Muddy Buddies Recipe
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This is, hands down, the best Puppy Chow Snack Mix (AKA: Muddy Buddies). Only a handful of ingredients and ready in minutes, this quick dessert is irresistible ! Loaded with chocolate and peanut butter flavor and the perfect treat to feed a crowd.
This recipe was originally published August 24, 2015. It has since been updated to include fresh photos and helpful tips.
Why You’ll Love This Pupp Chow Recipe
- 6-Ingredients: You only need a handful of simple ingredients to make this dessert. It is INSANE how much flavor you can get from just a few simple items.
- No-Bake: NO bake and no stove-top cooking! You need roughly 1 minute in the microwave. That’s it!
- 5-Minutes: Literally ready in five minutes. This is ideal for a quick weekday snack, party favorite, or gift!
Here’s the deal, I claim ZERO credit for this recipe. We have been making it since I was a kid. I couldn’t tell you where it originated, but I can tell you that it is delicious and one that I have memorized. We make it that often.
Each light and puffy cereal piece is thinly coated with the perfect combination of chocolate, peanut butter, and powdered sugar. That means if you are eating it one by one, or by the handful, you are getting a delicious blend of all of the flavors in every single bite.
IS PUPPY CHOW THE SAME THING AS MUDDY BUDDIES?
Yep. It actually goes by many names. Whether you call it puppy chow, Muddy Buddies, or monkey munch… They are all the same delicious recipe.
Shake things up with this buckeye snack mix!
PUPPY CHOW INGREDIENTS
There are only six ingredients in this recipe for Chex mix muddy buddies. You can stick with the recipe as written, or follow some of the delicious variations provided. Here is a quick look at what you need to get started.
- Chex Cereal: When I look through the cereal aisle I am always blown away at all of the Chex cereal options. This recipe tastes best with rice or corn Chex. If this is the first time you are trying it, stick with rice.
- Chocolate: I love a good mix of semi sweet and milk chocolate. It adds a rich and delicious chocolate taste that is over the moon. But you can always use one or the other. Mixing is completely optional and you will get the same great flavor. Use what you prefer.
- Peanut Butter: Specifically, creamy peanut butter. I haven’t made this with crunchy but I assume it would cause issues with the cereal sticking together. Give me a shout out if you have tried it with success.
- Butter: Either salted or unsalted will work in this recipe. Really, the butter is minimal and there to help the chocolate stay melty long enough to toss while still allowing it to dry to a crunchy finish.
- Vanilla: Optional, but a delicious way to blend the flavors.
- Powdered Sugar: Part of the reason this is the BEST puppy chow recipe is the finishing touch of powdered sugar coating every piece.
HOW TO MAKE MUDDY BUDDIES
- Gather Ingredients: Decide on the chocolate type you want to use, measure the butter, and prep the powdered sugar in a large zip top bag.
- Melt the Chocolate: Place the chocolate, peanut butter, and butter in a glass, or microwave safe, bowl. Heat one minute in the microwave and stir until smooth.
- Mix: Drizzle the chocolate over the top of the cereal. Mix, mix, and mix some more until everything is coated evenly.
- Toss: Transfer the cereal mixture to the zip top bag with powdered sugar. Mix, toss, and turn until every piece is coated.
Puppy Chow Recipe Variations
This is one of those recipes you can tweak a dozen ways without messing it up. Once you’ve got the base down, it’s basically a choose-your-own-adventure snack.
Switch the chocolate. Use all milk chocolate for a sweeter mix or go dark chocolate if you want to cut the sweetness a bit. White chocolate works too, especially for holidays.
Change the cereal. Rice Chex is classic, but Corn Chex or even Crispix work just as well. The key is something light and crunchy that can hold the coating.
Add-ins for texture. Stir in mini pretzels, peanuts, or M&M’s after coating for a sweet-salty combo that’s hard to stop eating.
Flavor it up. Mix a little cinnamon into the powdered sugar for a churro vibe, or add a tablespoon of cocoa powder for extra chocolate flavor.
Nut-free option. Swap the peanut butter for cookie butter or sunflower seed butter. You still get that creamy coating without the peanuts.
Holiday twist. Use colored candies or seasonal sprinkles to match the occasion. It’s the easiest way to make this feel “on theme” without extra effort.
How to Store Puppy Chow
Room Temperature. Store your puppy chow in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Keep it in a cool, dry spot so the chocolate stays set and the coating doesn’t get sticky.
Refrigerator. If your kitchen runs warm, you can refrigerate it for up to 1 week. Just know the texture will be a little firmer, so let it sit out for a few minutes before serving.
Freezer. Yes, you can freeze it. Store in a sealed bag or container for up to 2 months, then let it thaw at room temperature for about 15 minutes before serving.
Make-Ahead. This is a great make-ahead treat and can be prepped 1 to 2 days in advance. For the best texture, wait to coat in powdered sugar until closer to serving, or give it a quick toss in extra sugar right before serving to freshen it up.
Muddy Buddies Recipe FAQs
Well, to put it bluntly, this recipe is called u0022puppy chowu0022 because it resembles dog kibble. Eventually, Chex discovered how popular, and frankly delicious, the recipe is and rebranded it as u0022muddy Buddies.u0022
No problem! Substitute sunflower seed, almond, or cashew butter for equal amounts of the peanut butter called for.
Chex mix gets soggy when moisture gets trapped, so the key is keeping everything dry from start to finish. After mixing, spread it out in a single layer so it can set and dry instead of clumping. Store in an airtight container at room temperature, away from heat or humidity. If it does go soft, you can usually bring it back by baking at 250°F for 10 to 15 minutes and letting it cool again.
Yes, you can absolutely double this recipe. Just use a larger bowl so you have enough room to mix everything evenly without crushing the cereal, and melt the chocolate mixture in batches if needed so it stays smooth. When coating, take your time and stir gently to make sure every piece is covered. You may also want to shake the powdered sugar in two batches to avoid clumping.
MORE PEANUT BUTTER TREATS
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes
- 2-Ingredient Chocolate PB Fudge
- Lunch Lady Bars
- Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies
- Homemade Peanut Butter Cups
- Peanut Butter Cookies
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How to Make Muddy Buddies
Ingredients
- 9 cups rice Chex cereal
- 1 cup chocolate chips (we like a mix of half semi sweet and half milk chocolate)
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- ¼ cup butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1-1/2 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Place the cereal in a large mixing bowl. Set aside.
- Measure the chocolate, peanut butter, and butter into a small glass, or microwave safe, bowl.
- Heat inside the microwave for one minute.
- Stir well until smooth, adding an additional 20 seconds if needed.
- Mix in the vanilla extract.
- Pour the melted chocolate mixture over the cereal and stir until all of the pieces are coated.
- Pour into a large zip lock bag (or container), add the powdered sugar, and gently shake until all of the pieces are coated.
- Turn out onto a foil lined surface and allow to cool.
Nutrition
The nutrition facts provided are calculated using a third-party tool and are estimates only. Actual nutritional content may vary based on the ingredients and brands you use, as well as portion sizes. For accurate results, please consult a registered dietitian or nutritionist.
