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Puppy Chow (AKA Muddy Buddies) is a sweet Chex mix with chocolate and peanut butter – this easy homemade recipe is easy to make with only 5 simple ingredients! It’s that classic treat you love – but made with extra peanut butter (no butter!) It’s the very best sweet and salty snack – the easiest dessert ever.
If you’re looking for a snack you won’t be able to stop eating, Puppy Chow is what you’re craving. I’ve been making this recipe for years – it’s so easy – and whenever I make it I cannot stop eating it. In fact, this batch was gone in about 3 days between Jordan and I (don’t judge).
I didn’t realize it was called Puppy Chow (I’m from the west coast; we call it muddy buddies) until I started blogging but no matter what you call it it’s the most delicious snack you’ll ever eat. Crunchy Chex cereal coated with peanut butter and chocolate then all dusted with a healthy dose of powdered sugar. I’ve made this so many ways with different flavors – and I realized I’d never shared my classic go-to recipe! I don’t know where it got it’s name – it doesn’t look like dog food to me – but it’s 100% human chow – the best muddy buddies recipe you’ll ever eat.
How to Make Puppy Chow Tips
- I skip butter in my recipe – why bother adding butter when more peanut butter does the trick? You can use creamy peanut butter or crunchy.
- I usually use Rice Chex Cereal, but you can use corn Chex or wheat or even one of the flavors, like Honey Nut Chex.
- When it comes to semi-sweet chocolate chips, use your favorite – or use milk chocolate chips or dark chocolate chips.
- See below for my favorite variations of this recipe!
- I like to melt my chocolate and peanut butter in a large microwave-safe bowl in the microwave. Heat it for a minute, then stir, then in 30 second increments (stirring between each) until it’s all melted and smooth.
- Carefully coat the cereal with the melted chocolate mixture in a large bowl.
- It’s easiest to shake the cereal in a ziplock bag – sometimes I like to use two resealable bags so there’s room to shake the cereal mixture in the confectioners’ sugar.
- Once it’s all coated with powdered sugar, turn the puppy chow mix out onto a baking sheet covered with wax paper or parchment paper to set.
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Variations
- Split the chocolate chips with half and half of butterscotch or peanut butter chips.
- Use shelf stable almond butter, cashew butter, or sun butter.
- Use all white chocolate and even add chopped Oreos or Kit Kats
- I’ve made popcorn snack mix for movie night, muddy buddy trail mix, and muddy buddies with peanut butter stuffed pretzels.
- Make reindeer chow for Christmas or Bunny Munch for Easter (or Cupid Crunch for Valentine’s).
Puppy Chow (Muddy Buddies) Recipe
Ingredients
- 9 cups Chex cereal
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- ¾ cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups (170g) powdered sugar
Instructions
- Measure out cereal and add to a very large bowl. Add powdered sugar to a gallon size bag or large container. Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- Microwave instructions: Add chocolate chips and peanut butter to a microwave safe bowl. Heat for 1 minute; stir. Continue heating in 30 second increments, stirring between each, until melted and smooth. Stir in vanilla. Pour chocolate mixture over cereal and stir to coat.
- Stovetop instructions: Add chocolate chips and peanut butter to a large pot and place over medium-low heat. Stir constantly until melted and smooth then remove from heat and stir in vanilla; add cereal and stir to coat.
- Carefully transfer cereal mixture to the bag of powdered sugar. Seal and shake to coat.
- Turn the cereal out onto the cookie sheet and let sit to harden.
- Store in an airtight container for several days.
Recipe Notes
Recipe Nutrition
Step-by-Step Photos
