Puppy Chow Cookies

The favorite party snack puppy chow is not only mixed into these peanut butter chocolate chip cookies, but they are coated like it too!

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Today was supposed to be the kick-off of the Ohio State Buckeyes football season playing again Illinois.

Of course I know there are far worse things that have come out of this pandemic (you know, like death and suffering), but that doesn’t take away from the fact that many local businesses take a hit when things like this are cancelled.

Hotels, bars, restaurants, merchandise – all the people who own such businesses that depend of football season for business are going to struggle even more than they are already. As someone involved in the local Columbus food scene, my heart has been in a constant state of worry for all my friends who own such businesses since March. 

In an effort to lighten the mood (and a successful IG poll), I have decided to continue on with my regularly scheduled Peanut Butter & Chocolate Saturdays #PBchocSat posts. I realize today is a Thursday, but since today should have been game day I am sticking to the original schedule. 

So I happily dug out my list of recipe ideas and found this baby ready and waiting right at the top – puppy chow cookies. A peanut butter chocolate chip cookie with actual puppy chow mixed in and then coated in the very same peanut butter-chocolate-powdered sugar mixture. 

Are these cookies a bit over the top? Possibly. Are they messy to make? Yes, especially if you are a spazz in the kitchen like me. But are they worth every bit of the excess and cleanup? You bet they are. And honestly I think these cookies are exactly what we all need right now. (Might be why my cake batter puppy chow is so popular. I also have a s’mores version!)

I will admit I was a bit upset when a local bakery beat me to the idea of these cookies, but thankfully mine are slightly different, mostly in the outward presentation. I swear I am not a copy cat! As if I could really compete with them anyway…

One last thing – do you call it puppy chow or muddy buddies? I think I have always called it puppy chow but of course I did my share of Google searching anyway.

Turns out the Ralston Purina Company is the original creator of Chex cereal and since they already referred to their pet food as “dog chow” and “cat chow” they called their cereal line “human chow”. But somehow that morphed into “puppy chow“. Fast forward to today and now General Mills owns Chex and sells pre-packaged “Muddy Buddies”. 

There, knowledge and a treat!

Two years ago: Mexican Brownies

Four years ago: No-Bake Butterfinger Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream Pie

Six years ago: Flourless Almond Butter Dark Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Eight years ago: Cake Batter Chocolate Bark

PUPPY CHOW COOKIES

Print

Yield: 3 dozen

Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat

Ingredients

PUPPY CHOW

• 2-1/4 cups crispy rice cereal squares
• 2 Tbsp creamy peanut butter
• 1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar

COOKIES

• 2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1-1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
• 1 egg + 1 yolk, room temperature
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup puppy chow (you will have leftover)

COATING

• 1-1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

1. For the puppy chow: In a medium saucepan over low heat, melt the chocolate and peanut butter until smooth.
2. Remove from heat, add cereal and gently stir until coated.
3. Pour powdered sugar into large plastic bag, add coated cereal and shake until well coated. Set aside.
4. For the cookies: Sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
5. In a medium bowl, cream together the melted butter, peanut butter, brown sugar and white sugar until well blended (1-2 minutes). Beat in the vanilla, egg, and egg yolk until light and creamy. Mix in the sifted ingredients in three batches until just blended. Fold in the chips and puppy chow by hand.
6. Roll 2 tablespoons of dough into balls and place on a plate or tray, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and chill for at least 2 hours (or overnight for best results).
7. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line cookie sheets with silicone baking mats (or parchment paper); set aside.
8. Place cookie dough onto the prepared cookie sheets, about 2 inches apart.
9. Bake for 10 minutes or until edges are barely golden. Cool on baking sheets for 10 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.
10. For the coating: In a shallow bowl, place the powdered sugar, set aside.
11. In a medium saucepan over low heat, melt the chocolate and peanut butter until smooth. Remove from heat.
12. Using a pastry brush, coat cooled cookie on all sides with the chocolate mixture, then place in the bowl with the powdered sugar, turning to coat, knocking off excess before placing on a tray. Repeat with remaining cookies.

Notes

Store at room temperature in an airtight container.

Did you make this recipe? I want to see!
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