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Christmas muddy buddies are one of those holiday treats that never last long in my house. This easy snack mix is made with Chex cereal, creamy peanut butter, melted chocolate, and powdered sugar, then finished with festive M&M’s and fun mix-ins.
I love this recipe because it uses simple ingredients, comes together quickly in the microwave, and makes the perfect homemade gift for friends, family, or holiday parties. Whether you call it muddy buddies, puppy chow, muddy munch, or reindeer chow, this festive version is always a hit during the holiday season.
Since you are here, I know you will also like this Christmas Crack bar recipe, these Christmas cookie bars with m&m’s and even this festive sugar cookie bar recipe.
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During the holiday season, I’m all about festive treats that are easy to make but still feel special. Whether it’s a no-bake recipe or something that goes in the oven, I love adding those little pops of red and green that instantly make everything feel like Christmas, and this Christmas muddy buddies recipe does exactly that.
The holiday M&M’s are one of my favorite additions here. They make the mix extra fun, add a bit of crunch, and really elevate both the look and the flavor. You can also customize this recipe depending on what you have on hand, swap in white chocolate for a lighter base, use dark chocolate for a richer flavor, or add sprinkles for even more holiday cheer.
This is one of those recipes I come back to every year because it’s made with simple ingredients, comes together quickly, and works perfectly as a homemade gift. I love scooping it into small holiday bags, tying them with ribbon, and sharing them with friends and family. It’s always a hit, and there’s never any left over.
Why you’ll love this Christmas muddy buddies recipe
- It’s a no-bake sweet snack mix made with simple ingredients
- Comes together quickly in a large bowl or resealable food-storage bag
- Perfect for holiday parties, gifts, and kids
- Easy to customize with different candies, sprinkles, or chocolate types
- Stores well in an airtight container for longer storage
Ingredients for this Christmas puppy chow recipe
Here’s what you’ll need. Scroll to the recipe card for full measurements.
- Mini Oreos – Optional but fun
- Chex cereal – Rice Chex or Corn Chex both work well
- Pretzels – Any shape you love
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips – Or milk chocolate or dark chocolate
- Creamy peanut butter – Jif or Skippy for best peanut butter flavor
- Vanilla extract – Adds depth to the chocolate mixture
- Powdered sugar – For coating
- Holiday M&M’s – Or other festive candies
How to make Christmas muddy buddies
- In a microwavable bowl, melt the chocolate chips and creamy peanut butter in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval until smooth.
- Stir in the vanilla extract.
- Add the Chex cereal and pretzels, gently stirring to coat with the chocolate mixture.
- Transfer to a resealable food-storage bag, add powdered sugar, seal, and shake to coat.
- Pour mixture onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or wax paper and let set at room temperature.
- Add M&M’s and Mini Oreos, then gently stir to combine.
Frequently asked questions – FAQ
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Yes! Use gluten-free Chex cereal, pretzels, and cookies.
A bag is less messy, but a large bowl works just as well if you prefer.
This recipe goes by different names like puppy chow, muddy munch, and reindeer chow.
Christmas muddy buddies
Ingredients
- 4 cup Chex cereal
- 1 cup pretzels
- 3/4 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
- 3/4 cup peanut butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup Imperial sugar powdered sugar add more if desired
- 1 cup Christmas m&m's
- 1 cup Mini Oreos
Instructions
- Melt the chocolate chips and peanut butter in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second increments, stirring in between every time. Stir in the vanilla until combined.3/4 cup semi sweet chocolate chips, 3/4 cup peanut butter, 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Add in the Chex cereal, pan pretzels and gently fold until they are all coated in the chocolate peanut butter mixture.4 cup Chex cereal, 1 cup pretzels
- In 2 gallon size bag, add in 1/2 the amount of powdered sugar, top it with the Chex mix, then add in the rest of the powdered sugar. Close the bag and shake to coat.1 cup Imperial sugar powdered sugar
- Transfer the muddy buddies onto a parchement or wax paper lined baking sheet and let it set and cool for 30 minutes. Mix in the m&m's and the Mini Oreos and enjoy or store in an airtight container.1 cup Christmas m&m's, 1 cup Mini Oreos
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
