Introduction

Circus Animal Puppy Chow is a colorful twist on the classic puppy chow snack, bursting with sweet flavors and fun textures. Made with frosted circus animal cookies, white chocolate, and sprinkles, it’s perfect for parties or an everyday treat that everyone will love.

A bowl filled to the top with small white square cereal pieces, some with pink frosting, all drizzled with light pink glaze and colorful tiny round sprinkles on top. The bowl is white and sits on a white marbled surface scattered with a few cereal pieces and blobs of pink glaze with sprinkles. Around the bowl, there are five paper straws with red and white or blue and white stripes. The scene is bright and light. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

8 cups Chex rice cereal squares
2 ½ cups frosted circus animal cookies, divided
6 ounces white candy melts
½ cup powdered sugar
½ cup rainbow nonpareils
For Pink Frosting:
⅓ cup white chocolate chips
Red food coloring gel

Instructions

Step 1: Place the Chex cereal in a large mixing bowl. Crush 1 ½ cups of the frosted circus animal cookies into fine crumbs using a food processor or by pounding them in a ziplock bag with a rolling pin. Chop or crush the remaining 1 cup of cookies coarsely and set aside.
Step 2: In a separate bowl, melt the white candy melts according to the package instructions. Pour the melted chocolate over the Chex cereal and gently fold with a spatula to coat evenly. Avoid using your hands as the mixture will be hot.
Step 3: Sprinkle the crushed cookie crumbs and rainbow nonpareils over the coated cereal. Add the powdered sugar next. To ensure even coating, transfer the mixture to a ziplock bag or a large container and shake well.
Step 4: Stir in the remaining chopped frosted circus animal cookies. Serve as is or proceed to decorate with pink frosting.
Step 5: To make the pink chocolate frosting, melt ⅓ cup of white chocolate chips according to package directions. Stir in a few drops of red food coloring gel until you reach your desired shade. Drizzle the pink frosting over the puppy chow before serving.

Tips & Variations

For extra crunch, use a mix of rice and corn Chex cereals.
Try swapping rainbow nonpareils for colored sugar crystals or mini candy-coated chocolate pieces.
If you prefer a less sweet version, reduce the powdered sugar to ¼ cup.
To crush cookies easily, place them in a sealed bag and gently use a rolling pin or bottle. Avoid pulverizing into powder if you want texture.

Storage

Store the Circus Animal Puppy Chow in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week. For longer storage, keep it frozen for 2 to 3 months. When ready to eat, let it come to room temperature for the best texture. If decorated with pink frosting, enjoy within a day or two for optimal freshness.

How to Serve

A large white bowl filled with a colorful snack mix. The base layer is made of small, square cereal pieces dusted with white powder. On top, there is a drizzle of pink icing scattered across the cereal, with some pieces fully coated in bright pink candy. Small, round rainbow sprinkles add extra color, sprinkled evenly over the entire mix. Around the bowl, pieces of the snack and pink candy shards are scattered on a white marbled surface. Blue, pink, and white striped paper straws lie next to the bowl. In the background, a glass bottle filled with milk and a clear glass with a spoon and sprinkles are visible. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use other types of candy melts?

Yes, you can substitute white candy melts with milk or dark chocolate melts, but keep in mind the flavor and color will change.

Is it necessary to crush the cookies into fine crumbs?

Crushing part of the cookies into fine crumbs helps coat the cereal better and adds flavor throughout. Leaving some chunks intact provides texture and visual interest.

Circus Animal Puppy Chow Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.8 from 113 reviews

This whimsical and colorful Circus Animal Puppy Chow is a fun and tasty twist on the classic puppy chow snack. Made with crispy Chex rice cereal, frosted circus animal cookies, white candy melts, powdered sugar, and rainbow sprinkles, this treat is perfect for parties, snack time, or anytime you want a sweet, crunchy bite. The optional pink frosting drizzle adds a playful touch and extra sweetness.

Author: Maya
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Yield: Approximately 10–12 servings 1x
Category: Snack
Method: No-Cook
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

8 cups Chex rice cereal squares
2 ½ cups frosted circus animal cookies, divided
6 ounces white candy melts
½ cup powdered sugar
½ cup rainbow nonpareils (sprinkles)

For Pink Frosting

⅓ cup white chocolate chips
Red food coloring gel, a few drops

Instructions

Prepare the Cookies: Place the Chex rice cereal in a large mixing bowl. Crush 1 ½ cups of the frosted circus animal cookies into fine crumbs using a food processor or by pounding them inside a ziplock bag with a rolling pin. Chop or roughly crush the remaining 1 cup of the frosted circus animal cookies and set aside for later.
Melt Candy Melts: In a separate mixing bowl, melt the white candy melts according to the package instructions until smooth and fully melted.
Combine Cereal and Candy Melt: Pour the melted white candy melts over the Chex rice cereal in the large bowl. Using a spatula, gently mix until all the cereal pieces are evenly coated with the melted candy. Avoid using your hands as the mixture will be hot.
Coat with Cookie Crumbs and Sprinkles: Sprinkle the crushed circus animal cookie crumbs and rainbow nonpareils over the coated cereal mixture. Then add the powdered sugar on top.
Mix and Coat Evenly: To ensure an even coating of powdered sugar and crumbs, transfer the mixture into a large ziplock bag or airtight container, seal it, and shake gently until the ingredients are well distributed.
Add Remaining Cookies: Stir in the reserved chopped frosted circus animal cookies gently to maintain texture variation.
Make Pink Chocolate Frosting (Optional): Melt ⅓ cup of white chocolate chips according to package directions. Stir in a few drops of red food coloring gel to achieve a desired pink shade. Drizzle the pink frosting over the puppy chow before serving for an extra festive touch.
Storage: Store the Circus Animal Puppy Chow in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week or freeze for 2-3 months to maintain freshness.

Notes

You can crush the frosted cookies by pulsing in a food processor or placing them in a sealed bag and using a rolling pin to break them down.
Use a spatula to mix the hot melted candy coating to avoid burning your hands.
Shake the coated mixture in a sealed bag or container to evenly distribute the powdered sugar and sprinkles.
If you prefer, omit the pink frosting or substitute with colored candy melts to add different flavors or colors.
Store in airtight containers to keep the puppy chow crunchy and fresh.

Keywords: Puppy Chow, Muddy Buddies, Circus Animal Cookies, Chex Cereal Snack, White Chocolate, No-Bake Treat, Party Snack, Kids Snack, Easy Dessert