Cookie Butter Puppy Chow (without Peanut Butter)
Every handful of cookie butter puppy chow (without peanut butter) is pure delight. This recipe is a twist on your typical puppy chow. It is made with cookie butter instead of the traditional peanut butter. It is the perfect dessert to enjoy at home, potlucks, school parties, or a Christmas party.
Cookie Butter Puppy Chow (without peanut butter)
The easy swap from peanut butter to cookie butter is simple and delicious! If you have an allergy to peanuts or dislike peanuts, you will enjoy this version made without peanut butter. Due to a peanut allergy in my family, I was in search for a puppy chow version without peanut butter. I tried several different versions of this recipe, but the use of cookie butter set it over the top as the best.
Ingredients
Rice Chex Cereal: The base and the BEST crunch
Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: I prefer semi-sweet as the cookie butter is very rich and sweet
Cookie Butter: So creamy and tasty. The flavor reminds me of gingerbread cookies with hints of caramel.
Powdered Sugar: To coat the rice chex at the end
What is puppy chow?
Puppy chow uses a base of cereal coated with melted chocolate, peanut butter, and powdered sugar. This is a common dessert served in the Midwest. I remember in college making this dessert with friends and placing it in a large Ziplock bag and shaking it up! It is fun to make and eat. It also has another common name called “muddy buddies”.
How to make cookie butter puppy chow
- In a large bowl place your rice chex cereal
- In a medium sized bowl combine chocolate chips and cookie butter
- Melt the chocolate and cookie butter in the microwave. Microwave for 30 seconds, stir and then microwave for additional 15 second increments until melted. NOTE: You can also melt on the stovetop, use low heat and stir frequently to prevent burning.
- Pour half the melted chocolate mixture onto the rice chex cereal.
- Use a silicone spatula to gently stir. Working to not crush the cereal.
- Pour in the other half of the chocolate mixture and finish stirring to coat all the chex mix cereal. NOTE: Pour and mix quickly. You don’t want the chocolate mixture to solidify. I recommend using a large bowl so you have plenty of room to mix.
- Into the same bowl, add half the powdered sugar, mix with the silicone spatula. Add the other half of the powdered sugar and finish mixing it all together.
Why you will love this recipe
Peanut Free: This recipe is completely peanut free. It can be used as an allergen-friendly treat.
No bake: Does not require the use of the oven at all.
Fast: All you do is melt ingredients and mix together.
Prepare ahead of time: A great snack to easily prepare ahead of time. You can take it to a work, school, or a party.
DELICOUS: This is a true “treat”. It is very sweet and a little bit goes a long way. Everyone will love this sweet treat.
FAQ
Why cookie butter?
Cookie butter has a delicious taste and texture. It works so well with the chocolate chips to melt and then coat the rice chex cereal. I tried several other nut butters and almond bark. None of them produced the right consistency or flavor.
Can I melt the cookie butter and chocolate on the stovetop?
Yes, heat on low in a small saucepan. Stir frequently to prevent burning.
Is puppy chow the same thing as muddy buddies?
Muddy buddies is the name of the recipe given by General Mills. They make a prepackaged snack of chex mix cereal covered in chocolate and peanut butter. Another common name you will hear this recipe called is puppy chow.
Substitutions
Cookie Butter: Nutella would be an easy swap!
Rice chex cereal: There are several other types of this cereal and any would work. This includes corn chex cereal, chocolate chex or cinnamon chex.
I attempted this recipe swapping the semi sweet chocolate chips with almond bark and I DO NOT recommend. The consistency was not creamy enough and all the chex mix cereal clumped together.
The perfect Christmas treat
We love to serve cookie butter puppy chow at Christmas gatherings. It is a crowd favorite and an allergen-friendly treat. I know this treat is especially popular in the Midwest around Christmas time. Make a large batch and watch it go quickly. I have found that both kids and adults adore this snack! With the busyness of a Christmas party, this easy treat can be made ahead of time and stored on the counter top for up to a week. You can also freeze it and thaw it out right before a Christmas party.
More delicious treats
Storage and freezing
To store at room temperature: Place in an airtight container for up to a week. You can place in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
To freeze: Place in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 months. TIP: Some people like to eat this snack frozen straight from the freezer.
To thaw from freezer: Thaw in fridge overnight or out on the counter for a few hours. Freezing this mix is a nice option around Christmas. You can prepare a large batch and use it at multiple potlucks or Christmas parties.
Cookie Butter Puppy Chow (without peanut butter)
Ingredients
- 6 cups rice chex cereal
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup cookie butter
- 1 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Place the rice chex cereal into a large bowl.
- In a medium sized bowl, add in the chocolate chips and cookie butter.
- Melt the chocolate chips and cookie butter in the microwave. Microwave for 30 seconds and stir. Microwave for additional 15 second increments until melted.*
- Pour half the melted chocolate mixture onto the rice chex cereal.
- Use a silicone spatula to gently stir without crushing the cereal.
- Pour in the other half of the chocolate mixture and mix to coat all the rice chex cereal.
- Add half the powdered sugar. Mix using a silicone spatula. Add the other half of the powdered sugar. Mix again making sure all the chex mix cereal is well coated.
- Enjoy!
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