An orange creamsicle transformed into a sweet and citrusy snack mix!
Orange creamsicle.
Did that get your attention?
Good, because I don’t know anyone on this planet whose ears don’t immediately perk up when those two words are uttered.
Why are we so obsessed with these delightfully orange and creamy treats?
For me, orange creamsicles take me back to my childhood of sitting on my grandma’s front lawn in the warm summer afternoons, eating those little orange sherbet dixie cups. You know, the ones that are half vanilla ice cream and half orange sherbet with the wooden spoon paddle that tasted super piney and woody, yet you used it anyway because it just wasn’t the same with a plastic or metal spoon.
Whether you were a die-hard fan of the good ol’ dixie cup or those classic orange creamsicles, I’m sure you’ll all agree that this Orange Creamsicle Puppy Chow is a wonderful new way to enjoy one of your frozen favorites!
Seriously though. What is it about that orange and cream combo that makes it so satisfying, so addictive?? Why not cherries and cream, or lemons and cream? I think it has to do with how well the sweetness of the vanilla compliments the mellow tartness of the orange.
Just like an orange creamsicle, this treat combines those two lusciously contrasting flavors of orange and cream. It’s TWO different flavors in one, so you get the same experience of eating an orange creamsicle.
The orange chex consists of coating the chex cereal in melted chocolate, then it’s shaken in a mix of orange jello mix (dry) and powdered sugar. The same is done to make the cream chex, but instead of using orange jello mix, you use dry instant vanilla pudding mix. Easy peasy!
While I’ve seen some recipes use real orange juice and orange zest in their puppy chow, I actually prefer the jello mix. It’s that artificial orange flavor that makes this puppy chow taste more like an orange creamsicle. Plus, it adds a nice orange hue to the chex.
Like all puppy chow mixes, this stuff is lethally addictive.
Proceed with caution…
Orange Creamsicle Puppy Chow
Ingredients
- 1 (3.4 oz) box instant vanilla pudding mix (dry)
- 1 (3 oz) box orange jello mix (dry)
- ¾ cup powdered sugar divided
- 8 cups chex cereal divided
- 12 ounces white chocolate chips divided
Instructions
- In one large ziploc bag, combine vanilla pudding mix and 1/2 cup powdered sugar.
- In a second large ziploc bag, combine orange jello mix and 1/4 cup powdered sugar.
- Pour 4 cups of the chex cereal into a large mixing bowl.
- Melt half (6 ounces) of the white chocolate chips in the microwave until smooth. Pour over the chex cereal and stir until coated. Transfer coated cereal to the vanilla pudding mix bag, seal, and shake until well coated.
- Add remaining cereal to the same large mixing bowl you used for the first half. Melt the remaining white chocolate chips in the microwave until smooth. Pour over the cereal and stir until coated. Transfer coated cereal to the orange jello mix bag, seal, and shake until well coated.
- In a large bowl, combine the orange chex with the vanilla chex. Enjoy!