So named because it closely resembles dog food*, puppy chow starts with Chex or Crispix cereal (rice or corn—gluten-free before gluten-free was a thing) coated in a mixture of peanut butter, chocolate, and butter, and dusted with powdered sugar. The recipe, in short: pour, melt, stir, pour, stir, pour, shake.
What are all the flavors of muddy buddies?
Brownie Supreme.
Cookies & Cream.
Mint Chocolate.
Peanut Butter & Chocolate.
Snickerdoodle.
An Easy Chocolate & Peanut Butter Treat!
Chocolate and peanut butter treats are always welcome at our house. And this easy Puppy Chow recipe is ALWAYS a hit!
I most often make this no-bake, sweet & salty treat for parties and holiday gatherings, as it works great for a crowd. But it also makes a great food gift. Know a college student or friend across the country who could use a little pick-me-up? Puppy Chow is a fun homemade treat that travels well!
Contrary to its title, Puppy Chow is a homemade snack for humans. General Mills calls their version Muddy Buddies, and depending on where you live, you might also know it as Monkey Munch, Muddy Munch, or Reindeer Chow. No matter the name, it’s all basically the same treat – a sweet and salty mix of Chex or Crispix cereal, chocolate, peanut butter, and powdered sugar.
Some Puppy Chow recipes don’t include butter or vanilla extract, but I think these ingredients add to the flavor and texture, and are definitely worth incorporating. These simple ingredients elevate this Puppy Chow – it’s truly the BEST recipe. You’ll also see Reese’s Pieces candies listed, as we often throw in a big handful – especially for fall gatherings and Halloween parties!
Rice Chex cereal – I use Rice Chex cereal, but you could also use Corn Chex. Some people use Crispix, even though it doesn’t give you the traditional square-shaped Puppy Chow.
Chocolate chips – I always use semi-sweet chocolate chips, Guittard is my favorite. But milk chocolate works, too – just know that the Puppy Chow will be considerably sweeter.
Creamy peanut butter – Such as Jif or Skippy. Natural peanut butters don’t work as well for this recipe.
Butter – I use unsalted butter, so I can control the amount of salt. If you use salted butter, simply eliminate the extra salt in the ingredients list.
Vanilla extract – Use only pure vanilla extract for the best flavor.
Powdered sugar – This is the fun outer coating that sticks to the chocolate & peanut butter mixture. I like a medium coat of powdered sugar, where I can see some of that beautiful chocolate layer. But use more or less depending on your own preference!
Salt – I add just a little bit of kosher salt, which is never a bad idea when chocolate and peanut butter are involved!
Reese’s Pieces – A little more peanut butter? Why not?! This is a fun option all year long, but especially great for fall and Halloween parties.
My method for mixing the Puppy Chow together is easier than most – I don’t like using zipper baggies to incorporate the powdered sugar coating!
Melt – Gently melt chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter together either on the stovetop or in the microwave. Then stir in the vanilla.
Mix – Add half the cereal to a large mixing bowl that has a lid. Drizzle half the chocolate peanut butter mixture over the cereal. Add the remaining cereal and drizzle the remaining chocolate peanut butter mixture over the top. With a large spoon or spatula, gently fold until the cereal is evenly coated.
Shake – Sprinkle powdered sugar over the top of the cereal. Place the lid on the bowl and, while holding the lid on the bowl securely, turn and shake the bowl until the cereal is well coated. No zipper baggies to mess with, yay!!
Cool – Spread puppy chow out onto parchment or wax paper, or a large rimmed pan, until cooled and the chocolate has set.
The ease of this recipe continues when it comes to storing it. I just keep it in an airtight container on the counter, and it stays good for at least a week. If your kitchen is warm, just pop the container into the fridge.
This also freezes well. Just place it in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months!
A few helpful tips, plus ways to change up this recipe!
Whether you use the microwave or the stovetop to melt the chocolate, peanut butter, and butter, be careful to not let the chocolate scorch.
When mixing the melted chocolate mixture into the cereal, fold it gently to minimize crushing the cereal.
If you want to speed up the cooling process, just place the rimmed pan of prepared Puppy Chow into the fridge for a bit. It’ll firm up in no time!
To add a fun element to any special occasion, think about candies that can be mixed in. Reese’s Pieces are a favorite at our house, perfect for fall gatherings and Halloween. M&M’s also work great – and with all of their fun holiday packs, it’s easy to create color coordinated treats for Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and the 4th of July. This would also be a fun idea for graduation parties (use school colors) or baby showers (pink or blue)!
This has become somewhat of a trick-or-treat tradition at our house. I like to make Halloween Puppy Chow when our girls dress up with their friends. Our families gather beforehand for pizza. And we bring this Halloween themed Puppy Chow. It’s always a hit – with kids and adults alike!
Muddy Buddies aka Puppy Chow WITHOUT Peanut Butter
The BEST Puppy Chow (Muddy Buddies) recipe! This no-bake, sweet & salty treat is always a hit with chocolate and peanut butter fans, a great party recipe and perfect for the holidays!
