The BEST Puppy Chow (Muddy Buddies) recipe and it’s SO easy to make! You will love this decadent chocolate peanut butter cereal treat! It is the perfect party recipe and always a hit during the holidays.
What is Puppy Chow?
Puppy chow is one of my all-time favorite treats, and I am not talking about dog food. I promise I haven’t lost it:) I am talking about the decadent chocolate peanut butter cereal treat that is covered in powdered sugar. It’s kind of like dessert Chex Mix. I grew up making and eating puppy chow, it was a staple at our house especially during the holiday months.
So why is it called puppy chow? Well, because it kind of looks like real puppy chow…ha! But don’t worry it is SO much better, not that I have tasted real dog food:) Just make sure you don’t give this recipe to your dog, it has chocolate, which isn’t safe for dogs, but it is very safe for humans. This is human chow:)
If you have made puppy chow, you know it is one of the best treats of all-time. And if you haven’t made it, you are in for a real treat because you are going to LOVE this easy recipe!
Puppy Chow or Muddy Buddies?
So there is a little debate about the name of this popular treat. Some people call it Puppy Chow and some call it Muddy Buddies. General Mills, who makes Chex cereal, started making and selling Muddy Buddies in stores and that is their official name for the snack. I grew up calling it puppy chow so that is what we are going with today, but Muddy Buddies is perfectly fine too. And I have also heard it called Reindeer Chow, Muddy Munch, and Monkey Munch. You can call it whatever you want, it will still be delicious! I mean, people LOVE it and it’s called puppy chow, so you KNOW it is good:)
Puppy Chow Ingredients
You will need the following ingredients to make puppy chow aka muddy buddies:
- Rice Chex cereal-I use Rice Chex cereal to make puppy chow.You can use Corn Chex cereal, but I prefer the rice cereal flavor. You can also use Crispix cereal, but the shape of your puppy chow will be a little different.
- Chocolate Chips-I use semi-sweet chocolate chips, but you can use milk chocolate chips.
- Peanut Butter-I use creamy peanut butter and not natural peanut butter. Think JIF or Skippy for this recipe!
- Butter-I usually use unsalted butter, but if you want a little salt kick, salted butter works too!
- Vanilla Extract-add a little vanilla extract for a nice vanilla kick. You can never go wrong with vanilla!
- Powdered Sugar (Confectioners’ Sugar)-the powdered sugar gives the puppy chow the perfect sweet finishing touch and gives the puppy chow it’s signature look.
Easy, right? I make sure I always have these ingredients on hand so I can make puppy chow anytime and all of the time!
How to Make Puppy Chow
Puppy chow is a no-bake treat, which makes it even better. You can whip up a big batch of puppy chow in no time!
A few tips for making puppy chow:
- Use a medium, microwave safe bowl to melt the chocolate chips, butter, and peanut butter together. Start with 1 minute on high, stir, and heat again for about 30 seconds. Stir again. If the mixture isn’t melted, you can heat for 10 more seconds and stir again. Don’t over heat. You want to heat just until the mixture is smooth.
- Stir in the vanilla extract.
- You will need six cups of Rice Chex Cereal. Yes, only SIX cups. A lot of recipes call for nine cups, but my friend Rachel taught me that six is the magic number to maximize the chocolate peanut butter flavor. Again, I like to use Rice Chex, but corn or Crispix will work too.
- Place the cereal in a large bowl and pour the chocolate peanut butter mixture over the cereal. Stir GENTLY with a spatula. Make sure you don’t break up the cereal, you want it to stay in whole pieces.
- When the cereal is evenly coated, place it in a large Ziploc bag and add the powdered sugar. You will need 1 ½ to 2 cups, depending how coated you like it. Make sure you seal the bag and shake! Kids love helping with this part:) Shake until all of the cereal is white and well coated.
- Open up the bag and pour the puppy chow onto a big piece of parchment paper or wax paper. Spread the puppy chow in a single layer so it can cool and not stick together. Let sit until the chocolate is hard. To speed up the process, you can put it on a tray and put it in the refrigerator.
How To Store Puppy Chow
After the puppy chow is dry, you can put it in a large airtight container and store on the counter for up to 2 weeks. If your kitchen is warm, you can store the puppy chow in the fridge to make sure the chocolate doesn’t melt. I have never had a problem with it being on the counter though. The only problem I have is EATING it…ha! Beware, this cereal treat is ADDICTING:)
You can also put puppy chow in decorative Christmas tins or bags to give to friends, family, and neighbors for the holidays. Everyone loves this easy homemade holiday gift!
Perfect Party Snack
If you need an easy treat to take to a party, puppy chow is always a hit! Put out a big bowl and I guarantee it will be gone by the end of the night. It is always a good conversation starter too. People will wonder why it’s called puppy chow and their might be a debate about if the correct name is puppy chow or muddy buddies! It is the ultimate chocolate peanut butter treat! And it’s perfect for holiday parties because it looks like snow. Warning, your fingers will become coated with powdered sugar, but that really isn’t a bad thing:) ENJOY!
More Easy Treats:
- S’mores Puppy Chow
- No Bake Cookies
- Everything Bagel Chex Mix
- Peppermint Bark Chocolate Chex Mix
- No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars
- Rolo Pretzels
Puppy Chow
Ingredients
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 6 cups Rice Chex cereal
- 1 ½ to 2 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Place the chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter in a medium microwave safe bowl. Microwave on high for 1 minute. Remove the bowl from the microwave and stir. Put the bowl back into the microwave and heat for an additional 30 seconds or until mixture is smooth when stirred. Add the vanilla extract and stir again.
- Pour the cereal in a large mixing bowl. Add the chocolate peanut butter mixture and gently stir until cereal is evenly coated. Pour the coated cereal into a large Ziploc bag. Add the powdered sugar. Seal the bag and shake until the cereal is well coated. Spread on parchment paper or waxed paper. Let sit until cool and chocolate is set.
- Store the puppy chow in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks. If it is warm in your kitchen, store the puppy chow in the refrigerator.
Nutrition
Have you tried this recipe?
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I love that you call it Puppy Chow! That is what we called it when I was growing up. So good!
Our family always made puppy chow for the holidays! It’s the best!
I grew up calling it puppy show as well! 🙂
Yay! It’s too good:)
Same
Puppy chow is SO good! Need to make it ASAP!
My little guy doesn’t like peanut butter (I know!). Can you recommend any substitutions? Thanks for you help!
Maybe Nutella?
Sunbutter is an amazing but almond will work also. Ive got a peanut butter allergy ao im ised ro finding alternatives
Sorry substitute….lol forgot that key word in there
Mine didn’t like peanut butter, still doesn’t at 19, but he loves this.
Possibly almond bark?
I make puppy chow every year around the holidays, and my family loves it! I have made it for at least 20+ years and it never gets old. I would like to comment about some that have children or adults that do not like peanut butter. One of my granddaughters does not like peanut butter. BUT, she LOVES puppy chow. I can’t say this will be the case for everyone, but maybe try making half of the recipe if you are concerned about making too much.
I am going to the store today to get some ingredients to make it for my grown up puppies:))
Love it! Enjoy!
These are amazing frozen! When my kids were small we would make a giant batch, then freeze it in snack size bags. So good!
Good! Thanks
An excellent recipe, I will cook for my children on the weekend. I think they will like it.
I make it every year, and certain people have come to expect it . I also put raisins and peanuts in with the cereal. Being from the South, we always called it White Trash.
Our kids loved this growing up! We would make a giant batch and put in snack size ziplock bags and store in the freezer. If you have never tasted frozen Puppy Chow, you are missing out!
Has anyone’s ever tried this with cinnamon Chex before?
No, but I think it would be good!
Try shaking with a paper grocery bag!
this was the best puppy chow I’ve ever made! it is super simple and so rewarding.
Glad you loved it!
The six cup cereal ratio to the mixture is beyond perfect!
5 STARS!!! Best puppy chow recipe, directions were spot on!! Even used less than 1 1/2 cups confectioners sugar, usually have to add more than 2 cups to coat!
Happy with the results!!
If I don’t have a microwave, can I melt the chocolate, peanut butter, and butter on the stove? Want to make this for Super Bowl party this weekend!
I actually prefer the stove top. Be sure to use the double boiler method so you don’t end up with burnt chocolate.
My nephew who has celiac makes this quite a bit, but he uses white chocolate instead of regular
Can you put caramel chocolate chips in std of normal chocolate chips???
Sure! Sounds good to me!
Answering your March 28th post regarding movies, we just spent 2 nights watching The Ultimate Gift and The Ultimate Life which are both very good. We are looking forward to watching The Ultimate Legacy tonight to finish the series. They are the kind of movies with such a good, powerful message that every person on the planet should watch them.=)
I made these with almond butter and eliminated the butter for a healthier snack. Delicious!!
Here In Quarantine …. This Was The EASIEST Most simple and Quickest Sweet Treat I have ever Made!! Thank you!
Has anyone replaced the cereal with pretzels? If so how did it taste?
Recipe is Delicious! Thank you.