Nutella Puppy Chow

updated Jul 15, 2024

The easy upgrade you never knew you needed. Warning: It'll be devoured almost immediately at your next party.

Serves10 to 12

Makesabout 5 cups

Prep15 minutes

Cook1 minute

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Puppy chow (also known as muddy buddies) is dangerous stuff. I had never even heard of the snack until my friend Beth, an Iowa native, left some at my house after a holiday gathering and I found myself eating handful after handful of the sweet, crunchy, nutty mixture. Why wasn’t there a warning label? It didn’t last the night.

So when I was coming up with a menu of slightly upscale versions of lowbrow snacks for an outdoor movie party, puppy chow seemed like the right fit, especially since I was co-hosting the party with Beth, the friend who had introduced me to the treat in the first place. In the original recipe, chocolate and peanut butter are melted together and used to coat Chex cereal, then tossed with powdered sugar. Obviously, I have no problem eating multiple cups of the original, but the powdered sugar coating gives it a straightforward sweetness, and I prefer sweets with a bit of an edge.

So in my rendition, dark chocolate takes the place of milk chocolate, bitter cocoa powder is mixed with the powdered sugar and the finished chow gets a generous sprinkling of salt, to give it that addictive savory-sweetness I can’t get enough of. Here’s how to make it.

Why You’ll Love It

  • It’s an upgraded version of the original. It’s just as crunchy and addictive as the original puppy chow, but less tooth-achingly sweet, with the perfect balance of toasty cereal, cocoa powder, dark chocolate and a little salt.
  • Nutella brings it to another level. Chocolate-hazelnut spread is used instead of peanut butter for a snack that is probably as glamorous as anything called “puppy chow” can be.

Key Ingredients in Nutella Puppy Chow

  • Unsweetened cocoa powder: Cocoa powder is combined with powdered sugar to coat the puppy chow.
  • Powdered sugar: You’ll need 1/4 cup of powdered sugar for the cocoa powder mixture.
  • Chex cereal: Any type of Chex will work, but I like corn Chex for its nutty taste and uniform shape.
  • Dark chocolate: Use chopped dark chocolate or dark chocolate chips.
  • Chocolate-hazelnut spread: You can use Nutella or any brand of chocolate-hazelnut spread.

How to Make Nutella Puppy Chow

  1. Make the cocoa powder mixture. Whisk together the cocoa powder and 1/4 cup of the powdered sugar in a large bowl, then transfer in a gallon-size zip-top bag. Measure out the cereal into the now-empty bowl.
  2. Make the dark chocolate mixture. Place the dark chocolate, chocolate-hazelnut spread, butter, and kosher salt in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 30-second bursts until the chocolate and butter are melted, about 1 minute total.
  3. Coat the cereal. Immediately pour the dark chocolate mixture over the cereal and stir gently until evenly coated. Transfer the cereal to the zip-top bag and shake until well-coated with the cocoa powder mixture. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon powdered sugar and shake again until evenly coated.
  4. Let it cool completely. Spread the puppy chow onto a rimmed baking sheet in a single layer. Let cool completely, about 1 hour.

More Puppy Chow Recipes to Try

Editor’s Note

We’ve retested the recipe and removed the vanilla extract so that the chocolate coating will not seize. We also tested with both Nutella and a different brand of chocolate-hazelnut spread, and both worked well in the recipe.  – June 2024

Nutella Puppy Chow Recipe

The easy upgrade you never knew you needed. Warning: It'll be devoured almost immediately at your next party.

Prep time 15 minutes

Cook time 1 minute

Makes about 5 cups

Serves 10 to 12

Nutritional Info

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup

    unsweetened cocoa powder

  • 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon

    powdered sugar, divided

  • 5 cups

    Chex cereal

  • 2 ounces

    chopped dark chocolate, or 1/3 cup dark chocolate chips

  • 1/2 cup

    chocolate-hazelnut spread, such as Nutella

  • 2 tablespoons

    unsalted butter, cut into 4 pieces

  • 1/2 teaspoon

    kosher salt

Instructions

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  1. Whisk together the cocoa powder and 1/4 cup of the powdered sugar in a large bowl, then transfer in a gallon-size zip-top bag. Measure out the cereal into the now-empty bowl.

  2. Place the dark chocolate, chocolate-hazelnut spread, butter, and kosher salt in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 30-second bursts until the chocolate and butter are melted, about 1 minute total. (If you don't have a microwave, melt the mixture over low heat on the stovetop instead.) Immediately pour over the cereal and stir gently until evenly coated. Transfer the cereal to the zip-top bag and shake until well-coated with the cocoa powder mixture. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon powdered sugar and shake again until evenly coated.

  3. Spread the puppy chow onto a rimmed baking sheet in a single layer. Let cool completely, about 1 hour. Puppy chow tastes best within 1 to 2 days of making it, but will keep in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

Recipe Notes

Chex cereal: Any type of Chex will work, but I like corn Chex for its nutty taste and uniform shape. It is also gluten-free.