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Enjoy a chocolate treat that is also a healthy, high protein snack (14 grams of protein per serving)! Vegan, gluten-free, and oil-free, this high protein puppy chow is made with 4 ingredients, requires no baking, and takes under 10 minutes (start to finish) to prepare.
What is Puppy Chow?
Puppy chow—also known as muddy buddies—is a sweet-salty-and-crunchy, crave-worthy snack (for people, not dogs 😉). Traditional recipes for puppy chow are made by coating crispy Chex cereal in a melty mix of chocolate, butter, and peanut butter, and then tossing in a snowy coating of powdered sugar. It is addicting!
A Healthy High Protein Alternative
My rendition of puppy chow has all of the great taste, crunch, and simplicity of the original, but with a fraction of the sugar, no added oils or butter, and a mighty boost of protein. Yes, please!
Vanilla plant-based protein powder stands in for the powdered sugar. It works like a charm, adding protein, vanilla flavor, and an additional layer of subtle sweetness to this healthy protein puppy chow.
This no-bake treat is as fun to make as it is to eat: just melt, stir, coat, and cool. Every handful is a perfect balance of rich, chocolatey goodness and irresistible crunch. Whether you are whipping up a batch for a party, gifting it in little bags, or sneaking bites straight from the bowl, this high protein puppy chow is a perfect snack, guaranteed to please!
Recipe Benefits
- High Protein (14 grams of protein per 1 cup serving)
- Made with 4 ingredients
- Ready in under 10 minutes
- Gluten-free (use a certified gluten-free protein powder)
- Vegan (egg-free & dairy-free)
- Oil-free (no coconut oil, avocado oil, butter or margarine)
- No bake
- A great portable snack or dessert
Ingredients
The exact amounts of each ingredient are indicated in the recipe card at the end of the post. Toggle between US Customary (volume) and Metric (weights) for preferred measurement option.
- Peanut butter– use smooth, creamy peanut butter, or any other smooth nut butter or seed butter (e.g., cashew butter, almond butter, sunflower seed butter, or tahini).
- Rice Chex cereal— you can also use chex corn cereal in place of the chex rice cereal, or an equal amount of any other similarly-shaped, light and crispy cereal. Make sure the cereal is certified gluten-free if you want the puppy chow to be gluten-free.
- Vanilla flavor vegan protein powder – plant based vanilla flavor protein powder takes the place of powdered sugar (confectioners’ sugar) found in traditional puppy chow recipes. It adds sweetness, vanilla flavor and a perfect coating all in one feel swoop.
- Dark chocolate chips–chocolate chips are melted with nut butter to create the creamy coating for the cereal. I use semisweet chocolate chips or other dark chocolate chips. Use dairy-free vegan chocolate chips, as needed.
Step by Step Instructions
Note that the complete directions are also in the recipe card below.
- Place cereal in bowl: Place the dry rice Chex cereal in a large mixing bowl or other large bowl (you need plenty of room to stir the mix).
- Melt chocolate and peanut butter: Place the chocolate chips and peanut butter in a medium size, microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stopping to stir each time, until melted and smooth.
- Pour & stir: Pour the chocolate mixture evenly over the cereal in the bowl. Using a rubber or silicone spatula, gently toss and stir to completely coat, being careful not to break up the cereal.
- Coat: Sprinkle the cereal mixture with the protein powder. Gently stir to completely coat the cereal pieces.
- Cool: Allow the puppy chow to cool completely before serving.
Cooling Tip: To expedite the cooling, spread the vegan puppy chow on a parchment paper covered baking sheet and (optional) place in the refrigerator or the freezer to quickly set the chocolate coating.
Variations
Here are some other ways you can mix up the puppy chow recipe:
- Double chocolate- replace the vanilla vegan protein power with an equal amount chocolate plant-based protein power
- Chopped nuts or seeds: add up to ½ cup peanuts, cashews, hazelnuts, cashews, almonds, pecans, walnuts, pumpkin seeds (pepitas) or sunflower seed kernels. It will up the protein further and add delicious crunch.
- Sprinkles- add in 2 to 3 tablespoons of multicolored sprinkles of any variety, along with the protein powder. I like these dye free, gluten-free, vegan options for all-natural rainbow jimmies and all-natural rainbow sprinkles.
- Spices- add ½ teaspoon of cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice to the melted chocolate mixture before adding it to the dry cereal.
- Dried fruit- add up to ½ cup chopped dried fruit, such as dried apricots, dried blueberries, dried cranberries, raisins, or dried cherries.
- Almond flour in place of protein powder: An equal amount of finely ground almond flour, or any finely ground nuts or seeds, can be used in place of the plant-based protein powder. If using this almond flour option, I recommend adding 1 teaspoon vanilla extract to the melted peanut butter and chocolate mixture.
Storage
Store the high protein puppy chow in an airtight container at (cool) room temperature for up to 3 days, in the refrigerator / fridge for up to one week, or the freezer for up to six months.
Tips & Substitutions
- Mix is too dry: If the puppy chow mixture seems too dry as you stir in the protein powder, consider melting another tablespoon or two of peanut butter and/or chocolate chips (in a separate bowl) until smooth. Add to the cereal mixture.
- Mix is too wet / sticky: If the cereal mix seems too wet or sticky once you stir in the protein powder, consider adding a few more tablespoons of protein powder to the mix.
- Vegan protein powder tip: Plant based (vegan) protein powders are typically grain and/or legume based. There is some variation between brands, so you may need to use less with one, more with another, to evenly coat the cereal. TIP: start by adding HALF of the protein powder, then adding more, as needed, to coat the cereal.
- Choose sweetened protein powder: I recommend sticking with a sweetened protein powder. Unsweetened protein powder may make the mix too savory.
Related Recipes
High Protein Puppy Chow (V, GF, Oil-Free)
Ingredients
- 5 cups rice Chex cereal, (or corn Chex)
- 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips, (certified dairy free and GF, as needed)
- 1/4 cup peanut butter, (see notes for alternatives)
- 1/2 cup vanilla flavor vegan protein powder
Instructions
- Place the dry rice Chex cereal in a large mixing bowl (you need plenty of room to stir the mix).
- Place the chocolate chips and peanut butter in a medium size, microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30 second intervals, stopping to stir each time, until melted and smooth.
- Pour the chocolate mixture evenly over the cereal in the bowl. Using a rubber or silicone spatula, stir to completely coat, being careful not to break up the cereal.
- Sprinkle the cereal mixture with the protein powder. Gently stir to completely coat the cereal pieces.
- Cool the puppy chow before serving. Refrigerate, if needed, to more firmly set the chocolate.
- Cooling Tip: To expedite the cooling, spread the vegan puppy chow on a parchment paper covered baking sheet and (optional) place in the refrigerator or the freezer to quickly set the chocolate coating.
Notes
Storage
Store the high protein puppy chow in an airtight container at (cool) room temperature for up to 3 days, in the refrigerator / fridge for up to one week, or the freezer for up to six months.Tips & Substitutions
- Mix is too dry: If the puppy chow mixture seems too dry as you stir in the protein powder, consider melting another tablespoon or two of peanut butter and/or chocolate chips (in a separate bowl) until smooth. Add to the cereal mixture.
- Mix is too wet / sticky: If the cereal mix seems too wet or sticky once you stir in the protein powder, consider adding a few more tablespoons of protein powder to the mix.
- Vegan protein powder tip: Plant based (vegan) protein powders are typically grain and/or legume based. There is some variation between brands, so you may need to use less with one, more with another, to evenly coat the cereal. TIP: start by adding HALF of the protein powder, then adding more, as needed, to coat the cereal.
- Choose sweetened protein powder: I recommend sticking with a sweetened protein powder. Unsweetened protein powder may make the mix too savory.
Easy to make and addicting snack food 😋
I am so glad that you like it, LB! 🙂
I’ve tried several protein powders for my fruit smoothies and chocolate smoothies. The ones I’ve tried are so strongly flavored the ONLY thing I taste is the powder. Have you a suggestion that allows the other flavors to be tasted?
Hi Jcrt! I know exactly what you are talking about—- I’ve tried some protein powders that are absolute stinkers.
The two brands I like right now are (1) ALOHA, and (2) WELLIOUS almond protein powder. They are both on Amazon, or you can order direct from their sites. They are both free of stevia (I don’t dislike stevia altogether, but I find the amounts used in protein powders overwhelming). The only downside I find with wellious is the cost (pricey), but I love that it is made from 4 simple ingredients. Cheers.
Amazing. The only downside is it is so delicious I could eat it all.
Love it, so glad you like the recipe, Jen 😆 😊
I cannot believe how YUMMY this is! With 14 grams of protein! I ran the numbers with the protein powder I use and it came out to 14.1 grams per 1 cup serving, spot on. I make a lot of my own protein bars–I am excited by this new crispy crunchy alternative. It’s so easy, too. The only hard part is going to be dividing it up into take-along portions before I nibble too much!
I am thrilled that you love the recipe, Valeria! Enjoy!