Description
Caramel Apple Puppy Chow recipe delivers a sweet, crunchy fall treat. Easy to make, this snack mixes apples, caramel, and cereal for a delightful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- Base Crunch:
- 9 cups Rice Chex cereal
- Sweet Caramel Blend:
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1 (11 oz) bag soft caramels (about 48 pieces), unwrapped
- 1–2 tbsp milk or water
- Apple & Spice Dust:
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup freeze-dried apple slices, crushed
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Prep Your Crunch Base:: First things first, get that big, sturdy bowl out – the biggest one you own, honestly. Gently pour in your Rice Chex cereal. I’m talking gentle, like you’re tucking in a baby. You don’t want to crush these beauties before they even get their caramel hug. This is where I always realize I need a bigger bowl than I thought, so learn from my mild kitchen chaos!
- Melt the Gooey Goodness:: Now for the magic! In a microwave-safe bowl, combine your white chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter. Pop it in the microwave for 30 seconds, stir, then another 30, and keep going, stirring vigorously between each burst, until it’s all smooth and glorious. Don’t overheat it, or it gets grainy – I made that mistake once, and it was a lumpy, sad affair. We want silky smooth, like a dream.
- Caramel Time!: In a separate microwave-safe bowl, melt those unwrapped caramels with a tiny splash of milk or water – just a tablespoon, maybe two. Microwave in 15-second intervals, stirring until it’s perfectly smooth and runny. This is where the kitchen starts smelling like a fall festival, honestly! You’ll know it’s ready when it pours like liquid gold, not a sticky lump.
- Combine & Coat:: Pour that beautiful melted white chocolate mixture over your cereal. Now, gently fold it in. I use a rubber spatula and just keep turning until most of the cereal is coated. Don’t smash it! Then, drizzle that warm, melted caramel right over the top. Again, fold it in carefully. This is where things can get a little sticky, but it’s worth it for the caramel apple puppy chow magic.
- The Powdered Sugar Shake:: Grab two large Ziploc bags, or one really, really big one. Divide your coated cereal between them. Add your powdered sugar, crushed freeze-dried apples, and cinnamon to the bags. Now, seal them up tight, making sure there’s some air inside. This is the fun part: shake, shake, shake! I usually put on some music and have a mini dance party. Keep shaking until every piece is beautifully coated. This is where I sometimes get powdered sugar on my nose, oops!
- Set & Enjoy:: Spread your delicious Caramel Apple Puppy Chow out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Let it cool completely, about 15-20 minutes, so the coating can set. Sometimes I pop it in the fridge for 10 minutes if I’m impatient (which, let’s be real, I usually am). Once it’s cool and crunchy, it’s ready to devour. The smell is intoxicating, and the taste? Pure autumn bliss. Trust me on this one.