I really like cereal.
I mean I really like cereal in the way that I wish I could install several cafeteria-style dispensers in my kitchen.
I don’t have a single drawer, but I would trade that dream to have multiple varieties of cereal always on hand, ready to tumble when the mood struck.
I’m only slightly exaggerating.
Cereal appears in many of my meals because it’s an effortless option. That’s why I fantasize about a dispenser stocked with different kinds—practical and satisfying.
The cereal industry knows people often eat alone, eyes forward, spoon in hand. To entertain those moments, boxes offer games, trivia, crosswords and recipes. Between the box and the mail on the table, the cereal box often wins your attention.
Speaking of recipes printed on boxes, Muddy Buddies is probably the best one to make. It was the second thing I attempted in the kitchen as a kid—this cake being the first.
Muddy Buddies resurfaced in my mind recently while a friend and I reminisced about childhood snacks.
If Muddy Buddies weren’t part of your childhood, here’s the quick version: melt peanut butter, chocolate and butter together, pour it over Chex cereal until evenly coated, then toss everything in powdered sugar.
My friend called them Puppy Chow, which is just another name for the same nostalgic snack. The name might not sound appetizing, but kids cared only about the chocolate and peanut butter.
Now that I’m an adult, I sometimes prefer something a little more refined than a bowl of Puppy Chow for dessert. That led me to create an elevated version featuring peanut butter–filled pretzels.
Crunchy and salty, with chocolate and a peanut-butter center—this checks every dessert box. Given the upgrade in ingredients and presentation, a fancier name felt appropriate.
A dragée is, broadly speaking, a bite-sized confectionery item that can serve decorative or symbolic purposes as well as being eaten for pleasure.
My peanut butter–filled pretzel dragées are a grown-up take on a childhood favorite—nostalgic, indulgent, and easy to share. They look polished when plated, even if the bowl you use was intended for something else.
Peanut Butter Filled Pretzel Dragées
Makes about 2 cups
Inspired by a classic Muddy Buddies recipe
Ingredients:
2 cups (about 150 grams) peanut butter–filled pretzels (Trader Joe’s has a good variety)
1/2 cup (about 100 grams) semisweet chocolate chips
2 tablespoons (about 28 grams) butter
Pinch of salt
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup (about 125 grams) powdered sugar
Place the powdered sugar in a large bowl and the pretzels in a separate large bowl. Line a baking sheet with waxed paper.
Set a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water. Combine chocolate chips, butter and a pinch of salt in the bowl and stir occasionally until smooth and fully melted. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla.
Pour the melted chocolate over the pretzels and stir gently until they are evenly coated. Transfer the coated pretzels into the bowl with powdered sugar and toss until each piece is well coated. The pretzels may clump together—break them apart so each one gets a dusting of sugar.
Spread the coated pretzels on the prepared baking sheet to cool. Once set, store the dragées in an airtight container in the refrigerator.