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Pistachio Puppy Chow Crunch

An elegant twist on classic puppy chow with white chocolate, real pistachios, and pistachio pudding mix for an addictive sweet & salty crunch.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes
Servings: 12 cups
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American, Autumn
Calories: 280

Ingredients
  

Main Mix
  • 9 cups crispy rice cereal squares e.g., Rice Chex
  • 1 cup shelled unsalted pistachios divided
Pistachio Coating
  • 12 oz white chocolate baking bars chopped
  • 0.5 cup creamy pistachio nut butter
  • 0.25 cup unsalted butter
  • 1 box instant pistachio pudding mix 3.4 oz, dry powder only
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 0.25 tsp almond extract optional
For Dusting
  • 1.5 cups powdered sugar

Equipment

  • Large Heatproof Mixing Bowl
  • Medium Saucepan
  • Baking sheets
  • Parchment paper
  • Large zip-top bag or paper bag
  • Silicone Spatula

Method
 

  1. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper. Place powdered sugar in a large zip-top bag. Set aside.
  2. Finely chop 1/2 cup pistachios. Roughly chop the remaining 1/2 cup for garnish. In a large heatproof bowl, combine cereal and the 1/2 cup finely chopped pistachios.
  3. In a medium saucepan over low heat, melt white chocolate, pistachio nut butter, and 1/4 cup butter, stirring constantly until smooth. Remove from heat.
  4. Immediately whisk in the dry pudding mix, vanilla, and almond extract until a thick, smooth, green paste forms.
  5. Pour the warm coating over the cereal mixture. Gently fold with a spatula until every piece is evenly coated.
  6. Transfer half the mixture to the bag of powdered sugar. Seal and shake/tumble to coat. Spread on a prepared sheet. Repeat with second half.
  7. While still tacky, sprinkle reserved chopped pistachios over both pans, pressing gently to adhere.
  8. Let cool at room temperature until coating is fully hardened and crisp, 1-2 hours. Store in an airtight container.

Notes

For best results, use white chocolate baking bars, not chips. Ensure coating is fully hardened before storing to maintain crunch. Can be made gluten-free with appropriate cereal.