By Laura
Posted Jan 18, 2018, Updated Oct 10, 2021
5 from 2 votes
7 Comments
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Dark Chocolate Puppy Chow is the the best easy dessert recipe to feed a crowd! This version is loaded with chocolate & peanut butter, and tossed in a mixture of cocoa powder & powdered sugar to cut down on the sweetness and give it an even richer chocolate taste.
This week marks two years since I began blogging. I am so grateful for where this journey has brought me, and I cannot wait to see where it leads! So, what better way to celebrate two years together than with chocolateandpeanut butter?
This Dark Chocolate Puppy Chow recipe is one of my all-time favorite treats, and isthe dessert that is impossible for me to stop eating. Seriously, once I start, the bowl has to be physically removed from my sight in order for me to call it quits.
This recipe is different than our favorite classic Puppy Chow because it’s tossed in a mixture ofboth cocoa powder & powdered sugar. This cuts down on the sweetness and gives it an even richer chocolate taste. This treat is vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free, so it’s great to make for a crowd.
How to Make Dark Chocolate Puppy Chow
I know what you might be thinking, “how hard can it be to coat cereal in chocolate and peanut butter then toss it with some powdered sugar?!” Well, you’re right on one account, it’s totally not hard at all. However, I believe that following the method laid out in this recipe takes this classic treat from “good” to “WOW.” The two main things to note are…
- The ratio is key.I know I’m not the only one who, when it comes to puppy chow, lives for the clumps. I’m talking hunks of cereal stuck together with loads of peanut butter and chocolate. The key to ensuring this kind of hunky clumpiness is being super careful about the amount of cereal you use. You want to ensure that every, single piece is thickly coated in the chocolate and peanut butter mixture.
- Chill.Chilling is a crucial step to creating the Dark Chocolate Puppy Chow of your dreams. After coating the cereal with the chocolate/peanut butter mixture, toss it in the refrigerator and let it cool for about 5-10 minutes until it has reached room temperature or just below it. Getting it cold {but not so hard that it can’t be stirred} will mean that the powdered sugar/cocoa powder mixture won’t just absorb into the warm chocolate, so you will be able to use less and still achieve a nice coating!
Dark Chocolate Puppy Chow: Substitutions
This recipe is made with only 5 ingredients, and it’s absolute perfection in dessert form, so I do not recommend making any substitutions. However, as always, I will list a few possibilities.
- Peanut Butter.Any nut or seed butter can be used in place of peanut butter.
- Chocolate Chips.I recommend semi-sweet or bittersweet chips. My favorite are 60% cocoa or higher. However you can use your favorite variety!
- Powdered sugar.You could use this recipe for Paleo Powdered Sugar to make your own!
Store/freeze
Store this puppy chow in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw slowly in the fridge or on the counter – do not microwave.
Recipe FAQs
Can I double this recipe?
Yes, you can easily double the ingredients to make a large batch.
Can you freeze puppy chow?
This recipe freezes very well in an airtight container.
What if I’m allergic to peanut butter?
Use any nut or seed butter such as sunflower seed butter, almond butter, etc.
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Dark Chocolate Puppy Chow
Laura
Dark Chocolate Puppy Chow is the the best easy dessert recipe to feed a crowd! This version is loaded with chocolate & peanut butter, and tossed in a mixture of cocoa powder & powdered sugar to cut down on the sweetness and give it an even richer chocolate taste.
5 from 2 votes
Course Dessert, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 20 Servings
Calories 183.7
Prep Time5 minutes minutes
Chilling time20 minutes minutes
Total Time25 minutes minutes
Ingredients
- 1 cup semisweet or dark chocolate chips
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 6 cups Rice Chex Cereal
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
Instructions
In a medium bowl, mix together the powdered sugar and cocoa powder. Set aside.
Melt peanut butter and chocolate together. On the stovetop stir over low heat or a double boiler until mixture is smooth. In the microwave; warm on high for 60 seconds and stir. Then warm for increments of 30 seconds, stirring after each, until mixture is melted and hom*ogenous.
Add 3 cups of cereal to a large bowl. Pour 1 cup of the chocolate/peanut butter mixture over the cereal.
Add 3 more cups of cereal to the bowl and then pour the rest of the chocolate/peanut butter mixture on top.
Stir until the cereal is evenly coated. If there are pools of chocolate/peanut butter at the bottom of your bowl, add more cereal 1/4 cup at a time until all that deliciousness is coating your cereal. Remember we WANT clumps, so do NOT add too much cereal!
Let the mixture cool slightly (Put the bowl in the refrigerator for 5-10 minutes or outside on the porch on a cold day). Be sure to check it, as you do not want it to harden completely!
Once your mixture is at or slightly below room temperature, add 1 cup of the powdered sugar/cocoa powder mixture. Mix until combined.
Let cool for about 15 minutes.
Add more powdered sugar/cocoa powder 1/4 cup at a time until your cereal is coated to your satisfaction. Let it sit at room temperature to harden before serving (or toss it in the refrigerator to speed up the process)!
Store in an airtight container at room temperature.
Video
Notes
Ingredient Substitutions
- Peanut Butter.Any nut or seed butter can be used in place of peanut butter.
- Chocolate Chips.I recommend semi-sweet or bittersweet chips. My favorite are 60% cocoa or higher. However you can use your favorite variety!
- Powdered sugar.You could use this recipe for Paleo Powdered Sugar to make your own!
Store/freeze
Store this puppy chow in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw slowly in the fridge or on the counter – do not microwave.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 183.7kcal | Carbohydrates: 24.6g | Protein: 4.8g | Fat: 9.1g | Saturated Fat: 2.4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4.1g | Sodium: 73.2mg | Potassium: 60.8mg | Fiber: 2.4g | Sugar: 14.8g | Vitamin A: 150IU | Vitamin C: 2.5mg | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 3.1mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did you enjoy this recipe? Have a question? Leave a comment below!
Time to get sentimental! Two years ago Ineverwould’ve thought I’d start my own business, have the chance to work with and for amazing companies, and I would’ve laughed in your face if you told me that I’d become a freelance photographer!
It’s amazing how life can throw unexpected yet exciting curveballs your way. Now, two years later, you all check out my site three quarters of a million times everymonth. You make my recipes, take pictures and tell me all about your experiences! You ask me about raising kids, being a mommy and staying healthy through it all! I seriouslylove what I do and am grateful to all of you for allowing me to do it for another year!
Peace. Love. & Peanut Butter.
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