Puppy Chow – 4 Ingredient Recipe

Puppy Chow (also called Muddy Buddies) is one of my favorite holiday recipes. This recipe is made using only four ingredients and it takes less than ten minutes to make. Try this beloved treat. All you need is Chex cereal, chocolate chips, peanut butter chips (or peanut butter) and powdered sugar.

Did you grow up calling this recipe Puppy Chow or Muddy Buddies? I think it may be a regional thing. I grew up saying Puppy Chow in Missouri.

Related: Royal Icing Sugar Cookies, Oreo Truffles, Popcorn Balls, Peanut Butter Fudge, Chocolate Covered Strawberries.

Ingredients in Homemade Puppy Chow

• Chex Cereal You can use rice Chex cereal or corn Chex- we typically use corn.
• Chocolate chips we typically use milk chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate chips.
• Peanut Butter Chips or peanut butter
• Powdered sugar also called confectioner’s sugar

You can absolutely use creamy peanut butter instead of peanut butter baking chips, but I tend to use chips as I usually have them on hand (we bake a lot at our house).

How to make Puppy Chow

In a large bowl, add the cereal. Set aside.

In a medium size bowl, add the chocolate chips and peanut butter chips (or peanut butter). Use a microwave-safe bowl to melt in 30 second intervals, stirring in between, until the chocolate peanut butter mixture is melted. You can also do this over low heat on the stove top.

Pour the melted chocolate mixture over the cereal and stir to combine. You want to get all the pieces coated in chocolate.

Pour the cereal mix into a large paper bag (like a paper grocery bag) and add the powdered sugar. Close, and shake so everything gets dusted in sugar.

I like to use the corn Chex cereal, but you can use the rice kind or wheat.

Why use a paper bag? Most recipes will tell you to mix this in a large (gallon size) ziplock bag, but for this recipe you will need at least two of those bags (or done in two batches), so I like to reuse a paper grocery bag instead. Just make sure if you are reusing something that is clean and free of debris (obviously).

Tips & Additions

• Add Candy I love adding Buncha Crunch any time of year.
• Christmas or Seasonal Variation M&Ms are also a great addition and you can buy seasonal colors, like pastels in Spring or red and green for Christmas.
• Autumn Variation Reese’s pieces is always a great addition but the colors are also great for autumn.I love adding candy corn to this puppy chow recipe right around Halloween.
• Add Salt Flaky sea salt can be added at the same time as the powdered sugar to add a little depth of flavor. I love the combination of chocolate and salt! My favorite flaky sea salt for this as well as to top cookies (among other things) is Maldon Sea Salt Flakes.
• How to Freeze You can also freeze a batch of puppy chow after making and store it. It is freezer-safe for at least 2 months.
• Where to Serve This is a great recipe for bringing to a party, movie night or holiday gathering. It also makes a great gift idea for friends and neighbors. 
• Alternative Ingredients Some recipes call for a bit of vanilla extract or unsalted butter. You may also substitute peanut butter for almond butter or any other type of nut butter.

More Treat Recipes

• Rice Krispie Treats
• Monkey Bread
• Peanut Butter Bars
• Oreo Dip

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5 from 49 votes

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Yield 12

Prep 5 minutes mins

Cook 5 minutes mins

Ingredients

1x2x3x

• ▢ 12 ounces Chex cereal
• ▢ 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (6 oz.)
• ▢ 1 cup peanut butter chips
• ▢ 2 cups powdered sugar

Instructions

• In a very large bowl, add the cereal.
• In a medium size bowl, add the chocolate chips and peanut butter chips (or peanut butter).
• Melt in the microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring in between, until melted.
• Pour the melted chocolate mixture over the cereal and stir to combine. You want to get all the pieces coated in chocolate.
• Pour the cereal mix into a large paper bag (like a grocery bag) and add the powdered sugar and chocolate candies.
• Close, and shake so everything gets dusted in sugar.

Notes

You can use creamy peanut butter instead of peanut butter chips. 

You can use almond butter or sunflower seed butter instead of peanut butter if you prefer. 

If you don’t want to melt the chips in the microwave you can also do this over low heat on the stove top.

© Author Emma Chapman

Course Dessert

Keywords muddy buddies, puppy chow

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Puppy Chow (Muddy Buddies)

Amount per Serving

Calories

262

% Daily Value*

Fat

 

6

g

9

%

Saturated Fat

 

3

g

19

%

Trans Fat

 

0.01

g

Polyunsaturated Fat

 

0.5

g

Monounsaturated Fat

 

2

g

Cholesterol

 

1

mg

0

%

Sodium

 

163

mg

7

%

Potassium

 

190

mg

5

%

Carbohydrates

 

51

g

17

%

Fiber

 

5

g

21

%

Sugar

 

28

g

31

%

Protein

 

4

g

8

%

Vitamin A

 

309

IU

6

%

Vitamin C

 

4

mg

5

%

Calcium

 

70

mg

7

%

Iron

 

10

mg

56

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated, using Spoonacular, for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.