Puppy Chow Recipe with More Protein and Less Sugar

What Makes This Puppy Chow Different?

It starts with all the familiar ingredients:

• Peanut butter
• Chocolate chips
• Butter
• Cereal
• Powdered sugar

But here’s the shift that makes all the difference:

• Double the hearty ingredients (pastured butter + peanut butter + dark chocolate)
• Cut the powdered sugar in half
• Replace most of the remaining sugar with collagen peptides

The result? A rich, fully coated puppy chow that actually fills you up instead of leaving you reaching for more ten minutes later.

Why I Use Less Sugar (and What I Use Instead)

Instead of the traditional four cups of powdered sugar, this recipe uses:

• 3 parts collagen peptides
• 1 part powdered sugar

This keeps the familiar look and flavor, but dramatically reduces the sugar load.

Collagen peptides are a simple way to add protein to sweet treats without changing the flavor or texture. They mix beautifully into the coating and help turn this nostalgic snack into something much more satisfying.

Instead of relying on cups and cups of powdered sugar, this recipe replaces most of that coating with collagen peptides, keeping just enough sugar for the classic puppy chow finish.

One helpful note: collagen is best consumed alongside vitamin C, which helps your body use it effectively. We often eat this puppy chow:

• As part of a snack with berries, citrus, or fruit
• Or as a sweet treat after a meal that already includes vitamin-C-rich foods (like tomato sauce)

The Easiest Part: No Measuring Peanut Butter

One of my favorite things about this recipe?
You use one entire jar of peanut butter.

No measuring. No sticky spoons. No extra washing. No stirring the naturally separated oils – just dump them in!

Ingredient Upgrades I Love

I also make a few quality swaps that really shine in a simple recipe like this:

• Grass-fed butter (I use Kerrygold)
• Dark chocolate chips (72%) instead of milk or semi-sweet for lower sugar and deeper flavor

How to Make Puppy Chow with More Protein and Less Sugar

1. Melt the peanut butter, butter, and chocolate chips together until smooth.
2. Pour the mixture over the cereal and gently stir until everything is fully coated.
3. Add the collagen peptides first, letting cool and adding powdered sugar last, tossing until evenly coated.
4. Transfer to freezer to set.

The result should be rich and completely coated puppy chow.

Storage, Freezing, and Serving Ideas

This recipe makes a generous batch, but it stores beautifully.

• Freezer: Freezes very well and is delicious straight from frozen
• Room temperature: Soft, rich, and snackable

Because it’s so hearty, a little goes a long way.

Optional Add-Ins

• Chopped peanuts for even more protein and crunch

Optional Serving Idea

• After this puppy chow has cooled and set, you may choose to add an additional dusting of powdered sugar for a more familiar appearance and sweeter taste.

A More Filling, Lower-Sugar Puppy Chow

The finished puppy chow is rich, chocolatey, and deeply satisfying. I like it at room temperature, but it’s just as good straight from the freezer.

This is one of those recipes that feels like the best of both worlds—a favorite childhood snack turned into something more wholesome, more filling, and still incredibly comforting.

I hope your family loves it as much as we do.

More High-Protein Snack Recipes You’ll Love

• Honey-Nut Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies: For Long Lasting Energy
• Easy Brown Butter Honey Cake (The Best Grain-Free Treat!)
• Make Easy Gelatin Fruit Snacks With Mini Cookie Cutters