Peanut Butter Filled Pretzel Puppy Chow Nuggets

Have you ever been sitting there eating something perfectly delicious and think, "Man, if this just had a little salt, it would be awesome!"?  Well that's exactly what happened the other day when I was hanging out with Chris' family, getting sick off of eating puppy chow.

Peanut Butter Filled Pretzel Puppy Chow Nuggets

We were talking about how we could eat even MORE of the sugary sweet treat if only it had a little salt. When all of a sudden, BAM! "Oooooo, we could use salted pretzels!" I have never wanted to go to the grocery store SO bad in my life. My sister-in-law said, "I bet I see that on your blog soon!" Am I that predictable? Well, it's the next weekend and two batches have already been made AND devoured, so you tell me! 

This recipe is the same beloved holiday snack recipe I've been making for years, only with peanut butter filled pretzel nuggets instead of cereal. I normally use Crispix and many people use Chex cereal, but if you like a little salty with your sweet, you will LOVE these. And seriously, who doesn't need just a little extra peanut butter in their life?

Growing up we called the cereal version of this traditional holiday treat puppy chow, and reindeer chow around Christmas. I have also heard it called muddy buddies.

Peanut Butter Filled Pretzel Puppy Chow Nuggets
     makes 18 servings
9 C Peanut Butter Filled Pretzel Nuggets
1/2 C creamy peanut butter
1/4 C butter
1 C semi sweet chocolate chips
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 C powdered sugar

Place pretzel nuggets in a large bowl and set aside. In a microwave safe bowl, combine peanut butter, butter and chocolate chips. Microwave for 30 seconds and stir to blend ingredients. Microwave for additional 15 seconds intervals until mixture is melted and smooth. Stir in vanilla. Pour the peanut butter-chocolate mixture over pretzel nuggets and stir until everything is coated evenly. Pour coated peanut butter nuggets in a large zip-lock bag and dump in 1 C of the powdered sugar and seal bag. Shake bag and toss to coat pretzel nugget pieces. Open bag and break up clumps. Repeat with remaining 1 C of powdered sugar, until everything is coated evenly.

So what do YOU call the traditional version of this? And, when you make it with cereal, do you use Kellogg's Crispix cereal or General Mill's Chex cereal? Also, if you want a really wild version of this snack, try my Funfetti White Chocolate Puppy Chow!