seconds, stir, and heat for another 30 seconds. It should be smooth.
- Add in orange extract and orange zest and stir well. (If you are adding food color, do it here.)
- Pour vanilla chocolate over the cereal and stir with a spatula until cereal is coated.
- Carefully pour cereal mixture into a large plastic bag and then pour the confectioners sugar over top. Seal the bag and shake until every piece is coated with sugar.
- Serve and enjoy!
Did you make this recipe?
Thank you for making my recipe! You took pictures, right? Well go ahead and post them on Instagram! Be sure to mention me @iambaker and use the hashtag #YouAreBaker.
I would like to reiterate that this is a HUMAN treat, not one for dogs. In the midwest we refer to these as “Puppy Chow” and others refer to them as “Muddie Buddies”, but they are NOT meant for dogs.
I can not wait to make this! I make the classic Puppy Chow every Christmas for family members. I missed a year one time and boy did my family let me know about it. How surprised will they be this Christmas when they get Creamsicle Puppy Chow! Thanks for sharing!
Just a quick question, since I can’t eat chocolate (white or otherwise), would you have an alternative source of chocolate to making this recipe?
Where can I find the white candy?
This sounds amazing and I want to make it. . My question is; with the addition of orange zest do you need to refrigerate the mix? I would think it would be subject to mold.
Have you made the buddy’s using the chocolate candy, with the orange flavors❓gotta make this. Thanks for all ur goodies‼️ How do u stay so thin , I sure can’t 🤣🤣
I love this idea. I love chocolate and orange, so after I make the first batch I might see if they still make chocolate cereal and then mix the white/orange combo on that.
I used vanilla candy coating & it seized up when I added the extract. Could I use more zest & no extract?
Hum…it shouldn’t! Sorry about the experience nonetheless. You can definitely use more orange zest but it is quite bitter so too much can be overwhleming. You can also try sprinkling extract over the cereal, but this should be down when the cereal is laying flat and even and you can evenly sprinkle the extract.
Can u use not concentrated orange juice instead of orange zest. If so, how much?
Why call it Puupy Chow I wonder. It could confuse some people who would feed it to their dogs and make them very sick.
It seems like not too many of people’s comments/questions have replies from you, but I thought I would try anyway. Or maybe you reply to them personally, but I know I would have liked to have seen the answers to some of their questions. Thanks! I have been wanting a recipe for muddy buddies without peanut butter and finally I have one! Do all of the other Puppy Chow variations have PB? Also…are the vanilla discs/wafers okay to use? I know where to find them, but I’m not so sure about the bars. Thank you !
Hi Linda- the vanilla candy coating is actually in your grocery store, right under the chocolate chips! (It’s usually on the bottom shelf or the very top shelf). They can be easier to find than the discs! 🙂 You can use vanilla or almond bark. As far as the discs, I have used them in a recipe similar to this, but they do not accept the extract as well as the vanilla candy coating and could seize. Hope that helps!