By Becky Hardin
Published Nov 23, 2018
Puppy Chow is a chocolate-y treat that’s sure to please! This easy puppy chow recipe includes an original version AND a mint chocolate puppy chow version. Find out how to make puppy chow for a simple yet delicious holiday treat!
Puppy Chow Recipe
After making mom’s famous Chex Party Mix , I started thinking about my other favorite snack mix: PUPPY CHOW. If you’ve never had this delicious little snack before (or if you’ve never even heard of it), then you’re in for a real treat today because this is the BEST puppy chow recipe in existence.
I have always found my mom’s recipe for puppy chow to be different (and better…let’s be honest) than all the others I’ve tried. I think it’s the Ghirardelli milk chocolate chips and the extra powdered sugar! And to make things even better, I’m giving you two versions: I’ll show you how to make puppy chow AND how to add an extra fun twist with MINT puppy chow. They’re both so good!
I can’t decide between original and mint, so I usually just make both! This stuff is so good. It’s the perfect little snack to serve at parties, especially holiday parties! Something about that kick of mint makes it feel so Christmasy. And a batch of this stuff would make a fun Christmas gift too!
This puppy chow recipe is easy and delicious. Make the original flavor or add in some mint! Either way, it’s perfect fort he holidays!
What is Puppy Chow?
There might be some of you out there who have never been blessed with the gift of puppy chow…if that’s you, I’m really sorry you’ve been missing out on this for so many years. But I’m here today to change your life with the BEST puppy chow recipe.
A lot of people are confused by the name of this stuff and assume it’s a snack for dogs. Wrong! Puppy Chow is a sweet, chocolatey treat for people, and it’s pretty addicting. I guess the name comes from the fact that it resembles puppy food at a glance, but take a look at these photos and tell me it doesn’t look like the most delicious thing ever .
This classic snack is also known as Muddy Buddies, Monkey Munch, or Reindeer Chow.
Puppy Chow Ingredients
So what’s in puppy chow anyways? It starts with a classic corn/rice cereal, usually Crispix or Chex. This recipe make puppy chow with Crispix. It’s coated in chocolate, peanut butter, butter, and powdered sugar, and then shaken up into true perfection!
- Crispix (or Chex)
- Milk Chocolate Chips
- Peanut Butter
- Butter
- Vanilla Extract
- Powdered Sugar
It’s a pretty basic ingredients list, which means you might already have everything you need in the pantry. That’s one of my favorite things about it really; the fact that you can open your pantry and pull this snack together without any planning!
Mint Chocolate Puppy Chow
Like I said before, you’re getting two flavors in one with this easy puppy chow recipe! Just make the base recipe for the original chocolate and peanut butter flavor. To make mint puppy chow, you only need to add in one extra ingredient!
What makes this recipe “mint kissed” is the Andes Creme de Menthe baking chips. I love love love andes mints. I think the real reason I go to Olive Garden is for the chocolate mints they give you after dinner, rather than for the Italian food! I know I’m not the only mint chocolate addict here, so mint puppy chow just seemed like an obvious choice.
These baking chips have such a nice creamy mint flavor that compliments the milk chocolate so well. It’s the perfect way to add in an extra kick to the recipe. And I think mint chocolate is such a great flavor for Christmas too. Something about that freshness just feels wintery and festive!
How to Make Puppy Chow
Just like most of the recipes I make around here, this puppy chow recipe is super easy! I love a simple snack that you can make in a pinch for parties (or just for those intense chocolate cravings that seem to come out of nowhere). Whether you make the original or the mint, this stuff will be ready to eat in no time!
How to make puppy chow:
- Start by placing the Crispix cereal in a bowl, and then set it aside.
- In a saucepan, melt the butter, chocolate chips, mint chips (if you’re making the mint version), and peanut butter over low heat until it’s completely melted and smooth.
- Pour the chocolate mixture over the cereal, and lightly stir until the cereal is evenly and completely coated.
- Place half the powdered sugar in a seal-able container. Add all of the chocolate covered cereal into the container, and then cover it with the rest of the powdered sugar.
- Shake gently until all of the cereal is evenly coated with sugar. (I like a lot of powdered sugar, but you can adjust the amount to fit your taste.)
- After coating in sugar, place the puppy chow on wax paper, and allow it to cool and dry completely.
No baking, just shaking! Now that’s an easy party snack I can get behind. Make a bunch all at once and store it in an airtight container or resealable bag at room temperature. I love having this stuff around to snack on!
And there you have it! When I was making these, I noticed my mom added a note to her 2001 recipe card: “For those of you who find yourselves addicted, there are PCA meetings (Puppy Chow Anonymous)” She didn’t want me to blog that part (sorry mom!), but it’s so true. This puppy chow recipe is absolutely amazing and quite possibly addicting. Enjoy and eat responsibly!
See the recipe card below for details on how to make Puppy Chow. Enjoy!
If you like this recipe, try these other fun snacks and treats:
- Salted Caramel Puppy Chow
- Reindeer Food Snack Mix
- Homemade Gardetto’s Recipe
- How to Make Candied Walnuts
- Easy Sugared Cranberries Recipe
- Mini Cheese Ball Bites
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 10 cups Crispix Cereal 290 grams
- ▢ 1 cup milk chocolate chips 170 grams, Ghirardelli recommended
- ▢ 1 cup Andes Creme de Menthe Baking Chips 170 grams, for mint puppy chow! (SEE NOTE)
- ▢ ½ cup creamy peanut butter 135 grams, Jif recommended
- ▢ 8 tablespoons unsalted butter 113 grams (1 stick)
- ▢ ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract 2 grams
- ▢ 3-4 cups powdered sugar 339-452 grams (SEE NOTE)
Instructions
- Place the cereal in a large bowl and set aside. 10 cups Crispix Cereal
- Melt the chocolate chips, Andes Mint Chips (if making mint puppy chow), peanut butter, and butter in a medium-sized saucepan over low heat. 1 cup milk chocolate chips, 1 cup Andes Creme de Menthe Baking Chips, ½ cup creamy peanut butter, 8 tablespoons unsalted butter
- Add the vanilla and stir. ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Pour the chocolate mixture over the cereal and stir gently until well coated.
- Place half of the powdered sugar in a large plastic container which has a lid. 3-4 cups powdered sugar
- Place all of the chocolate-coated cereal in the container.
- Cover with the other half of the powdered sugar and seal tightly.
- Shake gently (upside up and down) until the cereal has been evenly coated with powdered sugar.
- Spread onto waxed paper to cool and dry completely.
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
Becky’s Tips
- NOTE: To make regular puppy chow, simply omit the Andes mint chips and use an equal amount of regular chocolate chips in their place.
- NOTE: You can adjust the amount of powdered sugar to your tastes
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Puppy Chow Recipe (Mint and Traditional)
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
Ingredients
- 10 cups Crispix Cereal 290 grams
- 1 cup milk chocolate chips 170 grams, Ghirardelli recommended
- 1 cup Andes Creme de Menthe Baking Chips 170 grams, for mint puppy chow! (SEE NOTE)
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter 135 grams, Jif recommended
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter 113 grams (1 stick)
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract 2 grams
- 3-4 cups powdered sugar 339-452 grams (SEE NOTE)
Instructions
- Place the cereal in a large bowl and set aside. 10 cups Crispix Cereal
- Melt the chocolate chips, Andes Mint Chips (if making mint puppy chow), peanut butter, and butter in a medium-sized saucepan over low heat. 1 cup milk chocolate chips, 1 cup Andes Creme de Menthe Baking Chips, ½ cup creamy peanut butter, 8 tablespoons unsalted butter
- Add the vanilla and stir. ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Pour the chocolate mixture over the cereal and stir gently until well coated.
- Place half of the powdered sugar in a large plastic container which has a lid. 3-4 cups powdered sugar
- Place all of the chocolate-coated cereal in the container.
- Cover with the other half of the powdered sugar and seal tightly.
- Shake gently (upside up and down) until the cereal has been evenly coated with powdered sugar.
- Spread onto waxed paper to cool and dry completely.
Notes
- NOTE: To make regular puppy chow, simply omit the Andes mint chips and use an equal amount of regular chocolate chips in their place.
- NOTE: You can adjust the amount of powdered sugar to your tastes
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
