Muddy Buddy Cookies

Muddy Buddies, Puppy Chow, People Chow - whatever you call it, this snack is a fan favorite at our house. Crunchy, sweet, peanut butter and chocolate, this checks all the boxes. And the ingredients are staples in our pantry, so no trips to the store are needed. But there are a few drawbacks: it's hard to control portions, everyone's fingers are in the bowl, and then there's the dreaded Jelly Doughnut Problem. You know, the powdered sugar lands on your clothing letting everyone know exactly what you've been up to!

Perhaps a cooke version is the solution...

6 cups Crispix cereal (corn and/or rice Chex works as well)

12 oz semisweet chocolate chips

4 tablespoons butter or margarine, cut into a few pieces

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/3 cup butterscotch OR peanut butter chips (or substitute an additional 1/4 cup of peanut butter)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup powdered (confectioners) sugar

mixing bowls, measuring cups and spoons

Put the cereal in a large mixing bowl.

Coarsely crush the cereal.

Don't pulverize it, you want it to have crunchy pieces. (I use the peanut butter jar to crush it.)

Put the chocolate chips in a perfectly dry microwavable bowl. *Any water in the bowl will cause the chocolate to seize up.

Microwave in 25 second intervals, stirring well after each.

When the chocolate is 75% to 80% melted STOP microwaving. Stir vigorously to melt the remain chocolate chips. *Stopping before it is fully melted eliminates the chance of burning the chocolate. Burning or overcooking can cause it to seize up.

Stir in the butter until melted.

Stir in the vanilla.

Stir in the butterscotch or peanut butter chips if using.

Stir in the peanut butter.

Mix well until smooth.

* When melting chocolate, if you ever end up with a big lumpy mess that you cannot stir smooth then the chocolate has seized. It will no longer work for baking as some properties have been destroyed and you will need to try again. However, you can make it into a chocolate sauce by adding boiling water one tablespoon at a time until it is smooth again.

Put the powdered sugar in a shallow bowl.

Add the chocolate mixture to the cereal and mix in well.

You can start with your spoon but you will need to get in there with your hands to really mix it in.

Mix until all of the cereal is incorporated.

Form into balls, and then roll the balls in the powdered sugar. I did not roll mine perfectly round as I wanted them to look more like drop cookies and less like truffles. But you do you!

Let them sit for a few minutes to let the chocolate cool and set. Store in an airtight container. If it is warm in your kitchen you can store them in the refrigerator.

Try one! Is the Jelly Doughnut Problem solved? If not, you can always eat it over the sink.