Puppy chow recipe (the Australian version)

Don’t let the name fool you, this is definitely NOT for dogs.

Ever heard of puppy chow? This sweet chocolate snack mix hails from America, where it is also known as ‘muddy buddies’. 

What is puppy chow?

The original puppy chow is basically melted chocolate and peanut butter tossed with cereal and coated in icing sugar. Wondering why it is called puppy chow? Because this messy, chunky food looks so much like dog food! However, it is definitely NOT suitable for dogs. 

The puppy chow trend

Puppy chow is currently making the rounds on social media as Australians discover this American treat down under. It’s really quick and easy to make (and about as quick and easy to eat!). While the original American version is often made with a cereal called Chex, I wanted to give this recipe a unique Aussie twist – so naturally, I came up with Milo ‘puppy chow’. 

Enter Milo ‘puppy chow’

We can definitely get our hands on cereals that are a similar shape to Chex, but I wanted to try it with our beloved Nutri-Grain.

I also tested this with both icing sugar and Milo and found that Milo gave it a much better malt flavour that goes really well with the chocolate and peanut butter. Of course, if you’re not a fan of Milo, you can switch it out for icing sugar mixture to make it more like the O.G. American version. But I’m of the opinion that Milo is superior! (This is where Aussies come out on top.)

Another (wild) Aussie snack hack:

How to make puppy chow

You start by microwaving the chocolate, peanut butter and butter. Be careful to check it every minute as microwaves vary in wattage and chocolate can burn. Stir it every time you check it as chocolate can hold its shape even when it is soft, so a little stirring is essential to bring it together. Then toss with the Nutri-Grain.

Some recipes call for coating the chocolate-coated cereal in icing sugar as soon as you have mixed it together, but I found this absorbs more powder than is necessary. To make sure you don’t use up more Milo than you need, spread the chocolate-coated cereal over a lined tray. You may be tempted to just leave it in the bowl… but be warned, if it sets it can be hard to get it out of the bowl. Plus, it’s not hard to clean up a lined tray – just chuck the baking paper in the bin.

Set the mixture aside for about 10 minutes or until the chocolate coating has cooled. It doesn’t need to set completely, and it’s important that it doesn’t set all the way, because you still want it to be a little soft so that the Milo sticks to it and covers it completely. This makes it easy to eat without your fingers getting covered in melted chocolate. Picture yourself with a bowl of this on the couch – sticky fingers are definitely not what you want!

When to eat puppy chow

This is a great recipe for parties or to have on hand for a little sweet after-dinner treat. It’s not as sweet as you’d think, thanks to the peanut butter and salted butter, which is what I really like about it (and also what makes it pretty addictive!) 

Now that I am on board the ‘puppy chow’ train, I’m thinking of all the Aussie spins we could give this sweet treat. Could fairy bread ‘puppy chow’ be a thing? I’m willing to find out. 

Originally published as Puppy chow recipe (the Australian version)