Muddy Buddy Pine Cones Recipe By Tasty

CHEX® MUDDY BUDDIES®

Steps:

• Into large bowl, measure cereal; set aside.
• In 1-quart microwaveable bowl, microwave chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter uncovered on High 1 minute; stir. Microwave about 30 seconds longer or until mixture can be stirred smooth. Stir in vanilla. Pour mixture over cereal, stirring until evenly coated. Pour into 2-gallon resealable food-storage plastic bag.
• Add powdered sugar. Seal bag; shake until well coated. Spread on waxed paper to cool. Store in airtight container in refrigerator.

MUDDY BUDDY PINE CONES RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• Make the muddy buddy cereal: In a medium glass bowl, microwave the chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter for 1 minute. Whisk well, then microwave for about 30 seconds longer, or until the mixture is smooth. Stir in the vanilla.
• Add the cereal to a large bowl and pour the melted chocolate over. Stir until evenly coated. Transfer the cereal to a 2-gallon resealable bag, along with the powdered sugar. Seal the bag, then shake until the cereal is well coated.
• Spread the cereal on wax paper and let cool completely, then transfer to an airtight container until ready to use. The muddy buddies will keep for up to 1 month.
• Make the pinecones: In a medium bowl, mix together the peanut butter, chocolate-hazelnut spread, butter, and powdered sugar until smooth and moldable.
• Working 1 at a time, take a pretzel rod half and mold some of the peanut butter mixture around it, forming a cone shape. Insert pieces of the muddy buddy cereal into the cone, starting from the bottom and working up and around the rod to make the pinecone shape. Break the cereal into smaller pieces as you near the top.
• Dust the pine cones with more powdered sugar.
• Enjoy!

CHOCOLATE "MUDDY BUDDY" SNOWY PINECONES

Steps:

• Measure cereal into a large bowl; set aside.
• In microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter uncovered on High about 1 minute; stir. Add a 10-30 seconds as needed until mixture can be stirred smooth. Stir in vanilla. Pour mixture over cereal, stirring until evenly coated.
• Sprinkle powdered sugar over cereal and toss gently with large spoon or hands until evenly coated.
• Mix peanut butter, Nutella, coconut oil, and powdered sugar in a bowl. I found it easiest to knead with my hands at the end. Add additional powdered sugar if needed to make a firm dough.
• Separate dough into 6 equal parts. I found it helpful to chill the base sections you aren't using in refrigerator while you're working on the other pinecones.
• Form each of the sections of pinecone base into cones with the large part on the bottom. Stick a pretzel stick through the top for a little stability. Sprinkle work area generously with powdered sugar so the pinecone won't stick when you try to move it.
• Beginning at the bottom of the cone, stick cereal (muddy buddy) pieces around the base. Work up the pinecone, sticking cereal pieces into the base, angled so that the cereal points upwards. Keep working upwards and around until you've covered the entire "pinecone" with cereal. I angled my cereal pieces more as I got closer to the top.
• Dust each pinecone with powdered sugar. To eat: remove the cereal pieces from the base (and be sure to grab a little bit of that Nutella and peanut butter dough in each bite!).

MUDDY BUDDIES

Steps:

• Measure cereal into a large bowl. Set aside. Divide powdered sugar between two ziplock bags, adding 1 cup to each bag.* Set aside.
• In a saucepan add chocolate chips, butter, and peanut butter (and salt, if using unsalted butter) and cook over medium-low heat, stirring, until melted and smooth. (Don't over-heat it--just warm it until melted and smooth.)
• Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
• Pour over the prepared cereal in the bowl and stir to coat evenly. Allow to cool for a few minutes.
• Divide coated cereal between the two ziplock bags with powdered sugar, seal the bag and shake to coat the cereal.
• Muddy buddies will stay fresh for up to 1 week stored in an air-tight container at room temperature or can be frozen for up to 2 months.