Blueberry Puppy Chow

I recall the first time my mother made a batch of old-fashioned puppy chow, and I thought it was the best thing I’d ever tasted. It was sweet, crunchy, and coated in decadent chocolate and rich peanut butter—two things I love. Fast-forward 30 years and I was excited to share the beloved no-bake dessert with my son. Imagine my dismay when he wanted nothing to do with the original recipe. He’s not a dessert guy—a few bites and he’s done. He much prefers fruit desserts (or honestly, plain fruit). That’s where this blueberry puppy chow came into play.

After you swap in a few big handfuls of plump, ripe blueberries for the Rice Chex from the original recipe, the rest of this blueberry puppy chow recipe stays pretty true to the original. Chocolate and peanut butter are melted together with a touch of coconut oil for smoothness and then used to evenly coat the berries. Once the chocolate has set lightly, a generous dusting of confectioners’ sugar is dumped on top for added sweetness. Once the chocolate has set fully, you have the perfect special after-school treat that kids will love to gobble up.

Blueberry Puppy Chow Ingredients

• Blueberries: There are numerous health and beauty benefits of blueberries, so using them in puppy chow sneaks a little boost of nutrition into this traditional childhood recipe.
• Semisweet chocolate chips: For the best taste, use a chocolate chip brand that you love. Our recipe calls for melting them over a double boiler, but you can melt the chocolate however you like.
• Peanut butter: The peanut butter may be our favorite part of this blueberry puppy chow. It makes every bite taste like a little peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
• Coconut oil: Coconut oil is often added to melted chocolate because it improves the consistency and yields a shinier coating without having to temper the chocolate.
• Confectioners’ sugar: Confectioners’ sugar dusts the berries with a heavenly sweet coating reminiscent of our favorite beignets.

Directions

Step 1: Melt the chocolate

Combine the chocolate chips, peanut butter and coconut oil in the top of a double boiler over gently simmering water. Warm, stirring constantly, until the chocolate melts and the mixture is smooth.

Editor’s Tip: Before you begin the recipe, don’t forget to wash and dry the fresh blueberries. Washing blueberries is important because it will remove any excess dirt, bugs or pesticides that may still be on the fruit after packaging. Drying the berries thoroughly is very important as well, otherwise the melted chocolate coating won’t stick properly.

Step 2: Coat the blueberries

Place the washed blueberries in a large bowl. Pour the melted chocolate mixture over them. Then, use a rubber spatula to gently fold the blueberries into the chocolate until they are evenly coated. Let them rest for one to two minutes.

Editor’s Tip: Don’t skip this initial rest period. It lets the chocolate set slightly so that when the confectioners’ sugar is added, it sticks to the berries without immediately dissolving.

Step 3: Dust with confectioners’ sugar

Add the confectioners’ sugar to the berries and gently toss to coat.

Step 4: Chill and serve

Transfer the blueberries to a parchment-lined sheet pan in an even layer. Then, use clean fingers to gently separate any berries that may be stuck together. Chill for 10 to 15 minutes to set the chocolate, then enjoy.

Blueberry Puppy Chow Variations

• Go bananas: Chocolate and bananas are another one of our all-time favorite flavor combinations (hello, chocolate monkey treats). Try this recipe using fresh banana slices. For best results, choose semi-firm bananas and dip individual slices into the chocolate mixture. Allow the excess to drip away and then transfer to a parchment-lined sheet pan to set for a minute or two before dusting generously with confectioners’ sugar.
• Swap in cherries: If blueberries are not your thing, turn this blueberry dessert recipe into a fresh cherry recipe by swapping in pitted fresh cherries and following the recipe as directed.
• Try another nut butter: This blueberry puppy chow is also tasty when made with other healthy nut butters such as almond butter, cashew butter, walnut butter or tahini.
• Add protein powder: Okay, let’s be real: Most protein powders don’t taste great undissolved. That said, if you have a great-tasting vanilla protein powder that you don’t mind in its powdered state, you can dust this blueberry puppy chow with it instead of confectioners’ sugar. Another option would be to do a 50/50 blend of vanilla protein powder and confectioners’ sugar.

How to Store Blueberry Puppy Chow

Blueberry puppy chow should be stored in the refrigerator. We found that storing it in an uncovered container was the best option. A covered container traps moisture inside, causing the confectioners’ sugar to become sticky after a few hours.

How long does blueberry puppy chow last?

Blueberry puppy chow can be enjoyed for one or two days after it is made. After that, the blueberries tend to start getting mushy.

Can you make blueberry puppy chow in advance?

Not really. While blueberry puppy chow can last for a few days in the refrigerator, it’s best enjoyed fresh on the same day it’s made.

Blueberry Puppy Chow Tips

What type of peanut butter is best for blueberry puppy chow?

While some peanut butter recipes (like Reese’s peanut butter cheesecake) emphasize the importance of using a stabilized peanut butter (e.g., Skippy or Jif), this blueberry puppy chow recipe works great with either stabilized or natural peanut butter. If you use natural peanut butter, ensure it has been stirred thoroughly before adding it to the recipe.

Can frozen blueberries be used for blueberry puppy chow?

Unfortunately, frozen blueberries will not work for blueberry puppy chow. Once they thaw, their consistency will be too mushy and watery, making them unsuitable for muddy buddies. Save the frozen blueberries for blueberry muffins.

Would freeze-dried blueberries work for blueberry puppy chow?

Freeze-dried blueberries could work in this recipe. Just note that the taste and texture will be different. Freeze-dried blueberries will not have the same juiciness as fresh blueberries. Instead, they will have a crunchy, concentrated blueberry flavor. This is a great dehydrated camping food option if you desire a blueberry puppy chow that doesn’t require refrigeration.