Sweet Easy Neapolitan Puppy Chow Snack Mix

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Few snack mixes can spark joy quite like this vibrant and nostalgic Neapolitan Puppy Chow. Inspired by the classic ice cream trio—strawberry, vanilla, and chocolate—this recipe transforms crispy rice cereal into a rainbow of flavor-packed bites. It’s sweet, colorful, crunchy, and incredibly addicting.

Whether you’re hosting a baby shower, planning a birthday party, or simply need a quick no-bake treat to brighten your day, this mix delivers on both flavor and flair. Each color-coded bite is coated with a different melted chocolate base and tossed in a sugary layer that melts in your mouth. It’s a dessert snack you won’t be able to stop reaching for.

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Preparation Phase & Tools to Use

To make this sweet Neapolitan Puppy Chow Snack Mix as easy as it is delicious, having the right tools on hand is key:

• Microwave-Safe Bowls: You’ll need three to melt your chocolate or candy melts for each flavor (strawberry, vanilla, and chocolate). Make sure they’re heatproof and deep enough to stir easily.
• Large Mixing Bowls: Separate bowls for mixing the cereal with each melted chocolate layer helps keep the colors vibrant and prevents messy blending.
• Rubber Spatulas: These make it easy to fold the cereal into the melted chocolate without crushing it.
• Zip-Top Bags or Large Containers: Useful for shaking the coated cereal pieces with powdered sugar for that classic puppy chow finish.
• Parchment Paper: Ideal for spreading out the finished mix so it can set without sticking together.

Having these tools ready before you start streamlines the process and ensures your mix turns out evenly coated and beautifully colorful.

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Ingredients for the Sweet Easy Neapolitan Puppy Chow Snack Mix

Creating that classic trio of flavors means dividing and conquering. Each flavor layer needs just the right ingredients to hit the mark in both taste and color:

• Rice Chex Cereal: The backbone of this mix—crispy, airy, and the perfect vessel for carrying all that sweet coating.
• White Chocolate Chips: These melt down smoothly and form the base for the vanilla and strawberry layers.
• Milk or Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: Needed to build that rich, chocolatey section of the mix.
• Strawberry Gelatin Powder or Strawberry-Flavored Candy Melts: This brings the fruity flavor and pink hue to the strawberry layer.
• Vanilla Extract: Essential for giving the white layer a clean, sweet vanilla taste.
• Powdered Sugar: Classic for puppy chow—it coats the chocolatey cereal pieces and adds that signature sweet finish.
• Food Coloring (Optional): To brighten up the strawberry and vanilla sections if you’re using plain white chocolate.

Each of these ingredients plays a key role in building the multi-layered flavor and eye-catching color contrast that make this snack so fun and satisfying.

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How To Make the Sweet Easy Neapolitan Puppy Chow Snack Mix

Step 1: Prep and Portion the Cereal

Divide your Rice Chex cereal evenly into three separate large bowls—one for each flavor (chocolate, vanilla, strawberry). This sets the stage for coloring each batch separately.

Step 2: Melt the Chocolate Bases

In microwave-safe bowls, melt each of the following separately:

• White chocolate chips (for vanilla)
• White chocolate with strawberry gelatin or candy melts (for strawberry)
• Milk or semi-sweet chocolate chips (for chocolate)

Melt in 30-second intervals, stirring each time, until smooth.

Step 3: Flavor and Color

• Stir vanilla extract into the plain white chocolate.
• Add strawberry gelatin or pink food coloring to another white chocolate bowl.
• Leave the milk/semi-sweet chocolate as is.

Step 4: Coat the Cereal

Pour each melted chocolate mixture over one bowl of cereal. Gently fold using a rubber spatula until all the pieces are evenly coated.

Step 5: Powdered Sugar Coating

Transfer each flavored cereal batch into a large zip-top bag. Add powdered sugar (about 1/2 to 3/4 cup per flavor), seal, and shake until coated.

Step 6: Set and Combine

Spread each batch on parchment paper to cool and set for 15-20 minutes. Once dry, mix all three flavors in a large serving bowl.

Enjoy immediately or store for later snacking!

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Serving and Storing Your Neapolitan Puppy Chow Snack Mix

This snack mix is as versatile as it is beautiful. Serve it in individual paper cups for parties or pile it high in a colorful bowl for a snack table centerpiece. It makes a great edible gift too—just pack into clear treat bags and tie with a ribbon for a festive touch.

To keep your mix fresh and crunchy, store it in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. Avoid humidity and heat to prevent the chocolate from melting or the cereal from going stale. For longer storage, freeze it for up to a month, and let it come to room temperature before serving.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long does this puppy chow stay fresh?

Stored in an airtight container, it stays fresh for up to 7 days. You can also freeze it for up to a month.

Can I use other cereals instead of Rice Chex?

Yes! Crispix or any similarly shaped cereal works well. Just avoid ones with a strong flavor or coating.

Do I have to use food coloring?

Nope! If you’re using flavored candy melts (like strawberry), you can skip the food coloring. It just helps enhance the color vibrancy.

Is it safe for kids to help with this recipe?

Absolutely! Melting chocolate should be supervised, but kids love shaking the bags of powdered sugar.

Can I make this dairy-free or gluten-free?

Yes. Use dairy-free chocolate chips and gluten-free certified cereal to fit dietary needs.

Will the strawberry flavor be strong?

It depends on what you use. Strawberry gelatin gives a light fruity hint, while flavored candy melts offer a bolder punch.

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Want More Snack Mix Ideas with a Twist?

If you love this Sweet Easy Neapolitan Puppy Chow Snack Mix, you’ll want to try these other creative snack and dessert ideas:

• Cheesy Ranch Potatoes for a savory twist on crowd-pleasing comfort.
• Coconut Snowballs if you enjoy no-bake goodies with a snowy finish.
• Strawberry Crunch Pound Cake for another strawberry-inspired treat.
• Easy Texas Turtle Sheet Cake when you want something rich, chocolatey, and nutty.
• Whipped Shortbread Cookies if buttery simplicity is what you crave.

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Save This Recipe for Later

📌 Save this recipe to your Pinterest dessert board so you can come back to it any time: Life With Olivia on Pinterest

And let me know in the comments how yours turned out. Did you go with classic flavors, or add your own twist? Maybe a raspberry or mint version?

I love hearing how others make these recipes their own. Questions are welcome too—let’s help each other snack smarter!

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