White Chocolate Vanilla Peanut Butter Puppy Chow

Some people call this Peanut Butter Chex Mix.

Some people call it Puppy Chow.

I’ve seen it called Reindeer Feed this time of year when mixed with pretzels and other add-in’s like M & M’s or peanuts. 

Some people call it Bury Your Face In This Bowl.

I had never tried making puppy chow with white chocolate, but decided to give that a whirl for today’s version since white chocolate pairs so well with peanut butter.

Then again, most things pair well with peanut butter for me.

Especially when there are four cups of powdered sugar involved.

Tip: If you liked this recipe, make sure to try my loaded Christmas Puppy Chow as well! 

 

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White Chocolate Vanilla Peanut Butter Puppy Chow (Gluten Free; with Vegan option)

1 c white chocolate chips

2/3 c peanut butter

1/3 c butter (or margarine/Earth Balance)

1 tsp vanilla extract

6 cups+ Chex or Crispix cereal – rice, corn, or combo (I used Crispix that was half corn/half rice.  In the past I have made Puppy Chow from Rice Chex but it crumbled more easily when stirring.  The corn in the cereal makes the pieces heartier and less crumbly)

3 to 4 cups+ powdered/confectioner’s sugar (I used just over 4 c but I wanted each piece very well coated)

Optional: Add any add-in’s before tossing with the powdered sugar such as: pretzel pieces, M & M’s, other candy bits or mini candies (diced or chopped), toffee bits, raisins, other dried fruit pieces, nuts, seeds, marshmallows, white/dark/peanut butter chips, etc.

Directions:

In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine the white chocolate chips, peanut butter, butter, and melt in 20-30 second increments, removing from the microwave and stirring vigorously after each interval.  White chocolate burns easily so take care not to overheat it and vigorous stirring will encourage complete melting sooner than you think.

After mixture is completely melted and smooth, add the vanilla extract and stir to incorporate.

Then add the cereal and fold it in gently.   (You may want to add a total of 7 cups of cereal if there is any pooling of liquid at the bottom of the bowl.  All liquid should be fairly well absorbed and coated onto the cereal but you don’t want it too dry.  Plenty of “juiciness” is desired because the powdered sugar will stick better)

Add powdered sugar, one cup at a time, and keep tossing mixture until the powdered sugar coats all pieces, thereby drying them out, or until the sugar layer is as thick as desired.

Yields: About 7 cups of mix.  Store in airtight container or Ziplock bag (I have mine in the freezer in a big Tupperware container and it’s just fine to remove and eat immediately. It’s so hot here that all chocolate needs to be kept in the fridge or freezer.)

Notes:

Already Gluten Free if using any of these Chex Cereals

To make vegan, use Vegan White Chocolate Chips and margarine/Earth Balance or similar

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Addicting?  Yes.

Delicious?  Yes.

Healthy?  Oh yes, for sure.  The whole grains in the cereal make this health food.  Ok maybe not so much but it’s a good story.

I love the white chocolate in this version and it allows both the peanut butter and the vanilla flavors to come through in comparison to the regular (dark) chocolate recipe for Puppy Chow (vegan, gluten free) that I’ve made in the past.

I’ve been on a white chocolate kick lately.  I blame the holidays.

Ok, not really, I love white chocolate any time of year.

I hope you have some parties to bring this to because it makes more than you probably need for yourself.

But it’s so addicting that you will probably make a pretty good dent on it by yourself.

Questions:

Do you like Puppy Chow? 

If so, how do you make it or what do you add to it?

Winner of the Superfoods & Superfruits Giveaway announced next post