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!
[Tweet “Almond Joy Puppy Chow adds the flavors of a favorite candy bar to the classic muddy buddies!”]
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?
- 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
- 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.
*If you don't have coconut oil, you could use butter, and maybe a little coconut extract for that additional coconut flavor)
This recipe was adapted from Chex Muddy Buddies.
Enjoy!
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Kate|Food Babbles says
Yum!! This sounds fantastic. I need to make this for sure!!
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
It was so easy, too, and it actually has some really nutritious ingredients.
Ashley@BakerbyNature says
This snack will be joining me on a very long bike ride this weekend! No doubt it’s as addictive as you say!
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
Awesome! I hope you love it and it helps you power through the bike ride.
Nancy says
I LOVE THIS RECIPE!!!!! I was so happy to be a taste tester!
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
So happy you liked it! And so happy to have willing guinea pigs 🙂
Kiersten @ Oh My Veggies says
I used to beg my mom to make this for me when I was a kid! I love the addition of coconut too–yum. 😀
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
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? 🙂
Shelley says
This sounds delicious. I am going to have to give this a try!
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
So easy and yummy! I hope you try and like it!
Heather@French Press says
LOVE coconut anything – looks delicious
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
I have a new-found love of coconut! I never liked it until recently, and now I can’t get enough.
what katie's baking says
almond joys are my FAVORITE!! this is perfect!
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
I never realized how many people love Almond Joy. With being a new coconut convert, I was never into them.
Jen says
Looks and sounds so yummy! I’m going to try, but replace he almond butter with biscoff spread. Can’t wait!
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
I have not had Biscoff yet. If you try it, I’d be interested to hear how it is.
Jen says
I’ll let you know, you should definitely try biscoff spread overall. It’s delicious!
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
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.
kylie @ immaeatthat says
I love the idea of adding almonds! I’ve only used chex before!
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
It was so good with the nuts it makes me want to try more combos.
gina says
wow! My favorite candy bar is Almond Joy – can’t wait to try this! (:
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
Yay! Hope you like it!
Debi says
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
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
It is a fun and easy snack. Thanks for hosting a fun party!
Miz Helen says
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
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
Thank you! I hope you get to try it!
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust says
This. Is. Amazing.
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
Haha! Thanks!! It was pretty amazing, if I do say so myself 🙂
Alyssa says
Yum, these look delicious! I will have to try them. Thanks for sharing at Showcase Your Talent Thursday!
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
Thanks! Hope you do get a chance to try them.
The Better Baker says
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.
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
Thanks – yes, it was quite popular among my friends 🙂
Jenny says
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.
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
As long as you had fun and were happy, right?! 🙂
Rachel says
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!!!
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
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.
Julie m. says
At wha point do you add the vanilla extract?
Brianne Izzo says
Oh sorry! Stir in to the melty mixture. I’ll correct that! Thanks!
Carter says
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!!
Brianne Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
I’m so glad the recipe worked out well for you, Carter. Your substitutions sound delicious, and I’m glad that you enjoyed it!