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Puppy Chow or Muddy Buddy? I never know.

(Idiot Proof) 5-Ingredient Puppy Chow Ritz Cracker Cookies | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

My Aunt Katie always used to call it Puppy Chow, so Puppy Chow it is.

I am thinking that it is time I honor her this Christmas and make her recipe for Puppy Chow. Pretty sure my cousins would be down with this… as long as we get to eat her white lasagna (horrible photos – awesome recipe) for dinner first. AND trust me, Aunt Katie’s recipe for puppy chow is better than any other out there. Her’s was extra special, just like she was.

(Idiot Proof) 5-Ingredient Puppy Chow Ritz Cracker Cookies | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

(Idiot Proof) 5-Ingredient Puppy Chow Ritz Cracker Cookies | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

But today we are going to talk about something even easier than puppy chow.

It’s about that time of year when I start breaking out the “idiot proof” recipes. Examples one, twothree and four. When November and then December hits, things get extra crazy for everyone… and for me? Meaning my oven broke…again…for the third time…in less than six months…the thing seriously HATES me…with a passion.

So the real reason you are seeing these cookies today is because my oven decided to stop working, mid pie baking, and while the pie was going to be awesome – think SO much chocolate, I had to dump it because it’s goopy state was not very photogenic. Sorry, but there may be no pie from me this Thanksgiving.

Enter giant sad face.

(Idiot Proof) 5-Ingredient Puppy Chow Ritz Cracker Cookies | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

To say that I was bummed would be an understatement. And I was not just bummed because my pies (yes, pies plural) were ruined, but more because I know there is high probability that the oven will not be getting fixed by Thanksgiving. This? Well, this is what made me cry?

How am I to cook all my sweet potatoes, breads, brussels sprouts and pies and umm the turkey?!?! Thinking I better go buy a whole lot of crockpots.

(Idiot Proof) 5-Ingredient Puppy Chow Ritz Cracker Cookies | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

Please send help.

Or better yet, please send an oven!! Yes, please do! I will send you cookies! Pies! Fudge! Whatever!

(Idiot Proof) 5-Ingredient Puppy Chow Ritz Cracker Cookies | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

Ok, but let’s be serious now and talk about these cookies. I need to cheer myself up and um, talking about cookies does this for me. Technically these are not really cookies, but really just Ritz crackers (the holiday kind of course) with peanut butter, chocolate and powdered sugar. It’s so crazy simple, but you know what? These are awesome.

At first I was feeling all lame for telling you guys about such a simple recipe, but then was like, “these are kind of awesome, and so freaking easy”.

(Idiot Proof) 5-Ingredient Puppy Chow Ritz Cracker Cookies | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

Plus, they remind me of snowballs, which I am all about right now.

And did I mention how easy these are? Just five ingredients you most likely have at home right now, and like maybe twenty minutes of your time. Simple. And FYI chocolate, Ritz crackers, peanut butter and powdered sugar may just be one of the sweetest holiday combos. They’re so perfect for the holidays. If you have some fun holiday sanding sugars on hand you could totally dust a little over these cookies to make them look even more festive and seasonal.

(Idiot Proof) 5-Ingredient Puppy Chow Ritz Cracker Cookies | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

These would be so perfect for any holiday parties or home gifts. People have been going crazy for them, it’s the salty, buttery Ritz. Those crackers are so good I tell ya.

Or you can just keep them all to yourself. That works too.

(Idiot Proof) 5-Ingredient Puppy Chow Ritz Cracker Cookies | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

(Idiot Proof) 5-Ingredient Puppy Chow Ritz Cracker Cookies.

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 2 minutes
Freeze 5 minutes
Total Time 22 minutes
Servings: 32 Cookies
Calories Per Serving: 110 kcal

Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Place the peanut butter and vanilla into a mixing bowl and whisk until smooth.
  • Spread a little of the peanut butter mixture onto a cracker and sandwich together with another cracker. Repeat until all the crackers and peanut butter filling have been used.
  • Place the crackers on a cookie sheet and place in the freezer for 5-10 minutes
  • Meanwhile, melt the chocolate over a double broiler or in the microwave on full power, stirring every 30 seconds until melted and smooth.
  • Place the powdered sugar in wide bowl.
  • Use a fork or your hands to dip the chilled peanut butter sandwiches into the chocolate until completely covered. Place the chocolate covered sandwich directly into the powdered sugar and toss to coat. Place the cookie back onto the baking sheet and repeat with the remaining cookies.
  • Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature.
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(Idiot Proof) 5-Ingredient Puppy Chow Ritz Cracker Cookies | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

Now those are some perfectly sweet layers – (Idiot Proof) 5-Ingredient Puppy Chow Ritz Cracker Cookies!

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Comments

    1. Hi Beth,
      Sure, you could keep these in the fridge! Please let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan

  1. 4 stars
    I made these “cookies” and they were very good and really easy. However, next time I wouldn’t use the powered sugar. It’s too messy and way too much sugar. Without the sugar these taste like a Tasty Cake peanut butter TandyKake.

  2. 5 stars
    My sister and I made these tonight in place of our regular puppy chow, and they were delicious! And super easy. Thanks for a great recipe!

  3. Please change the name. Remove the word ‘puppy’ as it is confusing as to what it actually is, and that is food for people to consume. One of your ingredients is chocolate, which is poisonous for both dogs and cats and it is an agonizingly painful death. Please be responsible for the content you put out and change the name so that someone out there doesn’t make a deadly mistake on their own pets. Thank you.

  4. My husband is not presently letting me use the stove or the oven (long story!) These will make a great treat for me to bring in for my work friends. Thank you!

  5. These look so great. I will make them right away. I have a math question though. If you have 32 Ritz crackers listed in the ingredients, wouldn’t the final product give you 16 cookies since they are doubled up? I am thinking to start with 64 so I have 32 finished gems. Hope your oven is fixed soon!

  6. I don’t know what puppy chow or muddy buddy is (but will hunt some down next down I’m in the US) but if they are anything like these cookies, than they sound MAGICAL! Gorgeous snack!

  7. A couple of years ago I was not feeling very “traditional” & decided to “Laui” our turkey. Now that might not be the technical term but basically we dug a pit, had a huge Bon fire, used the coals in the pit, used a whole box of foil, & cooked us an Amazing turkey that had No clean up! My boys still talk about that “Turkey day” & what fun it was!…don’t let an oven hold ya back:)