Banana Pudding Puppy Chow

My husband has a few pet peeves in life. Near the top are poorly loaded dishwashers and people who lack awareness of proper puppy chow–eating etiquette. So, before you dig into this delectable banana pudding puppy chow, let me enlighten you.

When eating from a community bowl of puppy chow, it’s always best to transfer your own personal serving to a separate bowl. That said, if you’re only sneaking a piece or two, my husband implores you to, please, not dust any excess powdered sugar from your hands over the serving bowl (gross). It seems like common sense, but it’s a subconscious reflex and a transgression that many—myself included—are guilty of.

Now that I’ve shared this public service announcement, let’s get to the good stuff: the recipe. If you love classic puppy chow and old-fashioned banana pudding, then you need to add this to your list of dessert mashups to try. Rice Chex, white almond bark, confectioners’ sugar and instant banana cream pudding mix make this puppy chow taste just like the nostalgic Southern dessert—even without the vanilla wafers and whipped cream.

You know, I take it all back. You don’t have to worry about proper puppy chow etiquette after all, because I bet you won’t be sharing.

Banana Pudding Puppy Chow Ingredients

• Rice Chex cereal: This is the perfect recipe to make if you have leftover cereal after making homemade Chex mix.
• White almond bark: If you can’t find white almond bark, use white candy melting chips.
• Instant banana cream pudding mix: Only a few tablespoons of pudding mix are needed to flavor the puppy chow. You can either prepare the leftover pudding mix as usual (reducing the amount of milk) or save it to use on a future batch of banana pudding puppy chow.
• Confectioners’ sugar: Confectioners’ sugar is dusted over the sticky banana pudding puppy chow, giving it a sweet—albeit messy—coating that prevents the pieces from sticking.

Directions

Step 1: Melt the almond bark

Using a double boiler or microwave, melt the almond bark until it’s smooth.

Editor’s Tip: If you want to microwave the almond bark, do so in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second increments.

Step 2: Combine and coat

Add the Chex to a large mixing bowl. Add the melted almond bark and pudding mix, then use a rubber spatula to gently stir until the cereal is evenly coated.

Step 3: Shake with confectioners’ sugar

Transfer the cereal to a gallon-size zip-top plastic bag. Add the confectioners’ sugar, seal the bag tightly, and then shake until the puppy chow is evenly coated.

Step 4: Set and serve

Spread the mixture onto a sheet pan to set, then transfer it to a serving bowl.

Banana Pudding Puppy Chow Variations

• Add Nilla Wafers: Amplify the banana pudding factor of this snack by mixing mini Nilla Wafers into the puppy chow once it has fully set. Small graham-flavored cookies (like Teddy Grahams) or small shortbread cookies would also work well.
• Mix in banana chips: For crunch, texture and extra banana goodness, consider tossing a few handfuls of dried banana chips into the mix once the puppy chow has fully set.
• Grab a handful of nuts: Add roasted pecans or walnuts to the puppy chow for a banana-nut variation.
• Make peanut butter-banana puppy chow: Traditionally, puppy chow is made with peanut butter. If you want a peanut butter and banana twist, melt up to 1/2 cup of creamy, smooth peanut butter with the almond bark, then pour it over the cereal. Stabilized peanut butter (rather than natural peanut butter) is best for this recipe.
• Experiment with pudding flavors: The world is your oyster when it comes to using pudding mix in your puppy chow. Try using coconut cream, pistachio, cheesecake or lemon pudding mix to create your own flavor twists.

How to Store Banana Pudding Puppy Chow

Banana pudding puppy chow may be stored at room temperature in an airtight food storage container for one week. Alternatively, it can be refrigerated for up to two weeks, or frozen for up to two months.

Banana Pudding Puppy Chow Tips

Is corn or rice Chex better for banana pudding puppy chow?

Rice Chex is traditionally used to make puppy chow, and is my recommendation for banana pudding puppy chow. That said, if you prefer corn Chex, you can certainly use it in this recipe. Corn Chex will give the puppy chow a richer, more buttery flavor.

What are the best candy melts for banana pudding puppy chow?

If you’re not using white (or vanilla) almond bark, my favorite candy melts for banana pudding puppy chow are made by Ghirardelli. The brand’s vanilla-flavored wafers have a rich, gourmet flavor that elevates the taste of this humble puppy chow recipe.

How do you add banana pudding flavor to puppy chow?

Banana cream instant pudding mix is the easiest way to add a blast of banana flavor to puppy chow. If you don’t want to make this recipe with instant pudding mix, you can experiment instead with using banana extract (typically stocked in the baking aisle near the vanilla extract). The amount needed to flavor the puppy chow will vary between brands. I would suggest stirring 1/2 teaspoon of banana extract into the melted almond bark and increasing from there until your desired level of banana flavor is achieved.