One of my all time favorite desserts to make during the holidays is puppy chow.  Not sure why this is a “holiday” dessert, but I always crave it this time of year.  The traditional puppy chow/reindeer food/muddy buddies dessert uses semi-sweet morsels, peanut butter, butter, powdered sugar and chex cereal.  This year I wanted to try something new so I attempted to make different varieties of this dessert using dark chocolate and almond butter. – Justifying eating this with the antioxidants in the chocolate and the healthier almond butter.  🙂

So here’s puppy chow – the 2013  version:

Ingredients:

• 7 oz (1/2 box) Chex corn square cereal
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/2 cup almond butter
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1  cup dark chocolate morsels

Double the recipe if you want.  I make smaller amounts because #1 – I’m obsessed with it and #2 – I wanted to have leftovers to try other combinations.

I also think life should be efficient and if you can make it in the microwave… make it in the microwave!  I love this dish because it really is a one bowl wonder.

Combine butter, almond butter and chocolate in a microwave safe bowl and melt for about 1 minute.  Remove, stir and melt again in 30 second increments until smooth.  Don’t over cook or the chocolate will get very lumpy.  Add vanilla for sweetness.

Mix the chocolate mixture with cereal (I usually use a grocery bag or large dish to mix it all) until fully coated.  Add powdered sugar and shake until coated.  And that’s it!  Nothing else to it! Best part about this is you can eat it right away!

On another note – While I was making this, Emmie had a puppy play date with some of her friends…  I had 6 eyes glued on me the whole time.

After getting no attention in the kitchen, Emmie went crazy and tried to show this big puppy lab, Zam, who was boss.  🙂

Christmas to do list:

• Make puppy chow – DONE
• Make puppy super tired and fearless – DONE

What’s your must have holiday dessert?