Puppy chow recipes for your holiday parties

We’re not sure how chocolate and peanut butter covered cereal got the name puppy chow, but with just one bite, we easily forget all about the name. Puppy chow is a favorite both during the holidays and any time you need a quick and easy treat to feed a crowd. The original puppy chow recipe is absolutely addicting, but you can also make a few other varieties that are guaranteed to be just as delicious.

Related story Ina Garten Just Shared Her Prized Holiday Ham Recipe & the Secret Glaze Ingredient Comes From a Jam Jar

The original puppy chow recipe combines chocolate, peanut butter, crispy cereal and powdered sugar. While the original recipe doesn’t need any adjustments, you can easily make a few small changes to boost the flavor or just have something different from the usual. Add in a little peppermint extract or various other flavorings for an added flavor boost or mix in nuts or pretzels for an added crunch and a bit of a salty flavor. After everything is mixed, you can also toss in colorful candies, sprinkles or even mini-marshmallows for a festive look. The options are endless, so get creative with what you have on hand.

The original puppy chow

Yields 3 cups

Ingredients:

• 3 cups Crispix cereal
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/4 peanut butter
• 6 ounces chocolate chips
• 1 cup powdered sugar

Directions:

1. Melt butter, peanut butter and chocolate in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir frequently to avoid burning the mixture.
2. Pour cereal into a large bowl and pour melted mixture over the top. Stir gently with a large spoon until the cereal is coated.
3. Pour powdered sugar into a plastic container with a lid and pour in the cereal. Put the lid on and shake it to coat the cereal in the sugar.
4. Store in the plastic container in the refrigerator.

For those who don’t like chocolate, if that is even possible, or if you just want something a bit different, try this cinnamon version. It is just as easy to make and just as hard to stop eating once you start! You’ll likely have to make a batch of each variety.

Cinnamon puppy chow

Yields 3 cups

Ingredients:

• 3 cups Crispix cereal
• 1/4 cup butter
• 2 ounces cream cheese
• 6 ounces vanilla candy coating or vanilla chips
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cinnamon
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar

Directions:

1. Melt butter, cream cheese and vanilla chips in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir frequently to avoid burning the mixture.
2. Pour cereal into a large bowl and pour melted mixture over the top. Stir gently with a large spoon until the cereal is coated.
3. Make a cinnamon-sugar mixture by combining the sugar and cinnamon. Pour cinnamon-sugar into a plastic container with a lid and pour in the cereal. Put the lid on and shake it to coat the cereal in the sugar. When it is coated, add in the powdered sugar and shake again to coat the mixture.
4. Store in the plastic container in the refrigerator.

More holiday treats

Vegan chocolate almond cookies
Holiday wreath cookie recipes
Stained glass cookies for the holidays