Cereal, Apple Cider Mix, And White Chocolate Are The Start To A Fall-Inspired Version Of A Beloved Classic Treat

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When the air gets colder, seasonally-palated foodies start breaking out their fall recipe rotations again. This autumn, one of our go-to treats doesn't even require any baking (no need to preheat the oven or clean an electric mixer). Introducing: Apple cider muddy buddies. Classic muddy buddies (aka "puppy chow") feature a base of Chex cereal coated in a luscious layer of melted chocolate chips and creamy peanut butter, which gets shaken in a generous, all-over layer of powdered sugar. As the chocolate hardens, the powdered sugar adheres into a rich shell encasing each individual piece of cereal. 

With a few quick ingredient swaps, this beloved treat gets an apple-cider-inspired makeover just in time for fall snacking. To let the chocolate and peanut butter elements shine, regular muddy buddies customarily use mild Rice or Corn Chex as the base ingredient. In this autumnal version, we recommend opting for Cinnamon or Maple Chex cereal. For the gooey component, trade regular chocolate for a mixture of melted white chocolate chips and a dollop of Biscoff cookie butter. 

Here at Tasting Table, we're diehard Biscoff fans, and this dimensional fall treat provides a fabulous opportunity for showcasing this powerhouse ingredient. The pièce de résistance is the packet of dry apple cider mix, which gets tossed in with the powdered sugar. This Alpine Spiced Apple Cider Original Powdered Drink Mix (currently around $3.48 for a box of 10 pouches at Walmart) would make an ideal tool for the job. Feel free to add as many packets as desired to achieve a strong (or mild) apple cider flavor infusion. 

Following standard muddy buddy assembly, simply melt the white chocolate chips and cookie butter together in a mixing bowl. Then, coat your cereal in the gooey mixture, gently turning the pieces with a rubber spatula for thorough incorporation. Lastly, mix together the powdered sugar and dry apple cider mix in a roomy zip-top bag, add in the gooey coated cereal, and give the bag a good shake. As they toss, each piece of cereal will take on an all-over coating of confectionery powdered sugar and palate-piquing cider mix. In a TikTok dedicated to the seasonal snack, enthusiastic foodies have taken to the comments section to sound off their praise. "[O]h my gosh, I just made this for a family gathering. Chef's kiss," raves one. Others echo, "that cozy apple cider flavor hits different." 

Perhaps best of all, apple cider muddy buddies are highly customizable. To amp up the fall flavor even further, you could add other autumnal mix-ins, such as freeze-dried apple pieces, crushed into smaller bite-sized chunks. Try tossing in a handful of candy corn or mellowcreme pumpkins. You could lean salty with pretzel sticks, toasted pecan halves, slivered almonds, or crushed walnuts. Or, add toothy chew with golden raisins and dried cranberries. Depending on your taste preference, you could even swap the white chocolate chips for butterscotch chips, which would emphasize the caramelized sugar tones in the cookie butter. 

@seasonofsnacks

turn muddy buddies into an easy fall snack with the cozy flavors of apple cider! 🍎🍂 💌 save this recipe for your next fall snack night! apple cider muddy buddies 🍎🍂 ingredients: • 9 cups Cinnamon Chex cereal • 1/2 cup cookie butter • 1/2 cup white chocolate melting chips • 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar • 3 packets apple cider mix directions: melt the white chocolate, then stir in the cookie butter until smooth. add the Chex and gently mix until coated. add the powdered sugar and apple cider mix to a large ziploc bag and shake to combine. add the coated Chex and shake until evenly covered, and enjoy! 🍎🍂 @Chex Mix @Biscoff @Ghirardelli Chocolate Company #halloweenfood #halloweenrecipe #fallrecipe #fallfood #halloweensnacks

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