This Butterfinger Puppy Chow Mix is an easy, no-bake treat that comes together quickly and makes plenty to share. Perfect for parties, the holiday, camping, or just weekend snacking.
Crispy Rice Chex cereal is coated with melted white chocolate, peanut butter, and butter, then covered in powdered sugar and finished with crunchy Butterfinger pieces. The combination is sweet, creamy, crispy, and just a little bit crunchy.
We especially like recipes like this during the holidays. Between making handmade gifts, decorating, baking, and getting together with family and friends, it’s nice to have a treat that doesn’t require turning on the oven. This is a nice snack to bring in smaller containers for a Holiday homemade treat exchange.
Why We Love This Butterfinger Puppy Chow
- Quick and easy. There’s no baking involved, and the recipe takes just a few minutes to put together.
- Makes a generous batch. It’s perfect when you have several people to feed.
- Perfect for craft nights. Set out a bowl during a crochet group, sewing day, or holiday crafting afternoon.
- Great for holiday gifting. Package some in a small cellophane bag or container for an easy homemade treat.
- Lots of peanut butter flavor. The peanut butter coating and Butterfinger pieces make this more than just a traditional puppy chow.
- Easy to customize. Add pretzels, nuts, chocolate chips, or festive holiday candies to make it your own.
Butterfinger Puppy Chow: Easy No-Bake Treat
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Kitchen Essentials
Ingredients
- 12 Ounces Rice Chex Cereal 12-ounce box is about 9 cups
- 12 Ounces White Chocolate Chips 1 bag
- 1 Cup Creamy Peanut Butter
- ½ Cup Butter (1 stick)
- 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 2 Cups Powdered Sugar
- 10.2 Ounces Butterfinger Candy Bars 1 bag of fun size, about 1 1/2 cups chopped
text ingredients
Instructions
- Prepare the baking sheets. Line two half-sheet pans with parchment paper.
- Add the cereal. Place the Rice Chex cereal in a large bowl or large container with a lid.12 Ounces Rice Chex Cereal
- Melt the coating. Add the butter, peanut butter, and white chocolate chips to a saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until melted and smooth.12 Ounces White Chocolate Chips, 1 Cup Creamy Peanut Butter, ½ Cup Butter
- Add the vanilla. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract.1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- Coat the cereal. Pour the melted peanut butter mixture over the Rice Chex. Gently stir until the cereal is evenly coated, being careful not to crush the cereal pieces. Let it cool for about 10 minutes.
- Prepare the Butterfinger pieces. Place the candy bars in a blender or food processor and pulse a few times until they are broken into coarse crumbs. Set aside.10.2 Ounces Butterfinger Candy Bars
- Add the powdered sugar. Add the powdered sugar to the cereal. If using a large container with a lid, secure the lid and gently shake until coated. If using a bowl, gently stir until the powdered sugar is distributed evenly.2 Cups Powdered Sugar
- Add the Butterfinger. Pour the puppy chow onto the prepared baking sheets. Spread it out and sprinkle the Butterfinger crumbs over the top. Gently toss some of the candy pieces into the mixture if desired.
- Let it cool. Allow the puppy chow to sit uncovered for about an hour so the coating can finish cooling and drying.
- Enjoy! Serve once completely cooled, or transfer to an airtight container for later.
Your Own Private Notes
Notes
Tips for Making Butterfinger Puppy Chow
Keep the heat low. White chocolate can burn easily. Stir the mixture constantly while melting and remove it from the heat as soon as everything is smooth. Use plenty of room. A large bowl or container makes it much easier to coat the cereal without crushing it. Don’t over-process the candy. A few pulses in a food processor or blender will give you a nice mixture of Butterfinger crumbs and small pieces. Spread it out to cool. Using two baking sheets helps the puppy chow cool faster and keeps the pieces from sticking together. Wait before adding extra ingredients. If you’re adding chocolate chips, candies, or sprinkles, let the puppy chow cool first so they don’t melt into the coating.Nutrition
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Make It Ahead for a Crafting Day
This is a great recipe to make ahead when you’re planning a holiday get-together or crafting day.
Prepare the puppy chow a day or two in advance, let it cool completely, and store it in an airtight container. Then it’s ready to put out when your guests arrive.
It also makes a nice little treat to set beside a cup of coffee while working on a crochet or sewing project.
How to Store Puppy Chow
Once the puppy chow has completely cooled and dried, store it in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
There is no need to refrigerate it. In fact, keeping it at room temperature helps maintain the crisp texture of the cereal.
Store the container in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight or heat.
Can You Freeze Puppy Chow?
Yes, you can freeze puppy chow if you need to make it well ahead of time. Place the cooled mixture in a freezer-safe airtight container or freezer bag and freeze for up to about 2 months.
Let it thaw in the sealed container at room temperature before opening. This helps prevent condensation from forming on the cereal.
For the best texture, though, I prefer making it a day or two ahead and keeping it in an airtight container at room temperature.
Butterfinger Puppy Chow Variations
Add pretzels. Small pretzels add a salty crunch that goes especially well with the peanut butter and Butterfinger.
Add peanuts. Chopped peanuts can add even more crunch and peanut flavor.
Make it festive. Add holiday sprinkles or red and green candies after the puppy chow has cooled.
Try another candy bar. Peanut butter cups, toffee candy, or another crunchy candy bar can be substituted for the Butterfinger.
Add mini chocolate chips. Once the puppy chow has cooled completely, stir in a handful of mini chocolate chips.
A Sweet Snack for Your Next Crafting Day
Whether you’re spending the afternoon crocheting, sewing, making handmade gifts, or simply enjoying a cup of coffee with a friend, it’s always nice to have a little something sweet nearby.
This Butterfinger Puppy Chow Mix is simple enough to make without interrupting your crafting time and makes enough to share with everyone around the table.
Just be warned—it may be hard to keep your hands out of the bowl while you’re working on that next project!
You can find Victoria crocheting, quilting, and creating recipes. She has cooked in restaurants for over 20 years, including many larger parties. She learned to crochet when she was just 11 years old and has been crocheting ever since; over 50 years now. Over 40 years ago, she loved her first class in sewing and continues to hone her skills in quilting. Many have enjoyed the handmade gifts over the years. In her professional career, she has worked in management in a wide variety of businesses including higher education as a dean of a division. All the while attending college part-time to achieve her doctorate in higher education with an emphasis in e-learning.
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An easy snack to take along to a potluck too.