This is hands-down the best Puppy Chow (aka Muddy Buddies) you’ll ever make! With just 6 simple ingredients (no butter) and a few minutes, you’ve got a sweet, chocolate-peanut buttery treat everyone will love.
Puppy Chow Snack Mix
A bowl of Puppy Chow is one of those snacks that I just can’t put down. It’s like a bag of potato chips—once I start, I can’t stop. Every time I tell myself I’m going in for just one last bite, my hand seems to have a mind of its own, reaching back for more.
Puppy Chow is also commonly known as Muddy Buddies, Muddy Munch, Monkey Munch, or Reindeer Chow. No matter what you call it, I know I’m not the only one who can’t resist this sweet, crunchy treat. Whenever I serve it at a holiday gathering, it disappears faster than I can say “seconds.” Pack it up as a party favor, and I’m pretty sure I’ll earn major points as the hostess with the mostest.
But the best puppy chow has a few secrets that you won’t find on the Chex cereal box. My version is simple, doesn’t use butter, and is packed with all the chocolate-peanut butter goodness that makes it a crowd favorite.
Why I Love This Recipe
- Easy to make and requires just a few simple ingredients.
- The combination of chocolate, peanut butter, and Chex cereal are irresistible.
- It’s easy to change up the flavors and make it unique.
Ingredients
So, here’s what you’ll need to make this amazing puppy chow:
- Rice Chex Cereal: This is the base of it all. I like to use Rice Chex because it’s the perfect blank canvas for the chocolate and peanut butter.
- Chocolate Chips: I go for dark, but milk chocolate or semi-sweet works great, too.
- Peanut Butter Chips: The baking chips add the creamy peanut butter flavor without being too overpowering.
- Vanilla Extract: I love how it adds a bit of depth to the flavor, without stealing the show. A lot of puppy chow recipes don’t use vanilla, but I think it adds something special.
- Confectioners’ Sugar: This is the magic dust that makes the puppy chow what it is. It coats the cereal to give it that sweet, powdery finish.
- Salt: Just a pinch to balance the sweetness. I always add a little salt to bring out the flavors—trust me, it makes a difference.
How to Make Puppy Chow (Muddy Buddies)
Find the complete recipe with measurements in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Step One (Prep the Cereal):
Pour the cereal into a big mixing bowl and set it aside for now. - Step Two (Melt the Chocolate and Peanut Butter):
In a medium microwave-safe bowl, throw in the chocolate and peanut butter chips. Microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring each time, until it’s all melted and smooth. - Step Three (Add the Flavor):
Stir in the vanilla extract and a pinch of salt to the melted mixture. - Step Four (Coat the Cereal):
Pour the chocolate peanut butter mix over the cereal and give it a good stir to coat everything evenly. - Step Five (Cool It Down):
Let the mix cool to room temperature for about 15 minutes. - Step Six (Coat with Sugar):
Divide the cereal into two gallon-sized sealable bags or paper grocery bags. Add 1 cup of confectioners’ sugar to each bag, seal it up, and shake until the cereal is all coated.
Recipe Tips
While making Puppy Chow (Muddy Buddies) is pretty simple, there are a few things I’ve picked up over the years to make sure it’s perfect every time. Here are a few tips I swear by:
- Melt the chocolate and peanut butter chips in the microwave. It makes the whole process quicker and easier, and helps the mixture stay nice and smooth.
- If you really like the chocolate flavor, you can bump up the chocolate chips to 1 1/2 cups. I’ve done this a few times when I want it extra chocolatey!
- For some extra crunch, try stirring in a cup of chopped nuts before adding the confectioners’ sugar. It’s a little twist that gives the puppy chow an awesome texture. Pecans are my preferred nut here.
- If you’re struggling to get the confectioners’ sugar to stick, I’ve found chilling the puppy chow before coating it helps. That way, the sugar doesn’t just soak into the warm cereal and disappear.
Storage and Freezing
If you somehow have leftovers (which is rare!), here’s how I store it:
- Storage: Keep your puppy chow in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. I’ve found it stays fresh and crunchy that way, and it’s always ready to snack on.
- Freezing: You can also freeze it. Just pop it in a freezer-safe container or bag, and it’ll keep for about a month. When you’re ready to eat, just let it thaw at room temperature, and it’ll taste just as good.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I Use Peanut Butter Instead of Peanut Butter Baking Chips? Yes you can, however if you use natural peanut butter reduce the amount to 3/4 cup. You will need to microwave regular peanut butter to make it a more runny consistency before stirring it in.
- Can I Substitute Almond Butter For The Peanut Butter Chips? That will work. However, since almond butter has more oil and tends to be quite runnier, reduce the amount to 3/4 cup almond butter. You could also substitute any kind of nut butter or sunflower butter if you’re allergic to peanut butter.
- I’m In a Hurry. Do I Need to Let It Sit Before Adding the Confectioners’ Sugar? You can skip this step if you’re really in a time crunch. However, letting the cereal mixture sit allows the chocolate peanut butter mixture to cool so the sugar sticks to it rather than dissolve into the warm chocolate. If you don’t let your mixture cool you will need to use more confectioners’ sugar to get that nice white coating.
- Can I Melt the Peanut Butter and Chocolate On the Stovetop? Yes. It’s just as quick and easy to use the stovetop. Put your chips into a double boiler or glass bowl set over a pot of simmering water and heat, stirring often, until melted and smooth. Continue with the recipe as written.
More Snack Mix Recipes
Whether you’re craving a savory snack, with spicy flavor and smoky taste or a sweet party mix to make for friends, here are a few more of my favorite snack mix recipes.
- BBQ Chex Mix
- Italian Herb Party Mix
- Air Fryer Pumpkin Spice Chex Snack Mix
- Popcorn Snack Mix
- Air Fryer Chickpeas
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Puppy Chow Recipe (Muddy Buddies)
Equipment
- measuring cups and spoons For accurate measuring.
- mixing bowls For melting the chocolate and peanut butter chips.
- wooden spoon For stirring everything together.
- Ziploc bag For coating the mixture.
Ingredients
- 1 (12 oz) box Rice Chex cereal
- 1-1/2 cups dark chocolate chips
- 1-1/2 cups peanut butter baking chips
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp table salt
- 2 cups confectioners' sugar
Instructions
- Pour the cereal into a large mixing bowl and set aside.1 (12 oz) box Rice Chex cereal
- In a medium microwave-safe bowl, combine the chocolate and peanut butter chips. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring well after each, until melted and smooth.1-1/2 cups dark chocolate chips, 1-1/2 cups peanut butter baking chips
- Stir in the vanilla extract and salt1 tsp vanilla extract, 1/4 tsp table salt
- Pour the chocolate peanut butter mixture over the cereal and stir well to combine.
- Let the mixture cool to room temperature, about 15 minutes.
- Divide the cereal into two gallon-sized sealable plastic bags or paper grocery bags. Add 1 cup of confectioners' sugar to each bag, seal, and shake to coat.2 cups confectioners' sugar
Notes
Nutrition
Have you tried this recipe? Share your experience in the comments below and let me know how it turned out.
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Lauren k says
My kids love puppy chow! This is so versatile too!
Toni says
My kids couldn’t stop eating this puppy chow! So good and delicious!
wilhelmina says
A batch of puppy chow never lasts long at my house! It is so good, it’s almost addictive!