Description
This festive Christmas Puppy Chow recipe is a delightful and easy-to-make holiday treat combining crunchy Chex cereal with a smooth, melty chocolate and peanut butter coating, sprinkled with powdered and festive sanding sugar for extra sweetness and sparkle. Perfect for parties, gift-giving, or enjoying a sweet snack during the holiday season.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 9 cups Chex cereal
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 cup festive sanding sugar
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare the cereal: Measure the 9 cups of Chex cereal and place them in a very large mixing bowl, ensuring the bowl is larger than you think you need to comfortably mix later. Set aside while preparing the chocolate mixture.
- Melt chocolate mixture: Over medium heat on the stovetop, combine 1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips, 1/2 cup smooth peanut butter, and 1/4 cup butter in a saucepan. Stir constantly until everything is fully melted and combined, forming a smooth chocolate coating. Remove from heat.
- Add vanilla and cool: Stir in 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract into the melted chocolate mixture. Allow it to rest for 2-3 minutes to cool slightly, making it safer to coat the cereal without melting it.
- Coat the cereal: Pour the melted chocolate mixture over the Chex cereal in three stages. Gently fold the mixture into the cereal with a spatula each time to coat without breaking the cereal pieces. Toss gently until all pieces are evenly coated.
- Prepare sugar coating: In a large airtight plastic bag, combine 2 cups powdered sugar with 1 cup festive sanding sugar. Shake the bag to mix the sugars evenly.
- Sugar coat the cereal: Add the chocolate-coated cereal to the sugar bag in stages, tossing gently to coat the cereal completely with the sugar mixture. Remove the coated cereal onto a wax paper-lined rimmed baking sheet, spreading it out in a single layer.
- Chill to set: Place the baking sheet with the coated cereal into the refrigerator and chill for 1 hour to let the coating set firmly.
- Serve and store: After chilling, remove from the refrigerator. Serve at room temperature or keep chilled until ready to enjoy. Store in an airtight container for freshness.
Notes
- Use a very large bowl to mix cereals and chocolate to avoid breakage.
- You can substitute creamy peanut butter with natural peanut butter for a different flavor but ensure it is well-stirred.
- For a festive look, use red and green sanding sugar or any holiday-themed colors.
- Store leftover Puppy Chow in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
- This recipe can be doubled easily for larger gatherings.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (about 40g)
- Calories: 190
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 110mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 10mg
