Puppy Chow (aka Muddy Buddies)

A favorite treat, that's easy to make and naturally gluten free!  Adapted from The Very Best Puppy Chow {Muddy Buddies} - Mel's Kitchen Cafe (melskitchencafe.com)

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups (340 g) semisweet chocolate chips (see note)
• 1 ¼ cups (320 g) peanut butter (see note)
• 6 tablespoons (85 g) salted butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 10 ½ to 11 cups (352 g) rice or corn Chex cereal (a 12-ounce box)
• 2 ½ cups (285 g) powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons (11 g) natural unsweetened cocoa powder (see note)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Pour the cereal into a large bowl.
2. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter and cook for 1-minute intervals, stirring in between, until the mixture is smooth and fully melted. Don't overheat. Stir in the vanilla extract.
3. Drizzle the chocolate mixture over the cereal and using a flat rubber spatula gently fold the mixture until the cereal is evenly coated with the warm mixture.
4. Place the powdered sugar* in a large bag and add the chocolate-covered cereal (you may need to do this in batches depending on the size of your bag). Close the bag and shake like your life depends on it until the cereal is coated with the dry mixture.  
5. Let the cereal rest until it goes from wet and shiny to looking a bit sticky, 5 to 10 minutes (this is an important step – If it is too wet, the powdered sugar soaks into the runny chocolate instead of forming a powdery coating on the outside).
6. In a separate smaller bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and cocoa powder (see note).
7. Spoon about half of the powdered sugar mixture in the bottom of two 1-gallon ziploc bags or one 2-gallon ziploc bag (I keep these larger bags on hand just for this recipe – makes it so easy to mix!).
8. Add the cereal mixture to the bag(s). This step can be a bit messy. It helps to fold down the top of the bag a few inches and pile the cereal in.
9. Add the remaining powdered sugar mixture. Close the bag and shake, turning the bag over as you go, until the cereal is mostly coated with the powdered sugar mixture and has formed clusters here and there.
10. (You can continue adding powdered sugar a little at a time and shaking to coat if you'd like a thicker powdery coating on the puppy chow, but be warned that this may result in less clusters.)
11. Spread the puppy chow out on a parchment-lined baking sheet. At this point, you can easily sprinkle on a bit more powdered sugar and toss by hand if there are extra gooey spots that need it. Let the puppy chow sit for 20 to 30 minutes to cool and set.
12. Store the puppy chow in the fridge or the freezer and experience how good life can be when munching on chilled clusters of this magnificent stuff.