1. Melt purple candy melts in a microwave-safe bowl; stir until smooth.
2. Mix the nut butter into the melted purple chocolate.
3. In a wide mixing bowl, pour the mixture over the rice cereal squares, folding gently to coat them evenly.
4. Let the coated cereal rest for a few minutes, then gradually start adding in the powdered sugar, gently tossing every couple of minutes to coat. Use a spatula to gently break apart any clusters that may form, and if necessary, use clean hands to further separate the pieces.
5. Keep adding powdered sugar and stir until each cereal piece is individually coated and separated.
6. Lay out the mix on a baking sheet to fully cool for 25 minutes.
7. After cooling, toss the chow mix with the reserved Mother’s Circus Animal Cookies.
8. Serve your festive Mother’s Circus Animal Chow immediately or store it in an airtight container for later snacking.

Chef’s Notes

1. If you're in a warmer climate or your kitchen is a bit humid, consider chilling the mix in the refrigerator to help set the chocolate faster.
2. If you prefer the flavor of white chocolate over candy melts, use 1 ½ cups of white chocolate chips and ¼ teaspoon of powdered or oil-based purple food coloring. Melt the white chocolate as normal, then incorporate the food coloring and mix until the color is uniform before proceeding.
3. If using a microwave to melt chocolate or candy melts, be sure to use short bursts stir in-between intervals of heat to prevent burning.