Chunky Hunky Peanut-Buttery Happy Chow

 

Ok not the best photo here, BUT geeze I must have tried to photograph this 50 different ways and it just kept coming out slightly blurry and looking, well…hmm healthy.  Not a look I go for on this blog.  Heath nuts keep clicking…you’re not going to like what you see here.

 

Anyway, this is yet another take on the famous ‘Puppy Chow’ drowning the boards on Pinterest.  But there is a reason this ‘God take it away from me I can’t stop picking’ snack is so popular, it’s insanely good, and equally easy to make.  Not gonna lie, I pretty much cleaned out my pantry to put this one together.  Really anything works with Puppy Chow (ick I hate calling that, if you didn’t know better you’d seriously think I’m whippin’ up dog food).  

 

Here’s my all-star lineup for the recipe:

 

 

Chow mein noodles

Kri-Kri (peanuts covered in a cracker coating, made by most Lebanese nut manufacturers)

Mini marshmallows

Mini chocolate digestive biscuits

The best part about making a batch of Puppy Chow (::sigh:: let’s just call it Happy Chow instead, okay?) is you can substitute any of the additions.  Swap out the biscuits for cereal, marshmallow for M&M’s, peanuts for pretzels…get where I’m going here?  Anything is possible; add whatever you love (or in my case, whatever is hangin’ around)

Chunky Hunky Peanut-Buttery Happy Chow
printable version

 

Ingredients

3 cups chow mein noodles (the snacking kind, not ones that need to be pre-cooked)

1 ½ cups salted peanuts (I used Lebanese Kri Kri)

3 cups mini marshmallows

3 cups mini chocolate digestive biscuits (or mini Oreo’s/cereal/anything you’ve got on hand)

1 cup chocolate chips

½ cup Skippy Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter (or regular or Nutella will work too)

¼ cup butter

¼ cup shortening

2 cups powdered sugar

Directions:

In a microwave safe bowl, combine the chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter. 

 

Microwave for 1 minute and then stir.  Add the shortening and microwave for another 30 seconds and stir again. 

 

*If the mixture has remaining lumps, continue microwaving for 10 second intervals, stirring afterwards, until smooth and melted.

Combine the chow mein noodles, peanuts, marshmallows, and biscuits in a large bowl and gently toss with your hands to combine.

 

Pour the chocolate mixture over the dry mix.  Use a large spoon to gently combine.  Be careful not to break the noodles and biscuits.

Add powdered sugar to a large zip bag. Spoon in the chocolate mixture. Close bag and toss until fully coated.

Pour mixture onto baking sheets lined with wax paper. 

 

*If you find some of your mix has clumped up, dust with additional powdered sugar and break apart with your fingers.

 

Allow to set up on waxed paper until chocolate is no longer melted and hardened slightly.  Store in air-tight container.

 

recipe adapted from Inside BruCrew Life