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5 from 4 votes
Home By Course Snacks

Halloween Protein Puppy Chow (Muddy Buddies)

Bring this Halloween Protein Puppy Chow to your next fall party! It's chocolatey, peanut buttery, sweet, crunchy, and full of classic Halloween candy like candy corn and mini Reese's cups! It's fun, festive, and oh so yummy.

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By: Lauren published: Oct. 19, 2021 updated: Oct. 27, 2023 3 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Contents hide
Abotu This Recipe
Why You’ll Love This Halloween Protein Puppy Chow
Ingredients and Substitutions
How To Make
More Fun Mix-In Ideas
FAQ: Halloween Protein Puppy Chow
More Easy Desserts For Halloween You’ll Love
Halloween Protein Puppy Chow (Muddy Buddies)
MyFitnessPal Entry
Did You Make This?

Abotu This Recipe

Whether you call it puppy chow or muddy buddies, this delicious chocolatey, peanut buttery, sweet and crunchy Halloween Chocolate Protein Puppy Chow is the perfect festive snack! It’s also great to enjoy at home all Halloween season long as you watch spooky movies and give out candy to trick-or-treaters!

To make this fun treat, all you need is Chex cereal, chocolate, nut butter, and some classic Halloween candy like candy corn, mini Reese’s cups, and salty pretzels. It’s so fun, festive, and delicious!

Not only is this Halloween puppy chow so tasty, but it’s so easy to make and perfect to bring to a party. Full of candy and beautiful autumn colors, everyone is going to freak out when they try this tasty and addicting snack! They’ll never know it’s packed with protein, either!

Puppy chow, aka Muddy Buddies (or whatever you call them!), is a family favorite especially around the holiday time. Be sure to also try my Christmas Rice Chex Cereal Treat that I love for all your holiday parties!

If you’re looking for more awesome Halloween dessert ideas, try my Skinny Pumpkin Pie Dip or Reese’s Peanut Butter Dessert Cheese Ball!

Why You’ll Love This Halloween Protein Puppy Chow

  • The best way to use up all your Halloween candy! 
  • Lightened up from traditional puppy chow or muddy buddy recipes with less fat and more protein!
  • An easy, no bake dessert snack mix that’s perfect for satisfying all your candy cravings!
  • Super easy to make in just 10 minutes of time with basic ingredients that are easy to find (or you might have on hand)!
  • A gluten-free dessert that everyone will love! Can easily make a double batch for large parties and crowds!

Ingredients and Substitutions

  • Chex cereal – You can use rice, corn or whatever flavor of Chex cereal you would like!
  • Chocolate chips – I used semi-sweet chips.
  • Nut Butter
  • Protein powder – I used PEScience Gourmet Vanilla. A chocolate flavor would also work great. Use one you like the taste of because you will taste some of it mixed it. You can also just omit it too if you prefer. Or use extra powdered sugar.
  • Confectioner’s sugar
  • Candy corn
  • Mini Reese’s cups
  • Mini pretzels

How To Make

  1. Add the Chex cereal to a large bowl and set aside.
  2. Add the peanut butter and chocolate chips to a microwave safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until melted.
  3. Pour the mixture onto the Chex and mix until evenly coated.
  4. Transfer the coated Chex to a large ziploc bag. Add the powdered sugar and protein powder.
  5. Seal the bag and shake until the cereal is well coated. Then spread onto parchment paper and let sit until cool and chocolate has set.
  6. Once chocolate has cooled, mix in the pretzel twists, candy corn and Reese’s and enjoy!

More Fun Mix-In Ideas

You can really add anything you’d like to this Halloween Puppy Chow and make it your own. Here are some more ideas you can use to customize this recipe:

  • White chocolate or peanut butter morsels
  • Mellowcreme pumpkins
  • Mini or regular M&Ms
  • Reese’s Pieces
  • Reese’s White Chocolate mini cups
  • Mini marshmallows
  • Gummy worms
  • Candy eyeballs
  • Sprinkles

FAQ: Halloween Protein Puppy Chow

Can I freeze this protein puppy chow recipe?

Yes, you can freeze puppy chow in a freezer ziplock bag (or airtight container) for up to 3 months. If stored well, this Halloween Protein Puppy Chow will stay fresh for 7-10 days in the fridge.

What is puppy chow?

Puppy chow, or sometimes referred to as Muddy Buddies or Monkey Munch, is a no bake dessert typically made with Chex cereal, peanut butter, chocolate chips, butter and vanilla and coated in powdered sugar. Other mix-ins can be included depending on the desired flavor of the recipe. 

What if my cereal isn’t getting coated with the powdered sugar?

Don’t hesitate to use more powdered sugar if your cereal mix isn’t getting coated well. I used a half of a cup but you may want to use more and less to make sure everything is coated well. 

More Easy Desserts For Halloween You’ll Love

Skinny pumpkin pie dip on a tray with apple slices, graham crackers, pretzels, animal crackers, and cookies.

Skinny Pumpkin Pie Dip (Easy + Low Calorie)

Peanut butter cheese ball topped with Reeses Pieces on a tray with pretzels, animals crackers, graham crackers, and cookies.

Reese’s Peanut Butter Dessert Cheese Ball

Ninja creami protein ice cream in a glass bowl.

The Best Reese’s Peanut Butter Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream!

Healthy pumpkin brownies on parchment paper.

Healthy Pumpkin Brownies (Flourless)

Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure leave a review, tag me on Instagram or TikTok at @LaurenFitFoodie or hashtag #LaurenFitFoodie so I can see your creations!

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5 from 4 votes

Halloween Protein Puppy Chow (Muddy Buddies)

? High Protein ? Macro-friendly ? Vegetarian
Bring this Halloween Protein Puppy Chow to your next fall party! It's chocolatey, peanut buttery, sweet, crunchy, and full of classic Halloween candy like candy corn and mini Reese's cups! It's fun, festive, and oh so yummy.
Yield: 8
Prep: 10 minutes mins
Additional Time: 10 minutes mins
Total: 20 minutes mins
Calories: 317kcal
Protein: 11.6g
Fat: 12.7g
Carbs: 39g

Ingredients

  • 4 cups rice Chex cereal (140g)
  • 1/2 cup peanut butter (120g)
  • 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips (90g)
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar (60g)
  • 1/2 cup vanilla protein powder (60g) can omit

To Mix In:

  • 1/2 cup mini pretzel twists (20g)
  • 24 pieces candy corn (41g)
  • 9 unwrapped Reese's minis (32g)

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes. Scroll for macros and MyFitnessPal code.

Instructions

  • Add the Chex cereal to a large bowl and set aside.
  • Add the peanut butter and chocolate chips to a microwave safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until melted.
  • Pour the mixture onto the Chex and mix until evenly coated.
  • Transfer the coated Chex to a large ziploc bag. Add the powdered sugar and protein powder.
  • Seal the bag and shake until the cereal is well coated. Then spread onto parchment paper and let sit until cool and chocolate has set.
  • Once chocolate has cooled, mix in the pretzel twists, candy corn and Reese’s and enjoy!

Notes

Store in an airtight container at room temperature. If stored well, protein puppy chow will stay fresh for 7-10 days.
You can also freeze this recipe! Store in a ziplock bag for up to 3 months.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1/2 cup (71g), Calories: 317kcal (16%), Carbohydrates: 39g (13%), Protein: 11.6g (23%), Fat: 12.7g (20%), Saturated Fat: 4g (25%), Cholesterol: 11.6mg (4%), Fiber: 2.8g (12%), Sugar: 17.9g (20%)

Nutrition is hand-calculated and accurate. No autocalulations! However, note that values can vary based on the brands you use and if you substitute ingredients.

MyFitnessPal Entry

LFF Halloween Protein Puppy Chow

© Author: Lauren

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Lauren

Lauren

Lauren lives with her husband, Simon and two dogs, Finley and Cookie, in the Carolina’s. She has college degrees in Nursing and Exercise Science, is a NASM certified trainer and spent many years as a macro coach before transitioning to full time blogging. She loves staying active, being creative and recreating her favorite comfort food dishes into healthier, lightened up versions. Desserts are her speciality!

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Hey There!

I’m Lauren, a food lover sharing healthy, macro-friendly recipes that taste good and you can feel good about eating. Here you’ll find everything from breakfasts to easy dinners to lightened up desserts because desserts are absolutely mandatory around here!

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