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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.

A bowl of puppy chow snack mix dusted with powdered sugar is on a white surface. Nearby are bowls of chocolate chips and peanut butter. A few chocolate chips and pieces of snack mix are scattered around. A striped napkin is partially visible.

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.

Ingredients for making a snack mix are arranged on a white surface, including Chex cereal in a glass bowl, a cup of vanilla extract, a bowl of chocolate chips, powdered sugar, and a container of peanut butter.

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.

A clear plastic ziplock bag filled with chocolate-coated cereal squares on a white surface.

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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).

A bowl filled with Puppy Chow, a snack made from cereal coated in chocolate, peanut butter, and powdered sugar. Nearby are bowls containing peanut butter and chocolate chips. The surface is white, contrasting with the snacks texture.

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Puppy Chow (Muddy Buddies) Recipe

By: Dorothy Kern

This classic puppy chow (AKA Muddy Buddies) is a crunchy, chocolatey mix of Chex cereal coated in peanut butter, melted chocolate, and powdered sugar. Sweet, addicting, and easy to make, it’s the perfect no-bake treat. Great for snacking, parties, or gifting!

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 5

Setting time: 20

Total Time: 30

Servings: 18 servings

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Ingredients

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.

Notes

It might be easier to split the powdered sugar into 2 gallon-size bags and divide the cereal mixture in half. I find it hard to fit all the cereal mixture into one bag and have it still be able to easily shake to coat.