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White bowl filled with towering pile of peanut butter and chocolate coated chex cereal.

The Very Best Puppy Chow Recipe

Yield: 14 to 15 cups
Prep Time: 40 minutes
Cook Time: 2 minutes
Total Time: 42 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 cups (340 g) semisweet chocolate chips (see note)
  • 1 ¼ cups (320 g) peanut butter (see note)
  • 6 tablespoons (85 g) salted butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 10 ½ to 11 cups (352 g) rice or corn chex cereal (a 12-ounce box - see note)
  • 2 ½ cups (285 g) powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons (11 g) natural unsweetened cocoa powder (see note)

Instructions 

  • In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter and cook for 1-minute intervals, stirring in between, until the mixture is smooth and fully melted. Don't overheat. Stir in the vanilla extract.
  • Place the cereal in a very large bowl or divide between two medium/large bowls.
  • Pour the chocolate mixture over the cereal. Use a silicone spatula to gently lift and stir the cereal (so it doesn't crush and break) until it is coated evenly.
  • Let the cereal rest until it goes from wet and shiny to looking a bit sticky, 5 to 10 minutes (this is an important step - If it is too wet, the powdered sugar soaks into the runny chocolate instead of forming a powdery coating on the outside).
  • In a separate smaller bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and cocoa powder (see note).
  • Spoon about half of the powdered sugar mixture in the bottom of two 1-gallon ziploc bags or one 2-gallon ziploc bag (I keep these larger bags on hand just for this recipe - makes it so easy to mix!).
  • Add the cereal mixture to the bag(s). This step can be a bit messy. It helps to fold down the top of the bag a few inches and pile the cereal in.
  • Add the remaining powdered sugar mixture.
  • Close the bag and shake, turning the bag over as you go, until the cereal is mostly coated with the powdered sugar mixture and has formed clusters here and there.
  • (You can continue adding powdered sugar a little at a time and shaking to coat if you'd like a thicker powdery coating on the puppy chow, but be warned that this may result in less clusters.)
  • Spread the puppy chow out on a parchment-lined baking sheet. At this point, you can easily sprinkle on a bit more powdered sugar and toss by hand if there are extra gooey spots that need it. Let the puppy chow sit for 20 to 30 minutes to cool and set.
  • Store the puppy chow in the fridge or the freezer and experience how good life can be when munching on chilled clusters of this magnificent stuff.

Notes

Chocolate chips: if I'm being totally honest, my favorite variation of this recipe is 1 cup semisweet/1 cup bittersweet chocolate chips, but that is information meant solely for the intense chocolate lovers in the crowd. 
Chex: come to find out, the cereal in a 12-ounce box can weigh more than 12 ounces. This recipe calls for the amount of cereal in a 12-ounce box, but I've given weight and volume measures in case you are measuring cereal out of a larger box. If measuring with a measuring cup, don't mound the cereal too high in the cup or you'll end up with too much cereal and the mixture will be dry.
Substitutions: I haven't tried subbing in another type of nut butter or a different type of cereal, but I have a feeling this recipe is pretty adaptable. 
Cocoa Powder: adding a bit of cocoa powder with the powdered sugar in the powdery coating helps bring out the chocolate flavor - the puppy chow is still plenty sweet, just more balanced (and more yummy!). However, you can use all powdered sugar, if you'd like.
Peanut Butter: I love the overall chocolate/PB balance of flavors in this recipe, however, if you want less of a peanut butter punch, you can decrease the PB to 1 cup.