Best puppy chow recipe! This easy puppy chow AKA muddy buddies recipe uses just 6 simple ingredients and is loaded with chocolate and peanut butter!
This is the perfect time of year for popcorn and snack mixes!
We watch a lot of movies as a family, and we make popcorn and snack mixes to enjoy while watching the movies.
Snack mixes are also great party treats! This puppy chow (muddy buddies) recipe makes a quick chocolate peanut butter cereal snack or dessert that’s always a hit. Just make sure that you only share it with your human family members!
Ingredient notes and substitutions
- Butter: I use salted butter in this recipe. The little bit of salt in the butter helps to balance out the sweetness. If you prefer to use unsalted butter, you can add a pinch or two of salt instead.
- Chocolate chips: I use semisweet chocolate chips. You can use milk chocolate chips if you like sweeter puppy chow.
- Peanut butter: I don’t recommend natural peanut butter in this recipe. Natural peanut butter can make the mixture greasy.
- Cereal: You can use corn Chex or a combination of corn and rice Chex.
How to make puppy chow (muddy buddies)
Here you’ll find step-by-step photos showing how to make this recipe. The full recipe, including ingredients, is given below.
Step 1: Begin by placing the butter in a large, microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 40 seconds to partially melt butter.
Step 2: Add peanut butter and chocolate chips, and stir in.
Step 3: Continue to microwave in 15 second intervals, stirring after every 15 seconds, until chocolate has completely melted.
Step 4: Stir in vanilla extract to combine.
Step 5: Add half of the cereal to a large mixing bowl. Pour half of the chocolate mixture over the cereal, and gently toss to coat cereal. Tip >> I combine the cereal and chocolate mixture in two additions because it’s easiest to coat the cereal this way without breaking it.
Step 6: Add remaining half cereal, and pour remaining chocolate mixture over the cereal. Carefully toss to coat cereal with chocolate mixture.
Step 7: Place the powdered sugar in a large resealable bag. Working in batches, add the cereal to the bag, seal, and gently shake to coat the cereal in powdered sugar.
Step 8: Let cool to room temperature before storing.
Recipe Tips!
- Stove top: You can make the peanut butter chocolate mixture on the stove. If you make it on the stove, I recommend melting the mixture in a double boiler. However, I prefer to use the microwave because the mixture can easily scorch.
- Room temperature: It’s important to let the finished puppy chow mixture cool to room temperature before storing it. Otherwise, any residual heat can cause the puppy chow to get soggy.
Storage
Store the puppy chow in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week. If you live in a humid area, you may find that you need to store it in the refrigerator to help prevent it from getting soggy or stale.
You can also store the puppy chow in a freezer-safe container in the freezer for up to 2 months.
More recipes using Chex cereal!
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Puppy Chow Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1 ½ cups semisweet chocolate chips
- 2/3 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 9 cups Chex rice cereal
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Place the butter in a large microwave-safe bowl.
- Microwave for 40 seconds. The butter should be partially melted.
- Add the chocolate chips and peanut butter. Stir in.
- Return to microwave, and continue to microwave in 15 second intervals, stirring every 15 seconds, until chocolate is just melted.
- Stir to completely combine.
- Add vanilla, and stir in.
- Add half of the cereal to a large bowl.
- Pour half of the chocolate/peanut butter mixture over the cereal, and carefully toss to coat cereal.
- Add remaining half cereal to bowl, and pour remaining half chocolate/peanut butter mixture over the top.
- Carefully toss to coat the cereal.
- Add powdered sugar to a large, resealable plastic bag.
- Working in batches, add cereal, seal bag, and then gently shake to coat cereal in powdered sugar.
- Let cool to room temperature before storing.
Video
Notes
- Chocolate chips: I use semisweet chocolate chips. You can use milk chocolate chips if you like sweeter puppy chow.
- Peanut butter: I don’t recommend natural peanut butter in this recipe.
- Cereal: You can use corn Chex or a combination of corn and rice Chex.
- Nutrition values are estimates.
Nutrition
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Reader Interactions
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Comments & Reviews
Chelsea says
Great recipe! I like that it has lots of chocolate.
Kate says
Thank you! I’m glad that you liked it. Thanks for commenting! =)