When fall hits, for many people it’s time for pumpkin spice but I’m typically ready to jump right on to gingerbread and this Gingerbread Puppy Chow satisfies that craving every time! Sweet, spiced chocolate coats crispy Cinnamon Chex for a snack you’ll want to keep around all throughout the fall and winter.
Ingredients
When craving those fall and winter flavors, this gingerbread puppy chow recipe is full of sugar and spice and everything nice!
- Ground Ginger – You can’t have a gingerbread flavor without ginger!
- Ground Cinnamon – Cinnamon gives this snack its signature warm flavor.
- Ground Nutmeg – Nutty and subtly citrusy, nutmeg complements the other spices.
- Ground Cloves – Cloves add their sweet spiciness to the blend.
- Cinnamon Chex Cereal – Using Cinnamon Chex gives the puppy chow even more warmth. It is regular Chex mixed with cinnamon sugar coated cereal, kind of like Cinnamon Toast Crunch.
- White Chocolate Chips – Melted white chocolate chips are part of the coating for the Chex. Use more for garnish.
- Salted Butter – Use salted butter for a little salty/sweet action.
- Molasses – This helps to add a rich sweetness to the coating.
- Vanilla Extract – Vanilla balances all of the other ingredients.
- Powdered Sugar – Use this as a finishing touch.
Variations
Give this gingerbread puppy chow recipe your own personal flair with these variations.
- Chocolate – Swap out the white chocolate chips for dark or milk chocolate chips.
- Extract – Give the puppy chow some nutty flavor with almond extract.
- Cereal – Use a different variety of Chex or substitute Crispix.
- Fruit – Add dried cranberries, raisins, or dried apricots.
- Nuts – Toss in chopped walnuts, pecans, or peanuts.
- Marshmallows – Add mini marshmallows for a textural contrast.
- Cold– Try popping it in the fridge and munching on it cold.
How to Make Gingerbread Puppy Chow
This simple snack is a cinch to make.
- Combine spices. Add all of the spices to a small bowl and whisk to combine.
- Prep Chex. Place the Cinnamon Chex in a large bowl.
- Prep the coating. Place the white chocolate chips, butter, molasses, and vanilla extract into a large saucepan. Stir until the chocolate chips have melted and the mixture is silky smooth. Then, take the pan off the stove and mix in half of the spice mixture.
- Coat the Chex. Cover the Cinnamon Chex with the spiced white chocolate mixture. Be sure to be gentle so that the cereal doesn’t break.
- Prep the sugar coating. Place half of the spice mixture that is left and half of the powdered sugar in a resealable plastic bag and shake to combine.
- Coat the Chex. Place half of the white chocolate-coated Chex into the bag, seal it, and shake. Pour it out onto a prepared baking sheet and repeat the process with the remaining spice mixture, powdered sugar, and white chocolate-coated Chex.
- Set. Leave the Gingerbread puppy chow on the baking sheet to set for at least half an hour.
- Garnish and serve. Top with more white chocolate chips on the Chex right before serving, if desired. Serve or store.
Common Questions about Puppy Chow
Your puppy chow may be soggy if it is stored before it has cooled. Allow it to cool to room temperature before transferring it to a container.
Puppy chow is from the Midwest but you can find it around the United States now.
Yes, muddy buddies and puppy chow are the same. The snack is also known as monkey munch, reindeer chow, and muddy munch.
Storage and Freezing
Gingerbread puppy chow can be stored at room temperature. Keep it in an airtight container in a cool, dry space for up to one week.
How to Store Gingerbread Puppy Chow
Store puppy chow in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
Can I Freeze Puppy Chow?
You can freeze puppy chow for up to 3 months. However, its texture may not remain the same after thawing.
More Sweet Christmas Snacks
From fun and festive to flavorful and delicious, you are going to love all of these fun holiday treats!
Gingerbread Puppy Chow
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 8 cups cinnamon Chex cereal
- 2 cups white chocolate chips , more for topping
- 5 tablespoons salted butter
- 1/4 cup molasses
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- In a small mixing bowl, combine the ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Set aside.
- Pour the cinnamon Chex cereal into a large (larger than you think you need!) mixing bowl. Set aside.
- In a large saucepan, melt the white chocolate chips, butter, molasses and vanilla extract over medium-low heat. Stir until smooth, do not simmer and remove from the heat as soon as it fully melts.
- Measure half of the dry spice mixture into the chocolate (it doesn’t have to be exact) and stir.
- Pour the chocolate mixture over the Chex cereal, gently folding to coat fully. Do not stir, the pieces will break. The mixture will be sticky like caramel.
- In a large plastic airtight bag, add half of the powdered sugar and half of the remaining spice mixture, tossing to combine evenly.
- Add half of the chocolate covered Chex cereal, sealing and gently shaking to coat.
- Turn the cereal out onto a large rimmed baking sheet covered in parchment paper.
- Add the remaining powdered sugar and spice mix to the plastic bag and continue with the other half of the cereal.
- Allow to set for at least 30 minutes.
- If desired, top with additional white chocolate chips.
- If you’ve tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or star ratings.
Nutrition
