Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 12-oz. box of rice Chex cereal (about 10 cups)
- 2 cups powdered sugar (more as needed / desired)
- pinch of salt
Wet Ingredients
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup peanut butter
- 1/2 cup salted butter
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- Melt Chocolate Mixture: In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine the chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring well after each, until the mixture is completely smooth and melted.
- Add Flavoring: Stir in the vanilla extract and a pinch of salt into the melted chocolate mixture to enhance the flavor balance.
- Coat the Cereal: Pour the chocolate mixture evenly over the Chex cereal. Because this is a large batch, it’s best to divide the cereal into two big bowls and coat each separately for easier mixing.
- Mix Gently: Using a wooden spoon, carefully fold the cereal with the chocolate mixture, taking care to gently coat the pieces without breaking the cereal.
- Coat with Powdered Sugar: Transfer the chocolate-coated cereal into a large resealable plastic bag. Add the powdered sugar on top, seal the bag, and shake gently to coat all pieces evenly. For the best texture and clustering, aim for a wet/dry hybrid coating rather than coating each piece individually until dry.
- Set and Store: Spread the coated cereal out on parchment-lined baking sheets to cool and set. For optimal crunch and clustering, store the Puppy Chow in the freezer.
Notes
- Using salted butter balances the sweetness and adds depth of flavor.
- For even better clustering and crunch, freeze the Puppy Chow before serving.
- Be gentle when mixing to avoid breaking the cereal pieces.
- Adjust powdered sugar quantity based on your desired sweetness and coating thickness.
- Store in an airtight container in the freezer or a cool place to maintain texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
