• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Lifestyle of a Foodie
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Air Fryer
    • breakfast
    • desserts
    • Diets
    • Drinks
    • Savory
    • Small Batch
    • Recipe collection
  • About me
  • Contact
  • Privacy

Home » desserts

Muddies buddies recipe (AKA Puppy Chow)

Published on December 18, 2021 - Updated on June 19, 2022 by Chahinez Leave a Comment

Spread the love

These traditional muddies buddies or puppy chow as some might call them is an easy-to-make, super addictive sweet snack. They are made with cereal, melted chocolate, and peanut butter, then tossed in powdered sugar. They’re seriously a crowd favorite!

Since you’re here, I know you’ll love The easiest Chocolate Covered Marshmallows, Peanut Butter Buckeye Pretzel Bites, Festive Marbled Christmas Sugar cookie recipe, 2-Ingredient No bake Coconut Balls and also Fudgy Chocolate Cake Mix Crinkle Cookies.

Jump to recipe
muddy buddies bowl

Can you believe I didn’t know what muddy buddies were before I moved to the US?! It is truly an American delicacy that I make every year around Christmas time.

The crunch from the cereal with the sweet and salty chocolate peanut butter layer and the powdered sugar texture make this a one-of-a-kind dessert.

This is the best Christmas muddies buddies recipe ever!

This is a great recipe to make when thinking of giving out cute little holiday/Christmas care packages because it is quick to make and tastes so comforting which I am guessing is the feeling that we’re all after around the holidays.

Don’t let yourself be fooled by all the holiday/Christmas verbiage because these can literally be made for so many different occasions. Make sure to sign up for my email newsletter that you’ll see when you’re scrolling down to see multiple different variations of muddy buddies through 2022!

What re muddy buddies?

Muddy buddies, also called puppy chow, reindeer chow, or monkey much are sweet crunchy treats made with Chex cereal, peanut butter, chocolate, vanilla extract, and powdered sugar. They are thick, sweet, and super crunchy.

These treats are no-bake making them super fun to make with children or when you’re in a rush but need something to serve to friends and family or to entertain on Christmas. They’re super addictive so beware!

Why you need to make this recipe!

  • It is so quick and requires very minimal effort.
  • This recipe can be doubled or tripled, tap the x2 or x3 in the recipe card to get the right measurements for that.
  • It is a great sweet treat to make with kidss around the holidays and create new memories.
  • They store so well in the freezer which means you can make them ahead of time!
  • These muddy buddies are ery versatile. Yyou can change cereals or add extra nuts or candies to the mix to make them extra festive.
  • It is gluten free!! The Chex mix cereal is gluten free so It would be a great snack for those with gluten sensitivities.
muddy buddies ingredients

Ingredients for this muddies buddies recipe

Here are the ingredients you will need to make muddy buddies at home. Make sure to scroll down to the recipe card for the full detailed ingredient measurements.

  • Chex mix– You can use either the off brand or the regular check mix cereal. They both work really well.
  • Peanut butter- Use smooth peanut butter like the one Skippy sells.
  • Semi-sweet chocolate chips– Use high quality chocolate for your muddy buddies to get the best taste out of them.
  • Vanilla– The vanilla extract will add a nice depth of flavor to these sweet treats.
  • Powdered sugar– The iconic muddy buddies look comes from the powdered sugar finish. I like using the Trader Joes one for these because it doesn’t have an aftertaste.

Substitutes

If you want to make your muddy buddies nut-free you can use sunflower butter. You can also substitute the peanut butter with any other nut butter if you don’t have any allergies.

You can also make this dairy-free and vegan by using a dairy-free chocolate alternative.

How to make muddies buddies or puppy chow at home?

This is how you can make homemade puppy chow. Make sure to scroll down to the recipe card for the full detailed instructions!

  1. Melt the chocolate and peanut butter togther in a bowl.
  2. Mix in the chex mix, gently fold until it is coated in the chocolate peanut butter mixture.
  3. Add ½ the amount of powdered sugar in a large ziplock bag, top it with the cchex mix mixture, then add in the rest of the powdered sugar.
  4. Close the bag and shake to coat everything.
  5. Transfer the muddy buddies onto a parchement paper or wax paper lined baking sheet and let it set for 30 minutes.
  6. Enjoy!

Fun muddy buddies variations:

Muddy buddies or puppy chow is so easy to customize and play around with. Here are some of my favorite ways to mix it up

  • Mix in some M&m’s, Reese’s Pieces, Crushed candy canes for tthe ultimate Christmas treat, nuts, or even pretzels.
  • Add in some sprinkles to fit the season.
  • Mix in some crushed cookies, think Oreos, nutter butter or even chocolate chip cookies.
  • Drizzle with some extra chocolate or colored candy melts for a more fun color contrast.
Puppy chow in a bowl

Frequently asked questions – FAQ

Can I double this recipe?

Absolutely! Since this is a great recipe to make for crowds feel free to press x2 or x3 on the recipe card to double or triple this recipe.

Close up of sweet Christmas treats

How to store muddies buddies?

You can store your puppy chow in an air-tight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

Storing it in the fridge on the other hand will allow you to keep it fresher for longer. Store it in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

Can I freeze muddy buddies?

Yes! That’s another reason why we love these so much.

You can store them in an air-tight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let them thaw at room temperature before enjoying them again! I sometimes like to snack on them when they’re cold too.

Overhead shot of puppy chow in a bowl

Easy muddy buddies recipe

If you made these muddy buddies and enjoyed them, don’t forget to leave a 5-star review by clicking on the 5 stars under the title and description. It would help me a ton 

Puppy chow in a bowl

Easy Muddy buddies recipe

Muddy buddies, AKA the best cruncy cereal with a generous coating of peanut butter chocolate and powdered sugar. This snack is the best around Christmas time!
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 mins
Total Time 15 mins
Servings 8 servings
Calories 303 Calories

Ingredients
  

  • 3 & ⅔ cup Chex cereal
  • ½ cup semi sweet chocolate chips
  • ½ cup peanut butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¾ cup powdered sugar add more if desired

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.
  • Add in the Chex cereal, and gently fold until they are all coated in the chocolate peanut butter mixture.
  • In a gallon size bag, add in ½ 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.
  • Transfer the muddy buddies onto a parchement or wax paper lined baking sheet and let it set and cool for 30 minutes.

Notes

You can store these in in an air tight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or in the fridge in an air tight container for up to 2 weeks

Nutrition

Calories: 303CaloriesCarbohydrates: 44gProtein: 8gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 237mgPotassium: 274mgFiber: 5gSugar: 20gVitamin A: 308IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 75mgIron: 10mg
Keyword christmas muddy buddies, muddies buddies, muddy buddies, muddy buddies recipe, muddy buddy, muddy buddy recipe, muddy puppy
Tried this recipe?Follow us and tag us on Instagram! @chahinez_tbt

Thank you for making it all the way down here 🙂

If you enjoyed this recipe don’t forget to let us know in the comments below! In the meantime, don’t forget to follow me on Instagram!

how to make no bake keto cheesecake

Shop this recipe

This post may contain affiliate posts, meaning that at no cost to you I will get a small percentage of every purchase you make!

If you enjoyed this muddy buddy recipe make sure to pin it for later!

Muddies Buddies AKA Puppy Chow
Muddies Buddies AKA Puppy Chow
Muddies Buddies AKA Puppy Chow
« Easy Snickerdoodle Bars recipe
The Best Chilled Crumbl Turtle Cookies »

Filed Under: desserts, Holidays, No bake Tagged With: muddies buddies, muddy buddies, puppy chow, reindeer chow

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

About me

Hey there! My name is Chahinez, and I’m the brains behind the blog, Lifestyle of a Foodie. LOAF was started back in 2018 during my last semester ...

Read More

Categories

Footer

Most popular posts

Crumbl copycat cookies

In the past few months, Crumbl cookies have gotten so popular! Tiktok went crazy for them the second I shared my first chilled sugar cookie recipe on there. Since then I have put my baking expertise to test by going through their whole menu and bringing you the best Crumbl copycats found online! The hundreds of reviews on the Crumbl cookie recipes that have been posted throughout the past few months can be proof of that! In this article I have 39 Crumbl cookie copycat recipes to satisfy all your cravings, so get ready!

Social Slider

  • If you’re not ready to let summer go, you have to make these lemon poppyseed cookies!!! Each one is filled
    by chahinez_tbt 7 months ago
    If you’re not ready to let summer go, you have to make these lemon poppyseed cookies!!! Each one is filled
  • Imagine taking a bite of a thick buttery cookie that’s topped with caramel cream cheese frosting, caramel popcorn, and a
    by chahinez_tbt 7 months ago
    Imagine taking a bite of a thick buttery cookie that’s topped with caramel cream cheese frosting, caramel popcorn, and a
  • Nothing more comforting than the smell of these chocolate chunk cookie cups baking in the oven! Today I am sharing
    by chahinez_tbt 7 months ago
    Nothing more comforting than the smell of these chocolate chunk cookie cups baking in the oven! Today I am sharing

Copyright © 2023 Lifestyle of a Foodie on the Foodie Pro Theme