Puppy Chow
- Total Time
- 20 minutes
- Rating
- Notes
- Read community notes
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Ingredients
Yield:12 cups
- 1(12-ounce) box of Chex, Crispix or similar cereal (about 11 cups)
- 1½cups bittersweet chocolate chips or 10 ounces/283 grams chopped bittersweet chocolate
- ¾cup creamy peanut butter
- 1teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
- 1½cups/185 grams confectioners’ sugar
- Kosher salt
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (14 servings)
308 calories; 13 grams fat; 5 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 6 grams monounsaturated fat; 2 grams polyunsaturated fat; 48 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams dietary fiber; 27 grams sugars; 5 grams protein; 160 milligrams sodium
Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
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- Step 1
Place the cereal in a large bowl. Melt the chocolate and peanut butter in the microwave or on the stovetop. Microwave in a bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until nearly completely melted, then stir to melt completely. On the stovetop, stir in a small saucepan over low heat. Off the heat, stir in the vanilla.
- Step 2
Pour the chocolate-peanut butter mixture over the cereal and stir vigorously to coat. Refrigerate until the chocolate is cool, tacky and less shiny than melted chocolate, 10 to 15 minutes.
- Step 3
Spread the cereal in an even layer on a sheet pan. With a spoon or fine-mesh sieve, sprinkle some of the powdered sugar evenly over the cereal, add a pinch of salt, then toss with a spoon or your hands, or both, until evenly coated. Repeat with the remaining powdered sugar (adding the sugar in batches ensures it doesn’t all soak into the chocolate). Set aside to set, at least 5 minutes. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 to 4 days, or in the fridge or freezer for months.
Private Notes
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Cooking Notes
mkammah
You don’t know what this does to me. To have my favorite childhood treat legitimized by NYTimes Cooking. A snack that I had to leave behind when I moved out of Indiana to New York because it never seemed “classy” enough for any occasion, but that I have longed for ever since. And now to see it here in print in my favorite cooking resource, it’s as though my life has come full circle. Thank you, thank you!
FiatLux
I've been making this for years! Use Crispix, big hollow shape holds the chocolate better. TIPS: Melt 1 stick butter with 1 cup peanut butter over low heat, TURN OFF heat add 1 bag choc chips stir to melt - better consistency to coat cereal. In large bowl with a lid (like the giant 18 inch Tupperware) alternate layers cereal/melted choc, GENTLY FOLD the mixture DO NOT STIR VIGOROUSLY TO COAT or you will break all of the cereal. When coated add powdered sugar, put lid on bowl, gently toss. YUM!
Sarah
You can make this with almond butter, cashew butter, sunflower seed butter, etc!
L Peterson
When I made this in Jr. High in Iowa, we put the cereal into a garbage bag and poured the powdered sugar in, then tied the bag and tossed it around like a balloon. I believe this recipe may have come from the Better Homes and Gardens test kitchens in Des Moines.
KC
Try substituting ridged potato chips for the cereal.
Erich Hayner
It has an unfortunate name; call something "puppy chow", and invariably somebody who doesn't know that chocolate is basically poisonous to dogs will give their pet (or someone else's) a treat. Can we call this something else? How about monster munchies?
Courtney
Added a stick of butter and melted with a cup of peanut butter, folded in chocolate off the heat to melt. Layered the cereal and pb choc mixture in a bowl and gently folded, then spread out on a sheet tray to chill for 15 min in the fridge before covering with powdered sugar. Perf!
Barbara jv
What about using tahini in place of peanut butter? Or date syrup?
Annette
Use sunflower seed butter substitution for a school safe version!
Keyser Röle
Parents of students with peanut allergies will disagree with you.
Annie Patterson
Sadly, most schools in our area won't allow treats that contain peanut butter due to concerns about severe allergies.
you can easily vegan-ize this one
...if you make this for vegan family and friends...(1) non-dairy chocolate chip options are now easily found in grocery markets and (2) confectioner's sugar isn't always vegan, just double-check the packaging. Enjoy!
Lee L.
If you worry about peanut allergies, swap out with other nut butters.
Gail
I just made this the other day. If you like pb and chocolate, try it. It's not fancy but it'll get the job done on a Tuesday night after the kids've gone to bed.
Linda Bell
Simple recipe to take for elementary school treats, if this is still done, and all the kids will love it and you.
Liz M
These were less sugary than "traditional" puppy chow or muddy buddies. That was nice for my adult palate but seemed slightly underwhelming for my kid party goers. Overall easy and tasty though!
Jasper
Easy and yummy!
willow
I baked this with my mom when i was little and havent been able to have it, or find a recipe because i couldn't remember the name.
Rovania
I have been making Puppy Chow for years, but found this recipe to be the best by far. Laying the chocolate coated chex on a cookie sheet to cool, and then gradually adding on the Confectioner's sugar was a game changer. I always shook in the bag in the past, and it made for gummy Puppy Chow.
Never Ever Freeze Tofu
I wanted to make it as written (saving butterlicious recipe for later), and had a concern that adding vanilla would make the chocolate seize...and it did! That means the chocolate, even layered, was really difficult to work with, and really the vanilla flavor is impossible to detect with bittersweet + PB. so, ignore the "option" of adding vanilla...I imagine butter would make this less of a problem, but you really don't need the vanilla.
hungry hank
Any thoughts on using Nutella in this thing? No peanut butter…less or no chips….
Lisa F
It's yummy but too sweet for us even after cutting the confectioner sugar in half. I actually liked it better without the sugar! Added a little more salt.
Joanne Peterson
When I made this recipe when I was young, it was common to use the semi-sweet chocolate chips. In my mind, the bittersweet chocolate would make it even better. My husband can't have peanuts, so sunflower butter, or a very good tahini will substitute for the peanut butter.
KJM
I love adding a 1/2 cup of peanuts in to the mix, too! Gives some texture and a little more peanut flavor
mak
This is wonderful. I first had this when a friend brought it to a holiday event. She called it "Reindeer Food" but confessed that the real name was puppy chow. So simple yet so great to eat!
Gail
Is the sugar really necessary?
Kudra
Take all leftover half eaten chocolate bars and melt them in
elberomi
Any advice on the type of PB? All natural or shelf stable Skippy, etc?
A
I used Skippy. Turned out great.
Annie K
This was terrible! At the stage where I put the tray in the fridge, the whole thing just hardened and became impossible to pull up. So disappointed as I've used other methods like the plastic bag before and they worked great. Bummed. Feel like I've wasted a bunch of great ingredients.
Brie
Why did you put the tray in the fridge? I think you may have misread the recipe. It says you can store it in the fridge but that's after you mix and coat in powdered sugar.
Pretzel
Brie: Step 2 says "Refrigerate until the chocolate is cool, tacky …" etc.
alex j
Would try semi sweet chips next time instead of bittersweet.
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