Go Back
–+ servings
a large white bowl brimming with a colorful autumn snack mix. Square Chex cereal pieces are coated in a dusting of powdered sugar, giving them a snowy, crunchy look. Scattered among them are shiny orange, yellow, and brown M&Ms, glossy candy corn, and small pumpkin-shaped candies with green tops. Golden-brown pretzels add a salty crunch, their smooth sheen contrasting the sugar-coated cereal.

Thanksgiving Puppy Chow

This Thanksgiving Puppy Chow is the ultimate sweet-and-salty holiday snack — chocolate, peanut butter, and sugar team up for a dangerously crunchy treat. Toss in candy corn, pumpkins, and pretzels, and suddenly you’ve got dessert you can pretend is “festive mix.”
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Course Snack
Servings 10

EQUIPMENT (PAID LINKS)

Ingredients
  

  • 9 cups Corn Chex cereal
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • ¼ cup butter plus 1 tablespoon more if needed
  • ½ cup creamy peanut butter
  • 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1½ cups powdered sugar
  • 2 cups pretzels
  • 1½ cups candy corn and candy pumpkins
  • 1 cup M&Ms use fall colors — skip green and blue

Instructions

  • Prep the Cereal: Pour the Corn Chex cereal into a large mixing bowl and set aside.
    9 cups Corn Chex cereal
  • Melt the Chocolate Mix: In a microwave-safe bowl, combine chocolate chips, butter, and peanut butter. Microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring between each, until melted and smooth. If it’s too thick, add a splash of canola oil. Let it cool slightly (1–2 minutes).
    1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, ¼ cup butter, ½ cup creamy peanut butter
  • Add Vanilla: Stir in the vanilla extract once the chocolate mixture is smooth and slightly cooled.
    1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
  • Coat the Cereal: Pour the melted chocolate mixture over the cereal. Use a rubber spatula to gently stir until every piece is evenly coated.
  • Add the Sugar: Transfer the coated cereal into a large zip-top bag. Add powdered sugar, seal the bag, and shake until every piece is covered in a sweet, snowy layer.
    1½ cups powdered sugar
  • Cool It Down: Spread the coated cereal on a parchment-lined baking sheet and let it cool completely.
  • Mix in the Fun Stuff: Once cool, toss the cereal back into a big bowl. Add pretzels, candy corn, candy pumpkins, and M&Ms. Stir until everything’s evenly distributed.
    2 cups pretzels, 1½ cups candy corn and candy pumpkins, 1 cup M&Ms