Pumpkin Spice Puppy Chow Recipe — Fall Snack Mix for Dogs and People

This fall-inspired twist on a classic snack is full of pumpkin and cinnamon flavor in every crunchy bite.

Hi, hello, welcome to my favorite snack.

I’m a self-proclaimed puppy chow expert — I even published a cookbook of puppy chow recipes in 2015 — so you can trust this recipe. This pumpkin spice puppy chow is likely to become one of your go-to fall treats.

If you’re wondering what “puppy chow” is — it’s not dog food. This sweet snack, also called Muddy Buddies, is made by coating Chex cereal in melted chocolate and finishing it with powdered sugar. This version brings in warm fall flavors using white chocolate and pumpkin spice.

You can vary puppy chow by switching the chocolate and flavorings — cake batter, candy cane, Biscoff, or brownie batter are all popular options. For this pumpkin spice version, white chocolate is flavored with pumpkin pie spice and optionally tinted with orange food coloring for a festive look.

For extra fall color and a bit of crunch, I like to add white, orange, and yellow nonpareil sprinkles, though they’re optional. The simple steps are:

• Coat the cereal in melted chocolate.
• Add any mix-ins or sprinkles.
• Seal everything with powdered sugar.
• Let cool briefly, then enjoy.

This recipe also works with seasonal pumpkin spice candy melts or pumpkin spice Hershey’s Kisses if you can find them — if so, skip adding extra pumpkin pie spice and coloring.

Puppy chow disappears fast in my house, especially with little helpers around. You might want to double the batch — it’s delicious and dangerously moreish. It’s also a perfect treat for Halloween, school parties, or snack bags.

Pumpkin Spice Puppy Chow

A quick, fall-inspired snack with pumpkin pie spice and white chocolate. Ready in about 10 minutes.

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Total Time10 minutes mins

Recipe Author Lynn April

Servings: 5 cups

Ingredients

• 5 cups (135g) Rice Chex® cereal
• 8 ounces (227g) white chocolate — chopped
• 1 and ½ teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
• orange food coloring — optional
• ⅓ cup (98g) nonpareil sprinkles — optional
• 1 cup (120g) powdered sugar

Instructions

• Pour the cereal into a large bowl and set aside.
• Place the chopped white chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat for 20 seconds on HIGH, stir, then continue in 20-second bursts, stirring between, until fully melted. Stir in the pumpkin pie spice and optional food coloring until blended.
• Pour the melted chocolate over the cereal and gently stir until the cereal is coated.
• Transfer the coated cereal to a large zip-top bag or container with a tight lid. Add sprinkles if using and shake to distribute evenly.
• Add the powdered sugar, seal, and shake until the cereal is evenly coated. Spread onto a baking sheet lined with foil or parchment to cool. Discard any excess powdered sugar. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.

Notes

1. White chocolate tip: Don’t use white chocolate chips; they may not melt smoothly. If you find seasonal pumpkin spice candy melts or Hershey’s Kisses, you can use them and skip added pumpkin pie spice and coloring.
2. Pumpkin pie spice substitute: If you don’t have pumpkin pie spice, use 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg, and 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger.
3. Mix-in ideas: Nonpareil sprinkles add a festive look and crunch. Other tasty add-ins include mini cinnamon chips, pepitas, sunflower seeds, or seasonal candy-coated chocolates.

Nutrition Disclosure

All nutritional values are approximate and provided as a courtesy. Changes to ingredients or quantities will alter these estimates.

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 486kcal