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The Best Puppy Chow (Muddy Buddies)

The Best Puppy Chow (Muddy Buddies)

This 15-minute puppy chow is as easy to make as it is yummy. Chex cereal is coated in a chocolate, peanut butter, and vanilla mixture before being tossed in powdered sugar. The result is completely craveable and crunchy bites of peanut butter and chocolatey goodness. If you've never tried this sweet snack, you might want to double (or even triple) the recipe. Trust me- it disappears fast!
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Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 8 approx. half-cup servings
Author: Camy

Equipment (Shop on Amazon)

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Measure and pour your Chex cereal into a large mixing bowl. Set aside.
    4 cups Chex cereal
  • Add the milk chocolate melting wafers, creamy peanut butter, and vanilla extract to a microwave-safe measuring cup or bowl. Microwave in 20-second increments at 50% power until completely melted, stirring vigorously after each time you heat it.
    ½ cup Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Flavored Melting Wafers, ⅓ cup creamy peanut butter, ½ tsp vanilla extract
    Peanut Butter Chocolate Mixture
  • Pour the melted chocolate and peanut butter mixture over the Chex cereal and mix using a silicone spatula spoon until all cereal pieces are completely coated. As you mix the cereal, gently scoop from the bottom of the bowl to ensure you get any pools of chocolate that have settled.
    Chex Cereal Coated With Chocolate and Peanut Butter
  • Pour the chocolate-coated cereal into a 1-gallon plastic zipper bag and add the powdered sugar. Seal the bag and shake it until all the cereal is coated in powdered sugar. Make sure you flip the bag upside down a few times to ensure all pieces receive a good coating of powdered sugar.
    (At this point you can spread the puppy chow out on a sheet pan to help the coating set up more quickly but, if I'm being honest, I always end up eating it right out of the bag- it turns out fine!)
    ¾ cup powdered sugar
    Puppy Chow After Being Mixed In a Ziploc Bag
  • Enjoy your puppy chow! Once the outer chocolate coating is completely cooled and set, store the puppy chow in an airtight bag or container.

Notes from the Happy To Be Here Kitchen

 

Tips & Tricks for Perfect Puppy Chow: 

 
Use peanut butter that is solid at room temperature... to ensure the coating on the puppy chow pieces will be set up fully even if not kept in the fridge. While I have not tried it, natural peanut butter likely will not work in this recipe.
If you feel this puppy chow is too sweet for your taste... replace the milk chocolate wafers with Ghirardelli's dark chocolate melting wafers. Or, mix the two kinds together. 
If you don't have Ghirardelli melting wafers... you can substitute in your favorite chocolate chips. Consider adding about a teaspoon of butter or oil to help get the smoothest melted chocolate possible.
Chips are more prone to seizing up when heating, so keep a close eye on them when microwaving. If your chocolate seizes up, you can try adding a teaspoon or two of butter to it, heating it for 20-25 seconds in the microwave at 50% power, and then stirring it aggressively. However, it's unlikely that you'll be able to get the chocolate back to a thin enough consistency to be pourable, a requirement for this recipe. 
This is why I love the Ghirardelli melting wafers! I have never had any issues with the consistency when melting them. 
Make sure you add the vanilla extract before microwaving... to prevent the chocolate from thickening/seizing. Regardless of whether you're using melting wafers or chips, you do NOT want melted chocolate to come into contact with cold liquid.

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