Peanut butter and chocolate, allow me to introduce you to pretzels
You know those recipes that you’ve had for a long time that you just make on autopilot? Puppy Chow is one of them for me. Combine all of the coating ingredients, mix with cereal squares, and sprinkle with powdered sugar. Puppy chow is ready!
However, it’s good to think about recipes from time to time. Can we create new versions? Change cooking methods? Modify ingredients? That was the case with this Sweet & Salty Puppy Chow. I read an article about Stephanie Izard and her love for Cheez-Its and how she turned them into cheesy s’mores. My daughter loves Cheez-Its as well, so I wondered about making a Sweet & Cheesy Snack Mix.
Like most cooking thoughts, they have to be brought to the kitchen. Quite often for me the first version is a success. (That isn’t meant to be bragging, just a statement of how things work.) This recipe didn’t follow that trend. I went through three different iterations to arrive at success. Not 100% sure of my palate for this recipe, I brought all three versions on a weekend trip to visit my daughter in college.
Feedback from me, her, and her roommates:
- Sweet & Cheesy Puppy Chow
- Me- No
- Her- Eh, ok
- Roommates- No
- Sweet & Salty Puppy Chow
- Me- Ok
- Her- Yum!
- Roommates- Yum!
- Sweet & Salty Puppy Chow #2
- Me- YES!
- Her- Double yum!
- Roommates- Double yum!
I found it interesting that all four roommates agreed on two versions with evenly matched excitement. What was even more interesting (and beneficial) was that although it took three versions to perfect, the second version of the sweet and salty kind, which everyone preferred, had fewer steps than the first version.
So, back to the thinking about the recipe. Not only did I change the delivery vehicle for the peanut butter and chocolate from cereal to pretzels, I also tweaked the coating ingredients. The original recipe included butter, not a lot, but I wondered if it was needed. Making this recipe I discovered that the butter wasn’t needed. While not a healthy snack, it’s just a little bit less guilt inducing now.
For the next gathering where you need a snack that you can eat by the handful, give this recipe a try. I’m guessing it’s going to be a hit.
- 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup peanut butter
- 2-1/2 cups pretzel squares*
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons peanut butter powder, such as PB2
- Combine chocolate chips and peanut butter in a small bowl.
- Microwave for 20 seconds; stir.
- Microwave in additional 20 second increments, stirring after each, until fully melted and combined.
- Pour pretzels into a large mixing bowl; top with chocolate mixture.
- Stir well.
- Combine powdered sugar and peanut butter powder in a gallon-sized resealable bag.
- Add chocolate coated pretzels, seal, and shake to coat well.
- Spread on baking sheet to cool.
- Refrigerate to speed process.
- *I found pretzels square best, as the can hold more of the coating. Feel free to use other pretzel shapes if desired.
- **It was brought to my attention that someone might accidentally think this was a treat for dogs. It is NOT for dog and is only for human consumption.
