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Puppy chow gets a tasty seasonal twist with this Pumpkin Spice Puppy Chow recipe!
Oh friends. I have rediscovered the joys of puppy chow.
Somehow, I don’t know how, I kind of forgot that it existed and went a few years without making a batch.
But a few weeks ago, my (vegan) friend Sarah was talking about how much she loved puppy chow as a kid, which was like a lightbulb coming back on! So I decided to try making a vegan batch for a girls’ night so she could also partake, which was a huge success (just subbed in dark chocolate and margarine in my favorite recipe). But ever since then, the puppy chow cravings have not stopped!
So this week, I decided to make a “seasonal” spin on puppy chow — Pumpkin Spice Puppy Chow!
I decided to go for white chocolate with this batch, along with some peanut butter or cookie butter — you choose! Then I added in some of my homemade pumpkin pie spice, along with a little vanilla, and stirred it all up to puppy chow perfection.
I took the batch to our neighbor nights to share with my friends. (Ok, let’s be honest, I was just trying not to eat the entire batch myself.) And let’s just say…
…it was a “smashing pumpkin” success. :)
Everyone loved it! The spices are subtle but not overpowering, and I loved the white chocolate in the mix. Definitely a fun twist on a favorite, and an excuse to make puppy chow at least a few more times a year. ;)
Also, here is my recipe for homemade pumpkin pie spice, if you want to try making it at home. Or, you can totally buy it store-bought. Either works!
Puppy chow gets a seasonal twist with pumpkin pie spices and white chocolate!
Ingredients
Scale
1 cup white chocolate chips (or any kind of chocolate chips)
1/4 cup (half stick) butter
1/2 cup peanut butter or Biscoff spread (cookie butter)
2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice, store-bought or homemade
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract, store-bought or homemade
9 cups rice or corn chex cereal
1 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
Heat white chocolate chips and butter together in a double boiler until melted. (Or you can also do this in the microwave.) Stir in peanut butter, pumpkin pie spice, and vanilla extract until smooth and combined.
Place the cereal in a large mixing bowl, and pour the chocolate mixture on top of the cereal. Gently toss to combine until the cereal is evenly coated.
Add the powdered sugar and half of the cereal mixture to a ziplock bag. Seal, and gently toss to combine until the cereal is coated. Add the remaining cereal and toss to combine until the cereal is coated, adding extra powdered sugar if needed.
Serve as is, or I also love this recipe after it has been chilled in the refrigerator or freezer.
**The Disclaimer I Have To Put On All Puppy Chow Recipes: This recipe is intended for human consumption. It is not for dogs. Puppy chow is just the name. ;)
I wasn’t introduced to puppy chow until I was in University, but I definitely caught up for lost time while I was there! This version sounds amazing! I’m definitely going to try this for my kids Halloween party!
Just made this for a friend that is obsessed with anything & everything pumpkin. I used semi-sweet chocolate instead of white (just personal preference) and ended up adding about another 1/2 tsp of pumpkin pie spice to the powdered sugar. SO good!!!
Bless you for making this with cookie butter! I have a nut allergy so this is perfect. Also, have you tried it with the milk or semi sweet chocolate? How did it turn out? Sometimes white chocolate doesn’t taste right to me. Thanks!!!
Elicia —
We almost always use milk choc for ours and love it! Semi-sweet is good too because it helps balance out the over sweetness of the powdered sugar.
I love this recipe and have made a similar pumpkin spice puppy chow. Try it with some pumpkin spicve Hershey Kisses melted with the white chocolate! It’s amazing. I also added craisins and peanuts to my mix. It was also a hit!
I made this last night but went a step further and made it into sort of a trail mix by adding craisins, cashews and pepitas. So yummy! Thank you for sharing this recipe
Oh my. I need to make this for my family. Love it! Have a great weekend, Ali!
Ooo…this sounds wonderful!
Oooo I might try to make for little man’s 2nd birthday party this weekend!! Who wouldn’t love this stuff???
Mmm! I’m loving all the pumpkin recipes, Ali! I’ve created a Google Doc of all pumpkin recipes – I’m up to 47 so far! :) Keep them coming. :)
I looove puppy chow and I LOVE fall even more. This recipe makes me so happy, I featured it on my blog this morning!
I love puppy chow and making a fall pumpkin version is brilliant! Thank you for this amazing recipe!
I wasn’t introduced to puppy chow until I was in University, but I definitely caught up for lost time while I was there! This version sounds amazing! I’m definitely going to try this for my kids Halloween party!
What a fun snack for fall parties! Looks addictive!
I can’t believe I’ve never made puppy chow, or tasted it for that matter. Sacrilege!
Love this Ali! :)
Aww yeah. Such a heavenly snack!
Just made this for a friend that is obsessed with anything & everything pumpkin. I used semi-sweet chocolate instead of white (just personal preference) and ended up adding about another 1/2 tsp of pumpkin pie spice to the powdered sugar. SO good!!!
Love puppy chow and this version looks so great! Love this!
I love the idea of adding cookie butter to this!
This looks addictive! Wow!! I have to make this one!
4 words. OH. NO. YOU. DIDN’T!!!! this is the best idea ever!
Such a great idea. I can almost taste it!
looks so yummy! Totally adding this to my fall baking list. Thanks for sharing!
I could munch on this puppy chow ALL DAY!
Your disclaimer makes me laugh. Puppy chow is my major weakness. This one looks AH-Mazing!
Bless you for making this with cookie butter! I have a nut allergy so this is perfect. Also, have you tried it with the milk or semi sweet chocolate? How did it turn out? Sometimes white chocolate doesn’t taste right to me. Thanks!!!
We almost always use milk choc for ours and love it! Semi-sweet is good too because it helps balance out the over sweetness of the powdered sugar.
Made this with Trader Joe’s Cookie Butter – and it was a HUGE success!
The kids (and hubby) loved this. Had to make another batch in no time;)
Do you think using pumpkin puree in the chocolate mixture instead of peanut butter would work okay?
I love this recipe and have made a similar pumpkin spice puppy chow. Try it with some pumpkin spicve Hershey Kisses melted with the white chocolate! It’s amazing. I also added craisins and peanuts to my mix. It was also a hit!
I made this last night but went a step further and made it into sort of a trail mix by adding craisins, cashews and pepitas. So yummy! Thank you for sharing this recipe
1. Why is this called puppy chow?
2. Why is there pumpkin in the title but no actual pumpkin?
Pumpkin Spice is in the title of THIS recipe because it included Pumpkin Spices (homemade or store bought spice).