Christmas Puppy Chow
Learn how to make the best reindeer food with this easy recipe for Christmas Puppy chow, with peanut butter, chocolate, pretzels, and candy.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup chocolate chips or chopped chocolate bars
- ¼ cup smooth peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 3 cups rice chex
- 3 cups wheat chex
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 cup roasted salted peanuts
- 1 cup Christmas M&Ms
- 2 cups mini pretzel twists
- 1 bag (7-8 oz) Reeses mini peanut butter cups unwrapped
Instructions
- In a heat-proof bowl, combine the butter, chocolate chips, and peanut butter together. Microwave at 30-second intervals, stirring after each, until melted and smooth. Remove from the microwave and stir in vanilla extract and salt.
- Add rice and wheat Chex to a large bowl and gently stir them together, then pour the chocolate peanut butter mixture over the cereal.
- Gently stir until the cereal is evenly coated in the chocolate.
- Allow the chocolate to cool down slightly (but not harden).
- Add powdered sugar to a gallon-sized ziplock bag. Then add the chocolate-covered Chex. Seal and shake the bag gently to evenly coat the Chex with powdered sugar.
- Spread the puppy chow out onto a baking sheet and allow it to cool and harden. You can speed up this process by placing the tray in the fridge. If needed, break up any clumps.
- Before serving, add the puppy chow to a large bowl. Mix in peanuts, M&Ms, mini pretzels, and mini Reeses cups.
Notes
- To Store: Store the puppy chow in the refrigerator, in a ziplock bag or airtight container for up to one week, or freeze for 1 month. Serve at room temperature.
- It's best to add the nuts and pretzels to the mix just before serving. This way the pretzels and nuts stay crisp and fresh, and the candy doesn't get covered in powdered sugar.
- Package Christmas Puppy Chow in holiday bags or tins and give it out as gifts to friends, family, and neighbors.
- Feel free to replace the candy in the recipe with your favorite holiday candies. You could also add chocolate-covered pretzels instead of or in place of the regular ones.
- Try adding holiday sprinkles! I find it easiest to use red and green decorating sugars and mix them up with the powdered sugar. Otherwise, the sprinkles won't stick, or they'll be hidden under all the fluff!
- You can also switch up the type of Chex. Try all rice Chex instead of the wheat/rice combo, or pick up a box of Crispix instead.
- To make a peanut-free puppy chow, replace the peanut butter with any other nut or seed butter you enjoy, and leave out the peanuts.
Nutrition
Calories: 205kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.05g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 215mg | Potassium: 123mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 295IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 69mg | Iron: 7mg
Find it online: https://littlesunnykitchen.com/christmas-puppy-chow/