Would you believe I just made “puppy chow” for the first time ever this past month?

I’ve eaten puppy chow since I was a kiddo. My sister makes it on the regular for her family. It’s part of the holiday cookie treat spread in many family homes. It seems to be an easy treat amongst families. And it’s evidently pretty well know… It just so happens, I’ve never made it myself.

I previously created a seasonal bucket list for us to fulfill as a family and one item included keeping seasonal (halloween) treats in the house (checked this box over and over so far). Another goal I have (for right now and heading into 2019) is cooking, baking and generally making at home more often.

As most who have made it know, making puppy chow is very easy and can be a whole bunch of family fun to make. Puppy Chow is fool proof, let me repeat that, fool proof. The Chex Cereal box includes the recipe on the back so even a novice such as myself can readily learn how to create this yummy treat. Really it’s a win win for all. A tasty little treat that’s easy peasy to make.

For my part, it was all about elevating it to make it a titch more fun and add a seasonal flare. I wanted to create a dessert style trail mix for weekday lunch boxes and a readily available treat that J could grab by the handful in between tasks of a work day.

First, I ensured we actually had the basic ingredients needed. As a home full of peanut butter lovers, my initial concern was that we would not have enough peanut butter in our jar to make our puppy chow. Naturally, any excuse to go to the store, I had  go to the grocery to load up. In the process I added a few surprise treats to the mix. Fall M&Ms and chocolate covered pretzels because, yum. Texture changes and flavor changes would make for a more enjoyable treat in the long run and I am all about celebrating holiday, if even by color palette.

Now, just a few tips for you first timers. Make sure you have large mixing bowls and maybe a few on hand. I portioned out all ingredients prior to prep which really increases the joy of cooking for me. Plus, as J will tell you, if I don’t pre-portion ingredients, I will miss one, two or even three. Recipes generally need all ingredients in order to taste as intended. Next, get the kiddos involved. This recipe is so easy it would be a shame not to include the kids. Melting, mixing, tossing and eating. It really is that simple. What a fun way to introduce the kiddos to the kitchen and cooking.

We melted, we mixed, we tossed in powdered sugar and mixed in our seasonal ingredients. Then we ate.

Halloween Puppy Chow

The perfect easy treat to add a seasonal flare to. The recipe is as easy as reading the back of  cereal box and then adding a bit of your own flare. 

Scale 1x2x3x

Ingredients

The Essential Ingredients (recipe can be found on the back of any Chex™ Cereal box)

• 1 box Chex™ Cereal (9 cups)
• 1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1/4 cup butter or margarine
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1.5 cups powdered sugar

Additional Seasonal Ingredients (choose what your family loves most) 

• 1 bag seasonal M&Ms® 
• 1 bag Flipz Milk Chocolate Covered Pretzels

 

Notes

Time To Make the Magic

1. Pour 9 cups of Chex™ Cereal into a large bowl, set aside
2. In a medium sized microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter until smooth and combined.
   1. I melted in 45 second segments, stirring between segments and adjusted time as needed.
3. Once smooth, stir in vanilla

Now It’s Time to Get Messy

1. Move 3 cups of Chex™ Cereal to another awaiting large bowl and pour in 1/3 of the chocolate mixture. Combine with cereal until cereal seems to be well coated. 
2. Once cereal is well coated, pour 1/2 cup of powdered sugar into bowl and toss until coated once more.
3. Pour prepared Puppy Chow onto a rimmed cookie sheet to cool.
4. Repeat steps 1 – 3 twice more.

Once Puppy Chow is cooled add in all desired seasonal ingredients. Move to a large bowl and serve.

Yummy in your tummy!

Whether it’s Halloween, Christmas, Hanukkah, Easter or Tuesday, this treat can be created and modified until your hearts content. The recipe makes a pretty large batch, so it would be wise to make when there is opportunity to share.

Enjoy!