Before I give you the Best Healthyish Puppy Chow Ever recipe, I have to tell you about this holiday season.
This Holiday Season
Last year for Christmas, Ceci and I put up the Christmas decorations before Thanksgiving which is so not like me.
This year?
There are no Christmas decorations. There is a Christmas-scented infused house, a string of lights on the porch, and Ellie the kid’s Elf, who is here every single day in a new spot (because my husband is the best ever, hands down).
But that’s it. And this is also so not like me.
We are working on a massive project, so there’s no room for any Christmas decorations this year.
It’s been unbelievably sad for me, to say the least.
So yesterday, while working on said project, Samarah and Isaiah were in Reagan’s room. Isaiah got a hold of one of the markers and started drawing on this beautiful, old little storage table I have (the kids are typically never allowed in that room, so I’m sure he had no clue what was going on).
Ryan asked me to bring a rag in to clean it up, and when I saw the green lines all down my table I said, “Oh, S#$%.” One second later, my little Isaiah said, “Oh, S#$%.”
Ryan and I both stopped and trying so hard to refrain, laughed.
It was the first time I ever heard one of the kids repeat something I didn’t even know I had said. 
The streaks were cleaned up (thank God), and the day went on.
With all the chaos currently up in this house, I think I needed that time out for myself. I have been on pins and needles. If you came to my house right now and/or knew all about this life change, you’d understand.
Later that day I said to Ryan,
When all of this calms down, I just want to find the time again for cooking and baking new things. I really miss it.
And with that, time to share this recipe for Best Healthyish Puppy Chow Ever.
Best Healthyish Puppy Chow Ever
Click HERE to save this recipe for later.
I’m not sure how many times I’ve done this recipe, but probably about 10 already. It’s a recipe concept I’m developing with Barbara’s.
The recipe I’m sharing with you today is not the final one their team has selected, but when they didn’t choose this version, I asked permission to publish and share with y’all because this was our family’s fave version.
Making it throughout this Christmas season has given me one way to feel like I’m doing something Christmassy.
I shared my original Gluten Free Puppy Chow recipe in 2012, and you can grab that recipe HERE.
This recipe is very different (and, in my opinion, waaaaaaay better!)
Puppy Chow Recipe – Upgraded
Instead of Rice Chex, you’re going to use Barbara’s Bakery Puffins Original. And instead of peanut butter, you’re going to use Justin’s Vanilla Almond Butter. Finally, instead of chocolate (via chips or spread), you’re going to use cacao.
There’s no powdered sugar or extra sugar added at all to this recipe. You “coat” it with the cacao, crushed Puffins, and cinnamon. 
I’m telling you…..it’s so amazingly healthy-ish.
And guess what? If you want the a-little-less healthy-ish version, then you can skip to the 2nd option I’ve provided below.
That version is probably Ryan’s favorite.
This one was mine + Samarah’s favorite version.
The reason I wanted something better than the 2nd option below is that I have yet to find a high-quality White Chocolate Chip. For those who don’t want to use them, then be sure to make Option 1. 
The version that Barbara’s chose and will ultimately publish is different than both of these and was a hit when I brought it to a brunch last weekend.
In other words, you can’t go wrong with these recipes I’ve developed.
IF you have Celiac disease, please make note:
Technically all of the Puffins not marked as “Gluten Free” contain oats that are not gluten free. Multigrain and Pumpkin contain gluten free oats while Honey Rice has no oats. Of course, while oats do not naturally contain gluten, they can be contaminated by being grown near or processed with wheat, barley or rye, which all naturally contain gluten. It’s just basically a matter of cross-contamination, so depends on how sensitive one is to gluten.
I do not have Celiac, and I have never reacted to the Original Puffins. IF you do, you could absolutely swap in one of their certified gluten free Puffin options.
Puppy Chow Option 1: with Justin’s Vanilla Almond Butter
Click HERE to save the Justin’s Vanilla Almond Butter Puppy Chow recipe for later.
- 1 box Barbara's Bakery Puffins Original
- ½ cup crushed Barbara's Bakery Puffins Original (about 1.25 - 1.5 cups whole Puffins)
- 1 cup Justin's Almond Butter Vanilla
- ¼ cup + 3 Tbsp 100% cacao powder
- 4 Tbsp full-fat coconut milk
- 1 Tbsp + 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp sea salt
- Grind 1.25 - 1.5 cups whole Puffins into a powder (measure to make sure it's about ½ cup), and set aside.
- Measure out the rest of your ingredients and set aside.
- Pour box of Barabara's Bakery Puffins Original in a large bowl, and set aside.
- In a small pan, melt the almond butter and coconut milk on low, stirring constantly until it reaches a liquid state.
- Pour melted mixture over Puffins, and using a wooden spoon, gently stir and mix together (as long as you stir gently you will not crush the Puffins).
- Slowly add the cacao powder, cinnamon, and sea salt, a little at a time, stirring to ensure even distribution.
- Enjoy
Option 2: with White Chocolate Chips instead of Justin’s Vanilla Almond Butter
Option 2: with White Chocolate Chips instead of Justin’s Vanilla Almond ButterClick HERE to save the White Chocolate Chips Puppy Chow recipe for later.
- 1 box Barbara's Bakery Puffins Original
- ¼ cup crushed Barbara's Bakery Puffins Original (about 1 cup whole Puffins)
- ½ cup classic white chocolate chips
- ½ cup natural almond butter, no salt
- 1 Tbsp + 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ cup + 3 Tbsp 100% cacao powder
- ½ tsp sea salt
- Grind 1 cup whole Puffins into a powder (measure to make sure it's about ¼ cup), and set aside.
- Measure out the rest of your ingredients and set aside.
- Pour box of Barbara's Bakery Puffins Original in a large bowl, and set aside.
- In a small pan, melt the almond butter and white chocolate chips, stirring constantly until it reaches a liquid state.
- Pour melted mixture over Puffins, and using a wooden spoon, gently stir and mix together (as long as you stir gently you will not crush the Puffins).
- Slowly add the cacao, cinnamon and sea salt, a little at a time, stirring to ensure even distribution.
- Enjoy
Go ahead, make and eat them for yourself/your family or place them in cute mason jars and give as holiday DIY gifts.
p.s. One final thing. I realize that doing food styling and photography is what I do in 60% of my work life. These pictures are not part of that because when I did the final recipe photos yesterday, I just wanted to get them done without any “work” involved. You know, because I was too busy teaching my 2-year-old naughty words. 🙂
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Xox,
SKH
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