Cold Brew Protein Puppy Chow

Puppy Chow, Muddy Buddies, Monkey Munch. Call It What You Want. We Call It Good.

Chocolate. Peanut butter. Coffee. Name three better things. I’ll wait.

Growing up, puppy chow (the sweet version of Chex mix) was our go-to road trip snack. My sister and I would get settled in the back seat of the car, perfectly arranging our blankets, pillows, making sure our books and headphones were in arm’s reach. The dog would jump in and make himself comfortable with no regard to our carefully organized set up, and we’d hit the open road.

Before we’d even hit the first state lines, it was on. My sister and I would start reaching for the bag of puppy chow, trying to fit our hand in the ziplock bag, grabbing for the largest fistful we could get.

Then there was the heart-sinking moment when our mom would ask for some, systematically taking our beloved snack out of reach, ending our sugar rush and prompting nap time.

This recipe makeover is the adult version of my favorite childhood snack. This one bowl recipe gives sweet, salty, and savory in every crunch. There is a balance of protein, carbs, and fat which makes it a great option for a simple and easy breakfast on-the-go.

The INFINIT Cold Brew Protein Coffee gives it 21 mg of caffeine per serving. So it's like having your breakfast and morning coffee all in one! The caffeine also makes this a great snack option for when the 3 o'clock wall hits.

In true INFINIT fashion, this recipe is completely customizable. Almond or sunflower butter can be swapped out for the peanut butter. Wheat Chex can be used in place of the rice Chex to bump up the fiber content. The recipe is gluten free, soy free, egg free so no one has to feel left out.

Each serving has 8 g of protein provided by the peanut butter and the Cold Brew Protein Coffee which contains premium quality Irish grass-fed whey. The grass-fed whey is a complete protein meaning it provides all the essential amino acids our body needs. The amino acids are necessary to repair and grow, not only muscle, but also bone, cartilage, and skin.

Protein has been shown to boost the metabolism and promote satiety because it requires more energy than fats or carbohydrates to be broken down by the body. Which means this yummy snack can be incorporated into a healthy diet if you’re an athlete striving for your ideal body composition or someone just trying to lose a little weight.

Let us know how you customize your Cold Brew Puppy Chow in the comments below! 

Ingredients

½ cup Semi-sweet chocolate

½ cup Peanut Butter

1 Tbsp Canola Oil

1 packet folgers instant coffee (1 tsp)

1 tsp Vanilla extract

4 ½ Cups Rice Chex cereal

1 packet Cold brew protein powder

1/2 cup powdered sugar

Instructions

1. In a large microwave safe bowl, melt the chocolate, peanut butter, and oil in the microwave in 20 second intervals, stirring between each interval, until everything is smooth and melted.
   
   
2. Stir the instant coffee, vanilla extract, and Cold Brew Protein Powder into the melted chocolate mixture, followed by the Chex cereal. Stir the cereal until each piece is well coated in chocolate.
   
   
3. Place the powdered sugar into a large, zip-lock bag and then scoop the cereal into the bag. Seal the bag and shake around until the sugar evenly coats the cereal.

About the Author

Katie Wilburn is a 2020-2021 Dietetic student intern who currently is completing her final undergraduate year at the University of Cincinnati and is preparing to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. INFINIT Nutrition is proud to partner with the University of Cincinnati's Coordinated Program in Dietetics (CPD) to provide our next generation of nutrition professionals an opportunity to spend time with the INFINIT Team and gain real-life experience of working at a sports nutrition company.