Red, White and Blue Puppy Chow is a sweet, crunchy, and festive snack that’s perfect for patriotic holidays and themed parties. It’s a breeze to make and stays fresh for days!
What’s in the Mix
You only need a few simple ingredients to make a batch of this red white and blue puppy chow, and they’re all easy to find in your local grocery store. A full list of ingredients with measurements is available in the printable recipe card below.
- Semi sweet chocolate chips – You can use dark chocolate or milk chocolate if you prefer, but keep in mind the powdered sugar is already quite sweet.
- Salted Butter – The salt in the butter balances the sweetness and brings out the flavor of the chocolate.
- Peanut butter – I usually say you can swap in crunchy peanut butter, but creamy peanut butter is really essential here.
- Rice Chex Cereal – This is the crispy, crunchy base that you’ll coat with the buttery, chocolatey goodness.
- Powdered Sugar – This is what makes it “puppy chow” and gives the mix its signature sweet, powdery coating.
- Red and Blue Food Coloring – These add the festive pop of color. Use gel or powdered food coloring.
- Vanilla extract – To add some warmth to the other flavors, we add a splash of good quality vanilla extract.
This is How We Do It
There’s a little more pizzazz involved in this red white and blue puppy chow, but it’s still super simple to make!
- Color the powdered sugar. Divide the powdered sugar between 3 large plastic bags. Add red food coloring to one bag and blue food coloring to another. Leave the last one white. Knead the powdered sugar with the food coloring until it is uniformly mixed. You can roll it with a rolling pin to break up clumps. This takes a while to get it to mix, so be patient. Alternately, place the mixture in a food processor and pulse until mixed.
- Measure out cereal. Measure the cereal and place in a very large mixing bowl. Set aside.
- Melt butter, chocolate, peanut butter and vanilla. Over medium heat, melt and combine the butter, chocolate chips and peanut butter, stirring constantly. When fully melted, stir in vanilla.
- Pour chocolate over cereal. Pour the chocolate mixture over Chex cereal in 3 stages, folding as you go.
- Coat cereal in colored powdered sugars. Divide the coated mixture between the three bags of powdered sugar. Toss gently to coat all pieces.
- Allow to chill. Remove to a wax paper lined rimmed baking sheet. Spread in a single layer and chill for an hour to set.
5S Philosophy 👩🏻🍳
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- Salt – The salted butter brings a touch of salt to this sweet snack. If you like more of a salty-sweet combination, you can sprinkle in a little extra.
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- Swaps – Try using pretzel sticks or popcorn in place of Chex for a different crunch. You can also use almond bark in place of white chocolate. Or, toss in some bright red and blue M&M’s for more sweetness and color.
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- Senses – This mix is definitely sensory, from the pop of color to the sweet flavor and the creamy, crunchy texture. It also has an aroma of warm vanilla right after it’s mixed. making your kitchen smell heavenly!
Storage and Freezing
This red white and blue puppy chow can be stored at room temperature as long as your kitchen isn’t too warm or humid. You can make this a day or two ahead of time and keep it sealed in an airtight container until you’re ready to use it.
How to Store
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Can I Freeze Red, White and Blue Puppy Chow?
You can freeze this puppy chow for up to a month. Just let it come to room temperature before serving it.
Your Questions Answered
They are actually the same thing! Some call it puppy chow, others call it muddy buddies, but it’s all crunchy, sweet goodness.
Yes, Crispix or Corn Chex also work great. Just aim for something with a similar texture so it holds up to the coating.
Yes, and you probably should — it disappears quickly!
More Puppy Chow Recipes
If you’re on the prowl for more puppy chow-style snacks, you’re going to love these simple recipes you can whip up in nearly no time!
Red, White and Blue Puppy Chow
Ingredients
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoon red liquid food coloring
- 2 teaspoons blue liquid food coloring
- 9 cups Chex cereal
- 1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- Divide the powdered sugar between 3 large plastic bags. Add 2 teaspoons of red food coloring to one back and 2 teaspoons of blue food coloring to another. Leave the last one white.
- Knead the powdered sugar with the food coloring until it is uniformly mixed. You can roll it with a rolling pin to break up clumps. This takes a while to get it to mix, so be patient. Alternately, place the mixture in a food processor and pulse until mixed.
- Measure the cereal and place in a very large mixing bowl. Set aside.
- Over medium heat, melt and combine the butter, chocolate chips and peanut butter, stirring constantly.
- When fully melted, stir in vanilla.
- Pour the chocolate mixture over Chex cereal in 3 stages, folding as you go.
- Divide the coated mixture between the three bags of powdered sugar. Toss gently to coat all pieces.
- Remove to a wax paper lined rimmed baking sheet. Spread in a single layer and chill for an hour to set.
- If you have tried this recipe, come and back and let us know how it was in the comments or star ratings.
Nutrition
