Caramel Apple Puppy Chow Recipe

Ben Carraoli

Caramel Apple Puppy Chow Recipe

I just made a batch of this Caramel Apple Puppy Chow, and my kitchen smells like a fall festival! This recipe is incredibly simple and turns out so delicious every single time. It's the perfect sweet, crunchy snack for any occasion, from movie nights to holiday parties.

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Prep Time 15

Total Time 15

Servings: 10

Course: Dessert

Calories: 265

Ingredients Method

Ingredients

10 cups Rice Chex™ Apple Cinnamon cereal - The apple cinnamon variety adds an extra layer of fall flavor but plain Rice Chex will also work well.
2 cups granola - Use your favorite cinnamon or plain granola for extra crunch and texture.
1 cup green candy melts - These give the puppy chow its signature apple look and a sweet vanilla-like coating.
1 cup lime green candy melts - Using two shades of green adds visual appeal and makes the final product look more festive.
2 teaspoons shortening - This is a crucial addition to the candy melts as it helps them melt smoothly and coat the cereal evenly.
1 cup vanilla cake mix - The dry cake mix creates that classic dusty sweet coating that makes puppy chow so unique.
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon - This enhances the warm spiced flavor, perfectly complementing the apple and caramel notes.

Method

First, get your cereal ready for coating. Pour 5 cups of the Apple Cinnamon Chex cereal into one medium-sized bowl and the remaining 5 cups into a second medium-sized bowl. Setting them up separately makes the next steps much easier.
Next, prepare your dry coating. You will need two large resealable plastic bags. In each bag, combine 1/2 cup of the vanilla cake mix, 1 cup of granola, and 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon. Shake each bag gently to mix the ingredients.
In two separate microwave-safe bowls, melt your candy melts. Place the green candy melts with 1 teaspoon of shortening in one bowl and the lime green melts with 1 teaspoon of shortening in the other. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until smooth.
Now, it's time to bring it all together. Pour the melted green candy mixture over one bowl of Chex cereal and the lime green mixture over the other. Stir each bowl gently with a spatula until all the cereal pieces are evenly coated.
Carefully transfer the green-coated cereal into one of the prepared bags with the cake mix mixture. Pour the lime green-coated cereal into the second bag. Seal both bags securely and shake well until every piece is covered. Finally, pour both mixtures into a large serving bowl, drizzle with warm caramel topping, and gently toss to combine.