Description

Caramel Apple Puppy Chow is a fun and festive snack mix combining crunchy Apple Cinnamon Chex cereal, sweet vanilla cake mix, and colorful green candy melts, all tossed with cinnamon and granola for a delightful treat. Perfect for parties, holidays, or a flavorful snack, this no-bake recipe is easy to make and irresistibly tasty with a hint of caramel drizzle on top.

Ingredients

Scale

Cereal and Mixes

10 cups Rice Chex™ Apple Cinnamon cereal (divided)
2 cups granola
1 cup vanilla cake mix (divided)
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon (divided)

Candy Melts

1 cup green candy melts
1 cup lime green candy melts
2 teaspoons shortening

Topping

Caramel topping, for drizzling

Instructions

Divide the cereal: Pour 5 cups of Rice Chex Apple Cinnamon cereal into a medium-sized bowl, and pour the remaining 5 cups into another medium bowl. Set both bowls aside.
Prepare Cinnamon Cake Mix Bags: Take two Ziplock storage bags. In each bag, combine half of the vanilla cake mix, 1 cup of granola, and 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon. Mix the contents lightly and set aside.
Melt candy melts: In two separate microwavable bowls, melt the green candy melts and 1 teaspoon shortening in one, and the lime green candy melts and 1 teaspoon shortening in the other. Heat in short intervals, stirring in between, until smooth.
Coat the cereal: Pour the melted green candy mixture over one bowl of cereal and gently stir to coat all pieces evenly. Repeat with the lime green candy mixture and the other bowl of cereal.
Toss in cake mixture: Pour one coated cereal bowl’s contents into one Ziplock bag with the prepared cake mix and granola mixture. Seal the bag and shake vigorously until the cereal is coated completely. Repeat with the second bowl and bag.
Combine and finish: Pour both coated cereal mixtures into a large bowl and gently mix them together. Drizzle caramel topping over the combined mixture before serving for added sweetness and flavor. Enjoy immediately or store in an airtight container.

Notes

Be careful not to overheat the candy melts, as they can seize or burn.
Use shortening to help the candy melts melt smoothly and coat the cereal evenly.
This snack mix can be stored up to a week in an airtight container at room temperature.
Feel free to swap granola for nuts or dried fruit for variation.
For a stronger apple flavor, drizzle some apple-flavored syrup in addition to caramel if desired.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes (melting candy melts)
Category: Snack
Method: No-Cook
Cuisine: American

Keywords: Caramel Apple Puppy Chow, snack mix, Chex mix, caramel snack, candy melts, cereal snack, no bake dessert