No need to turn on the oven to make this apple pie puppy chow! Full of apple pie spices and dried apple chips, this snack mix is a fall twist on a classic favorite!

If you’re looking for more fun fall recipes, try out my caramel apple bark, pumpkin spice snack mix, pecan pie dip, and caramel apple bites!

Why you’ll love this recipe:

Now the name of this treat can be controversial. I’m a Midwesterner (born and raised) so I call this treat “Puppy Chow.” It has other names too, like muddy buddies, monkey munch, etc., and no matter what you call it, it’s delicious!

This apple pie puppy chow is a fun twist on traditional puppy chow. There’s no baking required (just a microwave) and once you start munching, it’s hard to stop! It’s sweet, crunchy, and full of comforting spices!

Ingredients you’ll need:

Cinnamon Chex cereal
White chocolate chips
Vegetable oil
Apple pie spice
Powdered sugar
Apple chips- regular or cinnamon flavored

The combo of apple pie spice and apple chips is what gives this puppy chow a sweet, fall twist. This snack mix is a staple for nearly any fall gathering, including parties and holidays like Thanksgiving or Halloween!

Crunchy cinnamon cereal gets covered in melted white chocolate and apple pie spice, then coated in powdered sugar! Toss in a few dried apple chips for an insanely satisfying, crunchy, and addictive treat!

How to make the best apple pie puppy chow:

Pour your Chex cereal into a large mixing bowl (a large container with a lid or a Ziploc bag will work too) and set aside.
In a microwave safe bowl, combine white chocolate chips with vegetable oil. Microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring in-between, until melted and smooth.
Add the apple pie spice to your bowl of melted white chocolate and stir to combine, then pour the white chocolate mixture into the bowl of Chex cereal.
Stir to evenly coat the Chex cereal in chocolate, then add in powdered sugar and stir again until the cereal is well covered. Pour onto a baking sheet and let cool completely.
Transfer the cooled puppy chow to a serving bowl, then mix in broken apple chip pieces before enjoying!

This apple pie puppy chow is a sweet treat loaded with comforting fall flavors! Puppy chow is one of those treats that always gives great results without having to put in tons of effort.

If you’re someone who thinks they can’t bake but has a sweet tooth, you’re going to want to give this recipe a try. If you can mix and use a microwave, you’re good to go!

My top tips:

CEREAL VARIETIES: Chex cereal is sold in a variety of flavors but the best one for this recipe is cinnamon Chex. If you’re going to use another flavor, I’d only recommend using rice or corn Chex. Sticking to basic flavor options for the cereal will let the apple pie spice flavor shine here!
MELTING: White chocolate can be very temperamental and burn quickly in the microwave, so I recommend microwaving in 30 second intervals and stirring in-between until the chocolate is melted and smooth.
VEGETABLE OIL: The addition of vegetable oil will slightly thin out the white chocolate and make it a smoother consistency for coating the cereal. If you don’t have vegetable oil, canola or coconut oil will work as well.
APPLE PIE SPICE: Apple pie spice is a simple mixture of fall spices including cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger that creates the perfect fall spice blend for baking! If you can’t find apple pie spice, you can substitute for cinnamon in a pinch.
BIG BOWL: Use the largest bowl you can find for tossing the Chex cereal! A big bowl makes it so much easier to ensure the Chex gets fully coated in white chocolate and powdered sugar. I also recommend using a rubber spatula here to avoid crushing the cereal too much.
COOLING: It’s important to let the puppy chow cool completely before storing. If you store it while still warm, the powdered sugar will dissolve, and the cereal will become soggy.
APPLE CHIPS: Depending on the brand of apple chips you buy, you may want to break them into smaller pieces before adding to your puppy chow. I recommend buying apple chips that are freeze dried, so that they’re crisp and crunchy!
STORING: Transfer any leftover puppy chow to an airtight container or Ziploc bag and store at room temperature for up to one week.

Looking for more sweet snack? Try these out!

Print Recipe