Make this easy puppy chow recipe with Chex cereal, chocolate, and peanut butter! It’s a quick, no-bake snack mix that’s perfect for parties and holidays. I love to adapt these classic muddy buddies for Halloween, Christmas, and more.
Chocolate and peanut butter are always a welcome combination at our house! This easy puppy chow recipe is a favorite on our holiday charcuterie boards. Despite the name, puppy chow isn’t meant for dogs. It’s a sweet, crunchy, chocolate-peanut butter Chex mix that’s easy to make at home. General Mills calls their version Muddy Buddies. You might also know it as Monkey Munch, Muddy Munch, or Reindeer Chow at Christmas. Whatever the name, this is a sweet and salty no-bake snack mix that I make often!
This Puppy Chow (Homemade Muddy Buddies) Recipe Is…
- Ready in 20 minutes. This recipe is quick, easy, and always turns out perfect with simple ingredients.
- Made without the oven. There’s no baking required!
- Great for any occasion. I most often make this no-bake, sweet, and salty treat for parties and holiday gatherings. It’s kid-friendly and works great for a crowd. But puppy chow is a fun, homemade treat that travels well. Give it as gifts or add it to a cookie plate.
Craving more of that chocolate & PB combo? Have you tried my crazzzzzy good Chocolate Peanut Butter Ritz Cookies? Or how about Peanut Butter Blossoms? Or my fabulously fun Extra-Marshmallow Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispies Bars?!
What You’ll Need to Make This Recipe
May puppy chow recipes don’t include butter or vanilla extract. However, IMO, these ingredients are key to the BEST puppy chow ever. You’ll find notes on these and the rest of the ingredients you’ll need below.
- Rice Chex cereal – I use Rice Chex cereal, but you could also use Corn Chex. Some people use Crispix, even though it doesn’t give you the traditional square-shaped Puppy Chow.
- Chocolate chips – I always use semi-sweet chocolate chips; Guittard is my favorite. But milk chocolate works, too. Just know that the puppy chow will be considerably sweeter.
- Creamy peanut butter – Such as Jif or Skippy. Natural peanut butters don’t work as well for this recipe as the oils tend to separate.
- Butter – I use unsalted butter, so I can control the amount of salt. If you use salted butter, simply eliminate the extra salt in the ingredients list.
- Vanilla extract – Use only pure vanilla extract for the best flavor.
- Powdered – This is the fun outer coating that sticks to the chocolate & peanut butter mixture. I like a medium coat of powdered sugar, where I can see some of that beautiful chocolate layer. But use more or less, depending on your own preference.
- Reese’s Pieces – A little more peanut butter? Why not?! This is a fun option all year long, but especially great for fall and Halloween parties.
How to Make Puppy Chow
My method for mixing the puppy chow is easier than most. I don’t like using zippered baggies to incorporate the powdered sugar coating. Instead, for less mess, I use a bowl with a lid and give it a shake! Here’s how to make muddy buddies from scratch:
- Melt. Gently melt chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter together either on the stovetop or in the microwave. Then stir in the vanilla.
- Mix. Add half the cereal to a large mixing bowl that has a lid. Drizzle half the chocolate peanut butter mixture over the cereal. Add the remaining cereal and drizzle the remaining chocolate peanut butter mixture over the top. With a large spoon or spatula, gently fold until the cereal is evenly coated.
- Shake. Sprinkle powdered sugar over the top of the cereal. Place the lid on the bowl and, while holding the lid on the bowl securely, turn and shake the bowl until the cereal is well coated. No zipper baggies to mess with, yay!!
- Cool. Spread puppy chow out onto parchment or wax paper, or a large rimmed pan, until cooled and the chocolate has set.
Holiday Variations
To add a fun element to any special occasion, think about different candies to mix into your puppy chow! Reese’s Pieces are a favorite at our house, perfect for fall gatherings and Halloween. M&M’s also work great. With all of their fun holiday packs, it’s easy to create color-coordinated treats for Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and the 4th of July. The possibilities are endless!
- Thanksgiving. Add in Reese’s Pieces, candy corn, and toasted nuts.
- Christmas. Make reindeer bait/reindeer chow with white chocolate chips, red and green M&Ms, chopped candy canes, or Andes Mints.
- Valentine’s Day. Toss in red and pink M&Ms, cinnamon hearts, or candy hearts.
- Easter. Make bunny bait with mini marshmallows, mini eggs, pretzels, and pastel-colored candies.
- Other. This would also be a fun idea for graduation parties (use the school colors) or baby showers (pink or blue).
Halloween Puppy Chow
This puppy chow/muddy buddies recipe has become a trick-or-treat tradition at our house. I like to make Halloween puppy chow to enjoy while the kids get dressed up! Our families gather beforehand for pizza. And we bring this Halloween-themed puppy chow. This chocolatey snack mix is always a hit with kids and adults alike!
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Don’t overheat the chocolate. Whether you use the microwave or the stovetop to melt the chocolate, peanut butter, and butter, be careful not to let the chocolate scorch. If it does, the mixture will seize, and you’ll need to discard it and start a fresh batch.
- Use a gentle hand. When mixing the melted chocolate mixture into the cereal, fold it gently to minimize crushing the cereal.
- Cool it in the fridge. If you want to speed up the cooling process, just place the rimmed pan of prepared puppy chow into the fridge for a bit. It’ll firm up in no time!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! You can make puppy chow with alternative nut butters like almond butter, cashew butter, and Nutella, or sunflower seed butter (sunbutter) and tahini for a nut-free variation.
This popular Midwest snack mix gets its name because the chocolate and powdered sugar-coated mix looks an awful lot like “puppy chow” or kibble!
How to Store
- Store airtight. Keep the puppy chow in an airtight container on the counter, and it stays good for at least a week. If your kitchen is warm, just pop the container into the fridge.
- Freeze. Puppy chow freezes well! Just place it in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. It’s a great make-ahead treat for the holidays. Thaw your muddy buddies at room temperature before serving.
More No-Bake Desserts
Puppy Chow (Muddy Buddies)
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips (Guittard is my favorite)
- ¾ cup creamy peanut butter such as Jif or Skippy (do not use a natural peanut butter)
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 12-ounce box of Rice Chex cereal (about 12 cups)
- 2¼ to 2½ cups powdered sugar or more if desired
- 1 cup Reese’s Pieces candies (optional, but fun for fall and Halloween!)
Instructions
- Gently melt chocolate chips, peanut butter, butter, and salt together either on the stovetop or in the microwave. Take care to not let the chocolate scorch. Stir until completely smooth and then add vanilla and stir again.
- Add half the cereal to a very large mixing bowl that has a lid. Drizzle half the chocolate peanut butter mixture evenly over the cereal. Then add the remaining cereal and drizzle the remaining chocolate peanut butter mixture over the top. With a large spoon or spatula, gently fold until the cereal is evenly coated.
- Sprinkle powdered sugar over the top of the cereal. Place the lid on the bowl and, while holding the lid on the bowl securely, turn and shake the bowl until the cereal is well coated. Use a large spoon to gently fold and finish covering with powdered sugar. Spread puppy chow out onto a large rimmed pan or onto parchment or wax paper on the counter, and then sprinkle with a bit more powdered sugar if desired. Let cool until the chocolate has set.
Store in an airtight container at cool room temperature for one week. Also stores well in the fridge if your house is warm, and in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Nutrition Information:
This stuff is sooooooo addictive.
Only difference that I do is use a combination of the Rice & Corn Chex. Sometimes I use the Mini M&M’s in place of the regular candy.
Mini M&M’s are a favorite around here, perfect!!
Make it today