Peppermint Bark Puppy Chow
Last Updated on October 29, 2024 by Annie
This festive Peppermint Bark Puppy Chow comes together in about 15 minutes for a dairy-free muddy buddy recipe your whole family will love! Made with vegan white and dark chocolate, this peppermint flavored puppy chow is perfect for the holiday season.
With holiday season upon us I have to know, are you team Christmas starts November 1st or are you in the camp that waits until the day after Thanksgiving to start decorating for the festivities?
For me I am all about the day after Thanksgiving. I unpack my stretchy pants, crank up the Christmas jams and slowly get to unpacking the holiday spirit.
Whether you have already set up your tree or you’re waiting for the Friday after Thanksgiving, this muddy buddies version of peppermint bark is the holiday snack mash-up you desperately need!
Why We Love Peppermint Bark Muddy Buddies
I love a good twist on the classic muddy buddy recipe. This dairy-free peppermint bark puppy chow is a holiday must-make recipe for a number of reasons including:
- No-bake. This recipe can easily be whipped up without turning on the oven.
- Mint + Chocolate. Is there really a better flavor combination in the holiday season?
- Muddy Buddies! I mean, come on y’all, what is better than a muddy buddy?!?
Dairy-Free Changes to Peppermint Chocolate Puppy Chow
Three important ingredients make this a dairy-free puppy chow recipe. To keep it deliciously dairy-free, you will need:
- Plant-Based Butter– I like to use an unsalted butter stick like Country Crock’s Plant-Butter.
- Vegan White Chocolate– Some of the white chocolate alternatives I have used and liked include:
- Dairy-Free Dark Chocolate– A few different dark chocolate alternatives I have tried and liked include:
How to Make Peppermint Bark Puppy Chow
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Chex Cereal– You can use a mix of corn, rice, or wheat Chex cereal. Personally I like to use corn with the dark chocolate half and rice with the white chocolate half.
- Chocolate– Vegan white chocolate and vegan dark chocolate are needed to make the two “layers” of the peppermint bark.
- Cashew Butter– Cashew butter has a mild flavor profile which allows you to add peppermint extract without any additional flavors coming through.
- Plant-Based Butter– Unsalted plant-based butter melted and used to thin out the chocolate mixture.
- Peppermint Extract– Gives the puppy chow the delicious flavor of peppermint bark.
- Salt– Balances out the sugar and chocolate in this puppy chow.
- Powdered Sugar– Used to coat the mint chocolate pieces of puppy chow.
- Crushed Candy Cane– Mixed with the finished puppy chow for the crunchy bites associated with peppermint bark.
Step-by-Step Directions for Peppermint Bark Puppy Chow
Make the White Chocolate Bark Pieces
- Melt wet ingredients: In a large microwave safe bowl, heat dairy-free white chocolate, cashew butter, and plant-based butter until melted. (about 30-40 seconds).
- Stir: Remove from microwave and stir until smooth.
- Flavor: Add peppermint extract and salt. Stir.
- Mix in Chex: Pour in Chex cereal with crushed peppermint. Stir to coat evenly with white chocolate mixture.
- Make sugar coating: In a gallon ziplock bag, pour in powdered sugar. Then pour the white chocolate coated Chex into the bag.
- Toss to coat: Zip the top of the bag and shake to coat evenly with powdered sugar.
- Set aside: Pour into a large bowl and set aside while you make the dark chocolate half.
Make the Dark Chocolate Bark Pieces
- Melt wet ingredients: In a large microwave safe bowl, heat dairy-free dark chocolate, cashew butter, and plant-based butter until melted. (about 30-40 seconds).
- Stir: Remove from microwave and stir until smooth.
- Flavor: Add peppermint extract and salt. Stir.
- Mix in Chex: Pour in Chex cereal with crushed peppermint. Stir to coat evenly with dark chocolate mixture.
- Make sugar coating: In a gallon ziplock bag, pour in powdered sugar. Then pour the dark chocolate coated Chex into the bag.
- Toss to coat: Zip the top of the bag and shake to coat evenly with powdered sugar.
- Add to white chocolate Chex: Pour into the bowl with the white chocolate coated pieces.
- Mix together: Add additional crushed peppermint and stir to evenly distribute.
Helpful Kitchen Tools
When you are ready to whip up a batch of these delicious mint chocolate muddy buddies, here are a few kitchen tools you might find helpful.
- Microwave Safe Bowl– These are sturdy, microwave safe bowls perfect for heating, mixing, making all the puppy chow your heart desires.
- Rubber Spatula– For stirring the melted chocolate mixtures and scraping every last bit off the sides of the glass bowl.
- Air-Tight Storage Container– Used to store peppermint bark puppy chow while you snack on them all holiday season long!
Gifting Suggestions
I love making muddy buddies to add to my holiday cookie boxes each year. Some of the ways you might package and gift your peppermint bark puppy chow includes:
- Gift Bags– Pour a desired amount of puppy chow into a holiday themed gift bag and tie it off with ribbons and bows.
- Cookie Boxes– Tuck some puppy chow safely into treat box for easy holiday gifting.
- Holiday Themed Tupperware– For the ultimate air-tight option, consider getting some festive Tupperware to gift these muddy buddies to your friends!
Storing for Keeps!
If you are planing to keep this dairy-free peppermint bark puppy chow, here is the best way to keep it crispy and fresh all season (not that it will last that long)!
- Air-Tight Storage Container– Place the cooled peppermint bark muddy buddies in an air-tight container and store at room temperature for up to 1 week.
More Peppermint Bark Recipes for the Season
If you tried this Peppermint Bark Puppy Chow recipe please let me know in the comments below!
You can also share a picture of it with me on Instagram by tagging @mylifeafterdairy so I can see all of your life after dairy adventures!
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Peppermint Bark Puppy Chow
Peppermint white chocolate and dark chocolate mix together in this deliciously dairy-free peppermint bark puppy chow recipe.
Ingredients
White Chocolate Bark Pieces
- ½ cup White Chocolate non-dairy
- ¼ cup Cashew Butter
- 2 Tablespoons Plant-Based Butter
- 1 teaspoon Peppermint Extract
- ⅛ teaspoon Salt
- ¾ cup Powdered Sugar
- 1 Tablespoon Crushed Peppermint
- 4 cups Chex Cereal
Dark Chocolate Bark Pieces
- ½ cup Dark Chocolate non-dairy
- ¼ cup Cashew Butter
- 2 Tablespoons Plant-Based Butter
- 1 teaspoon Peppermint Extract
- ⅛ teaspoon Salt
- ¾ cup Powdered Sugar
- 1 Tablespoon Crushed Peppermint
- 4 cups Chex Cereal
- 2 Tablespoons Crushed Peppermint to mix in at the end
Instructions
White Chocolate Bark Pieces
-
In a large microwave safe bowl, heat ½ cup dairy-free white chocolate, ¼ cup cashew butter, and 2 Tablespoons plant-based butter until melted. (about 30-40 seconds). Remove from microwave and stir until smooth.
-
Add 1 teaspoon peppermint extract and ⅛ teaspoon salt. Stir.
-
Pour in 4 cups Chex cereal with 1 Tablespoon crushed peppermint. Stir to coat evenly with white chocolate mixture.
-
In a gallon ziplock bag, pour in ¾ cup powdered sugar. Then pour the white chocolate coated Chex into the bag.
-
Zip the top of the bag and shake to coat evenly with powdered sugar.
-
Pour into a large bowl and set aside while you make the dark chocolate half.
Dark Chocolate Bark Pieces
-
In a large microwave safe bowl, heat ½ cup dairy-free dark chocolate, ¼ cup cashew butter, and 2 Tablespoons plant-based butter until melted. (about 30-40 seconds).Remove from microwave and stir until smooth.
-
Add 1 teaspoon peppermint extract and ⅛ teaspoon salt. Stir.
-
Pour in 4 cups Chex cereal with 1 Tablespoon crushed peppermint. Stir to coat evenly with dark chocolate mixture.
-
In a gallon ziplock bag, pour in ¾ cup powdered sugar. Then add the dark chocolate coated Chex into the bag.
-
Zip the top of the bag and shake to coat evenly with powdered sugar.
-
Pour into the bowl with the white chocolate coated pieces. Add remaining 2 Tablespoons crushed peppermint and stir to evenly distribute.
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