This easy sweet snack recipe combines cereal and chocolate, a favorite celebration treat. It's crunchy, and the colors make it perfect for the 4th of July and Memorial Day. Make a batch, and you'll munch on it all day.
Snacking candy
Whoever came up with the idea of mixing cereal with chocolate and throwing in some pretzels has my respect. It's a great project to make with kids and can be varied depending on the occasion, like the Easter puppy chow.
Also called muddy buddies, this version today is a twist on the traditional one that also uses peanut butter; this one doesn't.
You can make half the recipe or double it if you have large bowls and trays. It's very simple, but there are a few details to consider so the snack mix doesn't get soggy or clumpy.
Make it part of your celebration table, along with other red, white and blue desserts, such as red velvet cake pops, patriotic fruit salad and berry cream shortcakes.
FAQ
Due to their shape and texture, Rice Chex or Corn Chex are the traditional choices, but you can experiment with other cereals like Crispix and different flavors of Chex.
How to ensure the candy melts coat the cereal evenly?
Use a spatula and a large bowl to gently fold and mix until all the cereal is evenly coated. Be patient.
Typically, candy melts don't need additional ingredients. However, if the melted chocolate is too thick, add a teaspoon of vegetable or coconut oil to thin it out for a better coating.
How to make puppy chow
Melting the chocolate:
- Microwave: Place candy melts in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on medium power for 1 minute, then stir and continue in 30-second intervals until smooth.
- Double boiler: use a heatproof bowl over simmering water, stirring continuously until melted and smooth.
- Avoid water: ensure no water gets into the candy melts, as it can cause them to seize and become unusable.
Coat the cereal
Melt one of the chocolates and mix it with half of the cereal. It should be warm and you must work quickly before it sets. Repeat with the other colored chocolate and the rest of the cereal.
Coat with sugar
Now comes the fun part: place the red or blue cereal in a bag with powdered sugar and shake it lightly to cover it completely.
Prevent clumps
After coating the cereal with the melted chocolate, spread the mixture on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper to cool and set before you . This is an important step to prevent clumping.
Choose the add-ins
Puppy chow is better with pretzels and candies.
Choose the colors according to the occasion: since this is for the 4th of July, we added red, white and blue candies, pretzels covered in white chocolate and candy stars.
Storage
- Airtight containers and cool dry place: use them to store the puppy chow to keep it fresh and prevent it from becoming stale, away from direct sunlight and moisture to prevent it from getting soggy.
- Refrigeration: If you live in a particularly warm or humid climate, consider storing the puppy chow in the refrigerator to keep it from melting or becoming sticky.
- Freezing: For longer-term storage, you can freeze the puppy chow in a freezer-safe container or bag. Thaw at room temperature before serving. Some people like to eat it very cold.
- Portioning: Divide the puppy chow into smaller, individual portions to make it easier to grab a quick snack and minimize exposure to air each time you open the container.
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Patriotic Puppy Chow (easy candy)
Ingredients
- 4 cups corn or rice Chex cereal
- 1 cup red candy melts
- 1 cup blue candy melts
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 package white chocolate covered pretzels
- 1 cup M&M or similar candies, red, white, and blue
- star sprinkles, red, white, and blue
Instructions
- Heat 1 cup red candy melts according to the package instructions.
- Divide 1 cup powdered sugar into two large plastic bags or containers with tight lids. Reserve.
- Pour the melted chocolate over half (2 cups) of the cereal and carefully stir until all the pieces are fully coated.
- Place on a baking tray in a single layer and let dry a little. This will prevent the powdered sugar from seeping into the warm cereal.
- Transfer the chocolate-coated cereal to one of the bags of powdered sugar. Seal and toss to coat. Spread the coated cereal on a baking sheet to cool completely.
- Repeat the process with 1 cup blue candy melts and the rest of the cereal.
- In a large serving bowl, combine the cooled red and blue cereal with 1 package white chocolate covered pretzels, 1 cup M&M or similar candies and star star sprinkles and serve.
- Store in airtight containers. You can refrigerate or freeze it if the room is too warm or humid so they stay crisp.
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