Let Me Tell You About This Protein Puppy Chow—For Real
Alright, so, picture this: It’s a Friday night, I should be folding laundry, but here I am, elbow-deep in a bowl of cereal, chocolate, and more peanut butter than is probably wise. (No shame, right?) Protein Puppy Chow is one of those snacks that takes me straight back to summer camp, except now I’m a grown-up and sneak in extra protein so it feels… I dunno, like I make good choices? My younger cousin once called it “grown-up muddy buddies with muscles” so that’s stuck. And yeah, I still get powdered sugar all over my sweatpants every time, but that’s half the fun.
Why You’ll Actually Want to Make This
I make this when I need a snack that passes as “not totally junk food” (though let’s be honest, it’s still mostly for fun). My family goes crazy for it because they think it’s dessert, but I can smugly say, “It’s got protein!” (Does that convince anyone? Maybe just me.) I used to get so frustrated with regular puppy chow clumping together, but honestly, this protein version seems to stay a bit more separate—bonus! I even bring it on hikes, though once the chocolate melted everywhere, so maybe not when it’s 90 degrees out. Live and learn.
What You’ll Need (And What You Can Get Away With)
- 6 cups rice Chex or corn Chex (I’ve used off-brand and no one noticed; if you’re in a pinch, crispy wheat cereal works too)
- 1 cup chocolate chips (milk, semi-sweet, whatever’s hiding at the back of the pantry)
- 1/2 cup peanut butter (sometimes I swap almond butter—my grandma insists on Skippy, but any will do)
- 1/2 cup vanilla protein powder (whey, plant-based, or actually, I once used chocolate by accident and it was decent)
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter (if you’re desperate, coconut oil works, but the flavor goes sideways if you ask me)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (I skip it if I forget; taste difference is subtle)
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar (sometimes I eyeball this and, well, oops)
How I Actually Make It (Don’t Stress Over the Order)
- First, grab a big mixing bowl—bigger than you think. (Trust me, I’ve cleaned up enough cereal avalanches.) Dump in your Chex cereal.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, toss in your chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter. Microwave in 30-second bursts—stir in between—until it’s all melted and glossy. It might look a bit separated at first, but don’t panic, a good stir usually sorts it out.
- Stir in the vanilla extract. Or don’t, if you forget like me half the time! Then pour the chocolate mixture over the cereal.
- Use a spatula (or, let’s be real, a big spoon) to gently stir and coat the cereal. This is the messy bit. It never looks perfect and that’s fine.
- Add the protein powder and about half the powdered sugar to a gallon zip-top bag (or a big food storage container with a lid if you’re fancy). Dump in the cereal mixture. Top with the rest of the sugar.
- Seal it up tight and shake like there’s no tomorrow. I always check for uncoated chunks and do a quick remix if needed.
- This is where I sneak a taste—purely for quality control, obviously.
Stuff I’ve Learned (The Hard Way)
- Don’t add protein powder to the melted chocolate or it seizes up into a weird lump. Ask me how I know.
- If you add too much powdered sugar, everything turns ghostly white. Not a huge deal, but a bit spooky.
- Let it cool before storing, unless you like condensation. Which nobody does, really.
Experiments (Good and Not-So-Good Ones)
- Once I tried swapping in caramel chips for chocolate—tasted okay but got weirdly sticky. Wouldn’t recommend.
- Adding a handful of chopped peanuts? Super crunchy, definitely do it if you like a bit of bite.
- Used plant-based protein once, and honestly, didn’t taste much difference. Texture was maybe a smidge grittier?
Equipment: What You’ll Actually Use
- Big mixing bowl (or even a clean stockpot if you’re all out—done that!)
- Microwave-safe bowl
- Spatula or wooden spoon
- Zip-top gallon bag or food storage container (last time I just used a grocery bag doubled up—worked fine, though maybe don’t do that for company)
How to Store It (In Theory)
Supposedly, you can keep this in an airtight container for up to a week. Cool, dry place is key. But honestly, in my house it never lasts more than a day! I once tried freezing it—texture went a bit off but still edible in a pinch.
How We Eat It (And Maybe You Will Too)
I serve it in little bowls for movie night, but my secret move is sprinkling some over Greek yogurt for breakfast—no judgment, right? My uncle takes it on road trips, which is ambitious considering the chocolate factor. Also, if you’re looking for a grown-up twist, I’ve seen folks add espresso powder; haven’t tried, but sounds wild.
Learned The Hard Way: Pro Tips
- I once tried skipping the “shake in a bag” step—don’t. The sugar clings weirdly and you get uneven coating.
- If you try to rush melting the chocolate, it scorches and gets that burnt taste. Just… trust me, slow and steady here.
- Actually, I find it works better if you use room temp cereal—cold cereal sometimes makes the chocolate seize up too fast.
Questions People Actually Ask Me
- Is Protein Puppy Chow healthy? Eh, it’s a treat with a protein boost. I wouldn’t call it a health food, but it beats straight candy.
- Can I make it nut-free? Sure thing! Sunbutter or Wowbutter swap in fine for peanut butter. Texture’s a tad stickier but works.
- Does it work with other protein powders? Yep! I’ve used both plant and whey, though some have a chalky aftertaste. Try a small batch first if you’re picky.
- Can you double the recipe? For sure, just make sure your bowl is big enough. I once tried in a small bowl and, well, floor chow is not as good as it sounds.
- Where can I get good protein powder? I usually check Myprotein or Thrive Market—honestly, whatever’s cheapest on sale.
- Can I use cocoa powder instead of chocolate chips? Tried it. It’s… not the same. Too dry, for one thing. Stick with chips if you can.
Oh, and totally unrelated—did you know there’s a whole debate on whether to call this Puppy Chow or Muddy Buddies? Midwest vs everywhere else, I guess. Anyway, whatever you call it, hope you love it as much as my messy, snack-loving crew does.
Ingredients
- 4 cups rice cereal squares (such as Chex)
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/4 cup vanilla protein powder
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
-
1In a large mixing bowl, add the rice cereal squares and set aside.
-
2In a microwave-safe bowl, combine chocolate chips, peanut butter, and coconut oil. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring until smooth and melted.
-
3Stir in vanilla extract and a pinch of salt into the melted chocolate mixture.
-
4Pour the chocolate mixture over the rice cereal and gently fold until all pieces are evenly coated.
-
5Sprinkle protein powder over the coated cereal and toss to combine.
-
6Add powdered sugar, seal the bowl or use a large zip-top bag, and shake until all pieces are well coated. Let cool before serving.
Approximate Information for One Serving
Nutrition Disclaimers
Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.
Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.
To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings. Result will be the weight of one serving.
Did you make this recipe?
Please consider Pinning it!!
