Royalty Fast Food

Like a bag of traditional potato chips, a bowl of puppy chow makes it hard to quit nibbling once you start. My hand always seems to find its way back into the mix when I claim I’m going in for the last bite. It’s as if I can’t control it anymore.

In 1937, the Ralston Purina Company introduced Chex cereal to grocery shops. Taste claims that the firm mockingly named their new cereal brand “human chow” because they labeled their dog food “dog chow” and their cat food “cat chow.” Puppy Chow replaced that at some point along the process.

While Muddy Buddies are currently sold in pre-packaged bags by General Mills, the company that acquired the Chex food line in 1997, Midwesterner households have been preparing Puppy Chow at home since the 1960s. It was (and still is) the ideal snack for every gathering, including potlucks, movie evenings, bake sales, tailgates, and holiday parties.

Growing up in Ohio, I had fond memories of indulging in it behind the scenes at dance recitals, bringing it as a Valentine’s Day surprise to the school, and switching between nibbles of Puppy Chow and pigs in a blanket during a family friend’s yearly New Year’s Eve celebration.

Why Puppy Chow Is the Best Party Food Ever

Puppy Chow is not only a quick hit with the crowd, but it’s also incredibly simple to prepare. If a group of enthusiastic children were given the recipe, they could make something just as tasty, albeit their hands would probably end up covered in powdered sugar and chocolate.

It’s the perfect gratifying snack—mostly sweet, a little salty, incredibly crunchy, and enough to feed a large group. There are no typical party food dilemmas to worry about, like selecting the prettiest board to serve it on heating it, or skewering it with tiny toothpicks. Since Chex cereal is gluten-free, practically everyone at the party will like this snack. Simply pour it into any big party bowl and you’re set to go. Plus, after the party, you can keep eating leftovers for up to a week.

INGREDIENTS

• 1/4 to 1/2 Teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 1/2 Teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 Cups powdered sugar, divided
• 6 Tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter
• 3/4 Cup smooth peanut butter, such as Skippy
• 1 1/2 Cups semisweet chocolate chips (10 ounces)
• 1 (12-ounce) Box Rice Chex cereal (about 11 cups)

EQUIPMENT

1. Large mixing bowl
2. Medium microwave-safe bowl
3. 1-gallon zip-top bag
4. Parchment paper
5. Rimmed baking sheet

How to Make the Puppy Chow Step-by-Step

The recipe for Puppy Chow found on the internet is essentially the same as the one found on the back of the box of Chex cereal: Nine cups Chex cereal, one cup chocolate chips, half a cup peanut butter, four tablespoons butter, one teaspoon vanilla extract, and one and a half cups powdered sugar. However, after multiple iterations of testing, I can guarantee that a more optimal formula exists.

1. Utilize the entire cereal box. About 11 cups of Rice Chex cereal can be found in a typical 12-ounce box. To avoid the trouble of measuring out nine cups, simply pour the contents of the box into your biggest bowl. It’s simpler, feeds a larger crowd, and doesn’t leave you with an odd quantity of leftover cereal.
2. It increases the other elements. You’ll need more of everything else because you’re using more cereal. Choose 1 1/2 cups semisweet chips (you can experiment with milk, bittersweet, or white if you’d like) and 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter (use Skippy or other non-natural brand for the creamiest texture). This will help create the best part of puppy chow, which is the cereal clumps that stick together and create an extra-large, peanut-buttery bite. All of the sugary sweetness is counterbalanced by adding 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt.
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3. The powdered sugar should be layered for uniform distribution. While making puppy chow is essentially easy, getting the powdered sugar to distribute uniformly throughout the cereal is a bit of a challenge. To fix this, fill a large zip-top bag halfway full of powdered sugar; add half the chocolate-coated Chex; add additional powdered sugar; add the remaining Chex; and last, add the remaining powdered sugar. Next, give the cereal a vigorous shake and observe as it evenly coats itself in a fine powder.