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About This Recipe
You can never go wrong with a classic! These Muddy Buddies (aka Puppy Chow) combine crispy cereal with a rich blend of peanut butter, chocolate, and powdered sugar to create the best puppy chow recipe that’s perfect for sharing—or keeping all to yourself!
Whether you’re preparing this easy snack for a party, movie nights, the holiday season, or simply indulging your sweet tooth, this popular recipe is easy to make and even easier to eat!
Looking for more sweet treats? Try my healthy buckeyes (chocolate peanut butter balls), healthy scotcheroos, dark chocolate pretzel bark, peanut butter cornflake bars or chocolate peanut butter crunch bars!
If you’re looking for an extra fun Christmas version, try my Christmas White Chocolate Chex Mix Recipe!
Why You’ll Love These Muddy Buddies
- The perfect sweet treat! You won’t be able to resist these delicious bite-size pieces!
- Super easy to make! A great no bake dessert when the sweet tooth hits and you don’t want to spend all day in the kitchen.
- Holiday season! Enjoy this family favorite during the holiday season (or any time of year!)
- Great for large groups! I love making a big batch of puppy chow when entertaining large crowds. Easy to make and enjoy!
- Simple ingredients! This sweet snack is made with only 5 simple ingredients you might already have on hand!
- Rice Chex: I used Rice Chex cereal. Corn Chex, Wheat Chex or other Chex varieties would also work here!
- Powdered sugar: you can use regular confectioners’ sugar or Swerve confectioner’s sugar.
- Chocolate chips: I used semi-sweet chocolate chips for these muddy buddies but you can use milk chocolate chips, dark chocolate chips, or a combination of both!
- Peanut butter: I prefer creamy peanut butter for these but any nut butter works. I love using American Dream Nut Butter (use my code Laurenfitfoodie). You could also use natural peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter or sunflower seed butter if you have a nut allergy.
- Butter: I prefer to use unsalted butter in most of my baking! If using salted butter, just omit the additional salt.
- Salt: a pinch of salt helps to perfectly balance out the sweetness of these muddy buddies
- Protein powder: you can add protein powder for extra protein! I recommend PEScience vanilla protein powder. A chocolate flavor would also work great. Use my code Laurenfitfoodie to save 10% on your purchase.
- Nut butter: Swap almond butter, cashew butter or sunflower seed butter in place of the peanut butter. Or go wild and use your favorite cookie butter!
- Baking chips: Give this original recipe a twist by using different kinds of baking chips! Try peanut butter chips, butterscotch chips, white chocolate chips, etc.
- Mix-ins: add some mini marshmallows, pretzels, peanuts, sprinkles, more chocolate chips, etc.
- Gluten-free: to make gluten-free just use gluten-free Chex cereal.
How To Make
The full printable recipe is below, but let me walk you through the process so you know what to expect when you’re making it!
1. Add the Chex to a large mixing bowl. Place powdered sugar in a large Ziploc bag. Set both aside.
2. Place chocolate, peanut butter, butter and salt in a small-to-medium saucepan.
3. Warm over low heat stirring frequently until melted and smooth (not too long, as to burn the chocolate). Alternatively, heat in the microwave in 20-second increments, stirring in between until melted.
4. Immediately pour chocolate mixture over the cereal mixture and gently toss until all the Chex is coated.
5. Place the coated cereal mixture in the ziploc bag, seal the bag and shake well to coat.
6. Move to a parchment paper lined baking sheet to finish cooling then transfer to an airtight container for storage.
Store in an airtight container at room temperature. If stored well, muddy buddies will stay fresh for 7-10 days.
You can also freeze this recipe! Store in a ziplock bag for up to 3 months.
Helpful Tips
- Ziploc bag: I used a gallon size resealable plastic bag for coating the cereal mix with powdered sugar. If you don’t have a bag big enough, you can also split the cereal mix in half and did it in two separate batches. This helps with containing the mess and coats the cereal better.
- Work quickly: Once the melted mixture is ready, coat the cereal immediately. The mixture needs to be warm and sticky for the powdered sugar to adhere properly.
- Double coat: If you like your muddy buddies extra sweet, you can double coat the cereal in the powdered sugar after the first coat has set.
- Let cool: Make sure to let your muddy buddies cool completely before adding to an airtight container to prevent sticking.
Can I freeze this 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 puppy chow will stay fresh for 7-10 days in the fridge.
What do I do if my cereal is not getting covered in the powdered sugar?
Don’t hesitate to use more powdered sugar if your cereal mix isn’t getting coated well. I used one cup but you may want to use more and less to make sure everything is coated well.
Why is it called “Puppy Chow”?
The nickname “Puppy Chow” comes from its resemblance to dog food, but don’t worry, it’s definitely for humans and absolutely delicious!
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!
Muddy Buddies (Puppy Chow)
Ingredients
- 4 cups Rice Chex (120g)
- 1 cup powdered sugar (120g)
- 3/4 cup semi sweet chocolate chips (120g)
- 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter (80g)
- 1 Tbsp unsalted butter (14)
- Pinch of salt
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Instructions
- Add the Chex to a large mixing bowl. Place powdered sugar in a large ziploc bag. Set both aside.
- Place chocolate, peanut butter, butter and salt in a small-to-medium saucepan. Warm over low heat stirring frequently until melted and smooth (not too long, as to burn the chocolate). Alternatively, heat in the microwave in 20-second increments, stirring in between until melted.
- Immediately pour over the cereal mixture and gently toss until all the Chex is coated.
- Place the coated Chex in the ziploc bag, seal the bag and shake well to coat.
- Move to a parchment paper lined baking sheet to finish cooling then transfer to an airtight container for storage.
Notes
Nutrition Information
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.
