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I love Muddy Buddies and traditional Puppy chow with semi-sweet chocolate chips and a peanut butter mixture. If you are looking for a puppy chow recipe without peanut butter, see this fun holiday version!

The classic recipe is great, but for the holidays I love to try new flavors and there are so many great recipes. You can have fun with themes like making Reindeer Chow or changing up the colors you use or swap out dark chocolate in the traditional recipe. Add some green and red candy coated milk chocolate candies or white chocolate chips for your holiday parties to change up the colors. Any way you go it will be a delicious treat.

Puppy Chow Recipe without Peanut Butter

Do you know someone with a peanut allergy or just doesn't like peanut butter? Or maybe you are just a peppermint bark fan? If you are looking for a delicious and easy recipe for puppy chow without peanut butter look no further than this sweet treat! This Candy Cane Kisses Puppy Chow is the perfect mix of sweet and salty. It's sure to be a hit with both kids and adults. Plus, it only takes about 15 minutes to make. So what are you waiting for? Let's get started.

Why is it called puppy chow?

According to the Chex website, the cereal treat we know as “puppy chow” was originally known as “Poor Man's Shrimp.” The dish was created during the Great Depression as a way to stretch limited resources. It wasn't until the 1950s that the dish was given its more commonly used name. The new name was chosen to reflect the fact that the cereal dish was a cheaper alternative to shrimp cocktail. Today, puppy chow is a popular snack food that can be found in most grocery stores. The traditional recipe calls for Chex cereal to be coated in chocolate and peanut butter, then rolled in powdered sugar. While the dish is often enjoyed by children, it can also be a grown-up treat when made with more sophisticated ingredients. Whatever the name, this sweet and easy-to-make snack is sure to please any crowd.

Are muddy buddies and puppy chow the same?

While both muddy buddies (or muddy munch) and puppy chow (or dog chow) are popular snacks made with cereal, chocolate, and peanut butter, there are some key differences between the two. Muddy buddies are typically made with Rice Chex or Corn Chex cereal, while puppy chow is usually made with Crispix cereal. In addition, muddy buddies usually have a coating of powdered sugar, while puppy chow is typically not as sweet. Finally, the two snacks have different textures – muddy buddies are lighter and fluffier, while puppy chow is denser and chewier. As a result of these differences, each snack has its own unique flavor and texture that sets it apart from the other. Both are kid-friendly snacks and great for afternoon snacks while you are at work.

How do you keep puppy chow from getting soggy?

You want to make sure that you allow everything to cool all the way down while it is coated at the end. Especially if you are going to store it in a plastic bag or leave the lid off of the bowl to cool. These are simple ingredients for a perfect snack but you have to be patient after you coat it with the confectioners' sugar. This sweet snack mix will still have a good flavor if you get a soggy texture but it is better nice and crispy.

Candy Cane Kisses Puppy Chow

It's that time of year… I start looking at Pinterest a little more often and browsing recipes on the internet.

I think one of my favorite things to do is put my own spin on a traditional recipe everyone loves, and that shows up year to year. You never know when you might find a new favorite or a recipe that starts a new family tradition! 

I think this Candy Cane Kisses Puppy Chow recipe will be one you make again and again. They have the traditional powdered sugar coating and addictive cereal crunch, but also have the light Candy Cane flavoring you get from Hershey's White Chocolate Candy Cane Kisses.

If you end up with one too many bags of Hershey's Kisses this holiday season, throw them in this recipe to keep yourself from eating them! 😉

Make It – Puppy Chow Recipe without Peanut Butter

First you will melt your soft ingredients. You will add together your Hershey's Kisses and the shortening into a double boiler. Another option is to melt in a microwave-safe bowl, heating it in 30 second intervals, stop and stir before the next 30 seconds. Depending on altitude and humidity in your area, you may not even need the shortening.

Adding Shortening…Or Not:

I always end up adding it, since for me, white chocolate has a way of losing moisture in a double broiler and becoming scorched. Don't need that to happen!  You can add half of the shortening as the chocolate Kisses melt and then add more as necessary. You're looking for a smooth, creamy consistency. Be sure to stir often, so the chocolate doesn't get overly hot in one area of your double broiler, just get it hot enough for melted chocolate! You could also use a little bit of coconut oil in instead of shortening.

After your chocolate mixture is done, pour six cups of Chex into a large 2 gallon Ziploc bag, or a good plastic bowl with a cover. The bowl and lid combo is actually the best possible way to make this, I believe!  

You will pour your Kisses mixture over the cereal and lightly stir with a spatula. Then add in the powdered sugar to your bowl or bag, and seal.  

If you have a kiddo helping in the kitchen, this is a good job for them. Toss well until the cereal is covered in both the Kisses mixture and the powdered sugar. The nice thing about the bowl and lid is that there aren't as many clumps as with a bag. But either way works!

When done tossing and everything is close to room temperature, put your Puppy Chow into a nice serving dish. I like a Trifle Bowl if you're serving it right away, or you can put it into a resealable glass dish. Seal if not eating this immediately, to prevent the cereal from becoming soft or stale. An airtight container is good or even a zipper bag for storage or transporting.

What You Need:

You will need to add to your shopping list– vegetable shortening, Rice Chex cereal, powdered sugar (also called confectioners sugar), and 1 bag (10 ounces) Candy Cane Hershey's Kisses.

This is great for parties. If you want to have some fun with the kiddos, get a large bowl like a silver mixing bowl and add the puppy chow- it will make it look like dog food. I love all kinds of snack mixes for movie night or parties and the best part about this one is that is is a no bake dessert. For a more savory snac, I love to do Chex Mix in the crock pot or microwave so I don't have to turn on the oven. So easy for a delicious snack.

Thanks for reading our puppy chow recipe without peanut butter

This easy and delicious candy cane kisses puppy chow recipe is perfect for anyone who loves this classic snack but can't have peanut butter. It's also great for those who are looking for a festive twist on traditional puppy chow! So whether you're looking for a peanut-free option or just want to try something new, give this recipe a try. You won't be disappointed!

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