Almond Joy Puppy Chow (GF and Vegan Option)
Almond Joy puppy chow combines the almond and coconut flavors of a favorite candy bar with a classic muddy buddies recipe. It’s a sweet no bake snack, and in fact, one of the best gluten-free no bake dessert recipes you can make!
Almond Joy Puppy Chow
I like to convince myself that my friends and I were actually really cool in middle school, and that it was everybody else who, well, just wasn’t. So they just could not comprehend and appreciate our level of coolness. As adults, not much has changed, except now our get-togethers are less frequent (the last one was five years ago – we can’t let that happen again) and involve alcoholic beverages. Yes, we were your typical goody-two-shoes – no bending the rules. Our strongest drink back then was probably Dr. Pepper.
One thing that has changed is our selection of food. When we were kids, our party snacks of choice were Bugles, Cheetos, and Onion Dip. We may not have matured all that much, but our snacks have gotten a bit more sophisticated.
Potato skins, Buffalo chicken dip, chocolate-covered cheesecake strawberries, and Almond Joy puppy chow!
Almond Joy Puppy Chow!
a.k.a. Coconut Almond Muddy Buddies
a.k.a. Insane Chocolaty Nutty Goodness
Almond Joy puppy chow is addictive, and I mean, seriously addictive. But I managed to control myself at the party and then proceeded to devour a lot of the leftovers in the car on the ride home. Sorry, oops, that never happened.
FYI – since we were a small group and there were going to be a few desserts, I actually only made up a half batch of this, but I put the full amounts in the recipe here. So you could definitely cut this in half, if you don’t want to make so much.
Oh, and bonus! Since several varieties of Chex are gluten-free, this is an easy sweet treat for anyone who has to avoid gluten. And if you want to make it vegan, that is an option too. Just make sure to use gluten-free and/or vegan chocolate chips, powdered sugar, and vanilla.
What were your favorite party snacks as a kid? Do you have any childhood friends that you still hang out with? Were you as goofy as us?
Almond Joy Puppy Chow (GF and Vegan Option)
Ingredients
- 1 c powdered sugar
- 1 c shredded sweetened coconut flakes
- 8 c Chex (any variety, or a combination)
- 2 c unsalted almonds
- 1 c semi-sweet chocolate chips (use vegan and/or gluten-free chocolate chips, if needed)
- 1/2 c almond butter
- 4 T coconut oil* (see note below)
- 1 t vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a food processor or Magic Bullet, combine the powdered sugar and coconut, and chop until the mixture is mostly a powder.
- Place the sugar-coconut mixture in a large plastic storage bag.
- Combine the Chex and almonds in a large bowl, and set aside.
- Combine the chocolate chips, almond butter, and coconut oil in a medium bowl and microwave on High for 1 minute (or melt on the stove over low heat, preferably in a double boiler).
- Stir until completely melted, then stir in the vanilla extract.
- Pour the chocolate mixture over the Chex and almonds, and stir until the cereal is completely coated.
- Dump the mixture into the bag with the sugar and coconut, seal,and toss until the cereal and almonds are evenly coated.
- Pour onto wax paper to cool and dry. Stir in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
This recipe was adapted from Chex Muddy Buddies.
Enjoy!
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Yum!! This sounds fantastic. I need to make this for sure!!
It was so easy, too, and it actually has some really nutritious ingredients.
This snack will be joining me on a very long bike ride this weekend! No doubt it’s as addictive as you say!
Awesome! I hope you love it and it helps you power through the bike ride.
I LOVE THIS RECIPE!!!!! I was so happy to be a taste tester!
So happy you liked it! And so happy to have willing guinea pigs 🙂
I used to beg my mom to make this for me when I was a kid! I love the addition of coconut too–yum. 😀
I haven;t had it in years. Though it would be fun to add some new flavors, and even some more nutritious ingredients. Makes them healthy, right? 🙂
This sounds delicious. I am going to have to give this a try!
So easy and yummy! I hope you try and like it!
LOVE coconut anything – looks delicious
I have a new-found love of coconut! I never liked it until recently, and now I can’t get enough.
almond joys are my FAVORITE!! this is perfect!
I never realized how many people love Almond Joy. With being a new coconut convert, I was never into them.
Looks and sounds so yummy! I’m going to try, but replace he almond butter with biscoff spread. Can’t wait!
I have not had Biscoff yet. If you try it, I’d be interested to hear how it is.
I’ll let you know, you should definitely try biscoff spread overall. It’s delicious!
Yes, I should. I have a wheat allergy, so try to keep my consumption to a minimum, but everyone says it is worth trying, so I will sometime.
I love the idea of adding almonds! I’ve only used chex before!
It was so good with the nuts it makes me want to try more combos.
wow! My favorite candy bar is Almond Joy – can’t wait to try this! (:
Yay! Hope you like it!
What Fun! My boys will love this! So glad to see you great recipes again this week Brianne! Thank you for sharing on Thursday’s Treasures Week 36. Hope you will join again next week. <3 and hugs! http://www.recipesformyboys.com/2012/05/thursdays-treasures-week-36.html
It is a fun and easy snack. Thanks for hosting a fun party!
Hi Brianne,
What a wonderful snack, we are going to love this! Hope you are having a great week end and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
Thank you! I hope you get to try it!
This. Is. Amazing.
Haha! Thanks!! It was pretty amazing, if I do say so myself 🙂
Yum, these look delicious! I will have to try them. Thanks for sharing at Showcase Your Talent Thursday!
Thanks! Hope you do get a chance to try them.
Oh my! This looks and sounds just fabulous! I’m so glad you linked up at Weekend Potluck. This is a real hit I’m sure.
Thanks – yes, it was quite popular among my friends 🙂
This sounds great. I was just like you in middle school and high school. We were fun though in our own goody goody way. Thanks so much for sharing at Whimsy Wednesdays.
As long as you had fun and were happy, right?! 🙂
An AMAZING recipe! I wanted to make Almond Joy Puppy Chow and figured there had to be a recipe out there somewhere! Glad I found yours! Very addicting indeed! (: Made this for my boyfriends mother and I to snack on while she recovers from her broken leg. I also added those new ‘Almond Joy Pieces’ ,like m&m’s or recess pieces..just almond joy flavored. DELICIOUS!!!
Thanks so much! I am thrilled you enjoyed it. And the addition of the pieces is a great idea. Even some chopped up fun size bars, if you have any left from Halloween, would be yummy.
At wha point do you add the vanilla extract?
Oh sorry! Stir in to the melty mixture. I’ll correct that! Thanks!
Hey, I just finished making this and it came out fantastic!!
I substituted dried, unsweetened coconut shreds instead of the sweetened ones, and white chocolate peanut butter instead of the almond butter and it still tastes great. I was honestly surprised everything worked so well,, based on my limited ingredients and inexperience.
Thank you for sharing!!
I’m so glad the recipe worked out well for you, Carter. Your substitutions sound delicious, and I’m glad that you enjoyed it!