Puppy Chow (also called Muddy Buddies) is one of my favorite holiday recipes. This recipe is made using only four ingredients and it takes less than ten minutes to make. Try this beloved treat recipe. All you need is Chex cereal, chocolate chips, peanut butter chips (or peanut butter) and powdered sugar.
Did you grow up calling this recipe Puppy Chow or Muddy Buddies? I think it may be a regional thing. I grew up saying Puppy Chow in Missouri.
Related: Royal Icing Sugar Cookies, Oreo Truffles, Popcorn Balls, Peanut Butter Fudge, Chocolate Covered Strawberries.
Ingredients in Homemade Puppy Chow
- Chex Cereal You can use rice Chex cereal or corn Chex- we typically use corn.
- Chocolate chips we typically use milk chocolate orsemi-sweet chocolate chips.
- Peanut Butter Chips or peanut butter
- Powdered sugar also called confectioner’s sugar
You can absolutely use creamy peanut butter instead of peanut butter baking chips, but I tend to use chips as I usually have them on hand (we bake a lot at our house).
How to make Puppy Chow
In alarge bowl, add the cereal. Set aside.
In a medium size bowl, add thechocolate chipsandpeanut butterchips (orpeanut butter). Use amicrowave-safe bowl tomeltin 30second intervals, stirring in between, until thechocolate peanut butter mixtureis melted. You can also do this over low heat on the stove top.
Pourthemelted chocolatemixture over the cereal andstirto combine. You want to get all the pieces coated in chocolate.
Pourthe cereal mix into a large paper bag (like a paper grocery bag) and add thepowdered sugar. Close, andshakeso everything gets dusted in sugar.
I like to use the corn Chex cereal, but you can use the rice kind or wheat.
Why use a paper bag? Most recipes will tell you to mix this in a large (gallon size) ziplock bag, but for this recipe you will need at least two of those bags (or done in two batches), so I like to reuse a paper grocery bag instead. Just make sure if you are reusing something that is clean and free of debris (obviously).
Tips & Additions
- Add CandyI love addingBuncha Crunchany time of year.
- Christmasor Seasonal VariationM&Ms are also a great addition and you can buy seasonal colors, like pastels in Spring or red and green forChristmas.
- Autumn VariationReese’s pieces is always a great addition but the colors are also great for autumn.I love adding candy corn to thispuppy chow reciperight aroundHalloween.
- AddSaltFlaky seasaltcan be added at the same time as thepowdered sugarto add a little depth of flavor. I love the combination of chocolate andsalt! My favorite flaky seasaltfor this as well as to top cookies (among other things) isMaldon SeaSaltFlakes.
- How to FreezeYou can also freeze a batch of puppy chow after making and store it. It is freezer-safe for at least 2 months.
- Where to ServeThis is a greatrecipefor bringing to a party, movie night or holiday gathering. It also makes a great gift idea for friends and neighbors.
- AlternativeIngredientsSomerecipescall for a bit ofvanilla extractorunsalted butter. You may also substitutepeanut butterforalmond butteror any other type ofnut butter.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Muddy Buddies made of?
Chex cereal (corn or rice), chocolate chips, peanut butter chips and powdered sugar.
What is the difference between Puppy Chow and Muddy Buddies?
This treat is called Puppy Chow or Muddy Buddies depending on the region. There is no distinction between the two recipes, it is just one recipe that goes by two names. It is also sometimes calledMuddy Munch,Reindeer ChoworPuppy Food.
How long does Puppy Chow last?
Storing in an airtight container this recipe lasts at room temperature for about one week.
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Yield 12
Prep 5 minutes mins
Cook 5 minutes mins
Ingredients
- 12 ounces Chex cereal
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (6 oz.)
- 1 cup peanut butter chips
- 2 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
In a very large bowl, add the cereal.
In a medium size bowl, add the chocolate chips and peanut butter chips (or peanut butter).
Melt in the microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring in between, until melted.
Pour the melted chocolate mixture over the cereal and stir to combine. You want to get all the pieces coated in chocolate.
Pour the cereal mix into a large paper bag (like a grocery bag) and add the powdered sugar and chocolate candies.
Close, and shake so everything gets dusted in sugar.
Notes
You can use creamy peanut butter instead of peanut butter chips.
You can use almond butter or sunflower seed butter instead of peanut butter if you prefer.
If you don’t want to melt the chips in the microwave you can also do this over low heat on the stove top.
Nutrition
Nutrition Facts
Puppy Chow (Muddy Buddies)
Amount per Serving
Calories
262
% Daily Value*
Fat
6
g
9
%
Saturated Fat
3
g
19
%
Trans Fat
0.01
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
0.5
g
Monounsaturated Fat
2
g
Cholesterol
1
mg
%
Sodium
163
mg
7
%
Potassium
190
mg
5
%
Carbohydrates
51
g
17
%
Fiber
5
g
21
%
Sugar
28
g
31
%
Protein
4
g
8
%
Vitamin A
309
IU
6
%
Vitamin C
4
mg
5
%
Calcium
70
mg
7
%
Iron
10
mg
56
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated, using Spoonacular, for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.
