I reduced the amount of cereal to 8 cups, and added 1/4 cup butter and 1 tsp of vanilla to it. I cooled it slightly in the fridge before tossing with the powdered sugar so it doesn't absorb it so much...coats better with less. This is soooo adictive. I can't make it unless I know there are people here to help me eat it or it's gone before I know it!
****Here's a tip, line your measuring cup with saran wrap before mesauring the peanut butter. It will slide right out with no messy clean up! I do this for all sticky ingredients (shortening, honey, pb, corn syrup) Works great!***
I had made puppy chow before but with a different recipe. This recipe definitely needed more chocolate. I would recommend a 12 oz bag vs. 1 cup of chips. Using only 1 cup did not coat the cereal nearly enough to make the "puppy chow" consistency [the chex squares did not stick together]!
I love this recipe. The only thing that I would add is that you can microwave the chocolate peanut butter mixture instead of heating on the stove. It makes it much easier. Just microwave for a minute, stir, then microwave for 30 seconds. It works great. Remember to use a microwave safe bowl. Love the recipe. Great snack for kids sleepovers and snacks at lunch.
Cute story to tell... I had a gathering and offered some Puppy Chow to 4 yr-old Anthony. He asked what was in it. I told him it was Chex cereal that had melted chocolate and peanut butter poured on it. Then it was tossed in powdered sugar. He says "Oh no... I couldn't possibly eat that." Thinking he was allergic to something I kind of freaked and asked why not. He put his little hand to his chest, took a step backwards and said "Because it sounds too delicious." FOUR YEARS OLD! Needless to say, I had to give the kid a hug. Anthony proceeded to gobble it up and even took a doggy bag (which he thought was hilarious) home for his brother.
I made this with one full 16 oz. box of Rice Chex, a full bag of chocolate chips, and one cup of p/b. Because of this large quantity, I had to move the sauce from the saucepan to a very large bowl to stir everything. What an easy way to make delicious snacks for a large group! And it's SOOO good!
Really great! A few suggestions. I added half a stick of butter so that the chocolate mixture would be more fluid (thus easier to spread). 9 cups was WAY too much cereal to coat each piece of cereal completely so I'd go with 7 or 8. Really great otherwise =)
Coming across this recipe brought a smile to my face and evoked years and years of delightful memories with my children--classroom treats sleepovers birthday parties...even finding pieces of Puppy Chow underneath their beds! This is a treat I'm sure that has pleased millions of kids and adults alike. The original recipe adds 1/4 cup of butter melted with the chocolate chips and peanut butter in the microwave for about a minute and a half stirring after one minute. Then stir in 1 tsp. of vanilla. Once laid out on waxed paper the challenge is to wait until the Puppy Chow (or Muddie Buddies) is cool before you start nibbling!
LOVE this recipe! I have found that using a paper grocery bag works better for coating the chow with the powdered sugar though. Just a little note.
I had always made this recipe with a stick of butter. I was surprised how tasty it came out with less fat! I did add extra peanut butter to make one cup(to have an even chocolate peanut butter taste.) and just stuck it all in the microwave to melt for a couple minutes.
