Sweet and Cheesy Puppy Chow Upgrades
Upgrade Your Puppy Chow
Why stick to classic peanut butter and chocolate puppy chow when you can make these easy variations? Here, we'll show you how to make a sweet birthday-cake-theme puppy chow and a cheesy, slightly salty chow.
Sweet Puppy Chow
You'll need:
6 cups vanilla-flavored bite-size rice square cereal 3 cups fruit-flavored sweetened rice cereal 1 pound white candy coating, chopped 1 tablespoon shortening 1 cup assorted sprinkles 1 cup Jordan almonds 3/4 cup powdered sugar
1. Combine both cereals in a very large bowl; set aside.
2. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the candy coating and shortening. Microwave in 30-second increments until melted and smooth.
3. Pour candy coating mixture over cereal mixture and stir gently to coat. Let stand 3 to 4 minutes. Gently fold in sprinkles, almonds, and powdered sugar.
Make It Minty Prepare as directed except replace both cereals with 4 cups chocolate-flavored bite-size rice and corn square cereal. In a large bowl, combine chocolate cereal with 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted. Let stand 3 to 4 minutes and toss with 1/2 cup powdered sugar. In another large bowl, add 4 cups bite-size rice square cereal. In a small bowl combine 1 cup green-colored candy coating discs, melted with 1 teaspoon mint extract. Pour green candy coating mixture over rice cereal and stir to coat. Let stand 3 to 4 minutes and toss with 1/2 cup powdered sugar. Omit shortening and white candy coating. In a very large bowl combine both cereal mixtures, 1 cup chocolate-covered pretzels, and 1 cup chopped chocolate-covered mint-flavored cookies. Omit assorted sprinkles, Jordan almonds, and powdered sugar.
Luscious Lemon Prepare as directed except replace both cereals with 8 cups bite-size rice square cereal. Add 1 tablespoon finely grated lemon peel and 2 teaspoons lemon juice to the candy coating mixture after melted. Add 1/4 cup lemon-flavor gelatin powder to the 3/4 cup powdered sugar. Omit sprinkles and Jordan almonds. Gently fold in 1/2 cup yellow decorating sugar and 2 cups chopped lemon-flavored sandwich cookies.
Crazy for Churros Prepare as directed except replace both cereals with 4 cups cinnamon-flavored bite-size rice square cereal. Omit shortening and white candy coating and replace with 5 ounces cinnamon-flavored baking chips and 1/4 cup butter. Melt as directed. Pour butter mixture over cereal and toss to coat. Omit sprinkles and Jordan almonds. Reduce powdered sugar to 1/2 cup and combine with 1/4 cup sugar and 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon. Gently fold in 2 cups sweetened cinnamon toast-flavored wheat and rice cereal, 2 cups broken pretzel sticks, 2 cups miniature chewy caramels in milk chocolate, and sugar mixture.
Savory Puppy Chow
You'll need:
4 cups bite-size corn square cereal 1/4 cup butter, melted 2 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil 1/2 of a 2.8-ounce container powdered cheese-flavored seasoning 2 cups cheese-flavored popcorn 1-1/2 cups cheese puffs 1-1/2 cups cheese-flavored goldfish-shaped snacks 1 cup crunchy oven-baked pretzels with cheese-flavored filling
1. Preheat oven to 250oF.
2. Place cereal in large bowl; set aside. In a small bowl, combine butter, oil, and cheese-flavored seasoning. Pour butter mixture over the cereal and toss gently to coat.
3. Bake 45 minutes to 1 hour or until cereal has crisped, stirring every 15 minutes. Transfer snack mix to large sheet of foil and let cool completely. Toss together with remaining 4 ingredients and serve.
Spice It Up Prepare as directed except replace cereal with 5 cups bite-size corn square cereal, 1-1/2 cups sriracha-flavored or pepper Jack-flavored square cheese-flavored crackers, 1 cup miniature pretzels, 1-1/2 cups hot crunch cheese puffs, and 1 cup spicy crunchy corn snacks. Omit oil and combine 1/4 cup sriracha sauce, 1 tablespoon reduced-sodium soy sauce, 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1/2 teaspoon chili powder (if desired) to the butter. Toss butter mixture with cereal mixture and bake as directed. Omit cheese-flavored popcorn, cheese puffs, cheese-flavored goldfish-shaped snacks, and crunchy oven-baked pretzels with a cheese-flavored filling.
Nori for the Win Prepare as directed except replace cereal with 5 cups bite-size rice square cereal and 2 cups goldifsh-shaped pretzel snacks. Omit oil and increase butter to 1/2 cup. In a small saucepan combine butter and 1/4 cup sugar over low heat until sugar has dissolved. Stir in 1/4 cup light corn syrup and 2 teaspoons soy sauce. Pour butter mixture over cereal mixture. Omit powdered cheese-flavored seasoning, cheese-flavored popcorn, cheese puffs, cheese-flavored goldfish-shaped snacks, and crunchy oven-baked pretzels with a cheese-flavored filling. Bake as directed. Sprinkle with a 1.7-ounce container furikake seasoning the last 5 minutes of cooking. Let cool. Stir in 1-1/2 cups sesame-flavored snack sticks and 1-1/2 cups wasabi-flavored dried peas.
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