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You are here: Home / Dessert / Puppy Chow Recipe (Muddy Buddies)

Puppy Chow Recipe (Muddy Buddies)

Last updated on September 2, 2020. Originally published February 21, 2018 127 Comments

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The Best Puppy Chow Recipe  (AKA: Muddy Buddies) EVER! Only 4 ingredients (no butter) and a few minutes results in an irresistible dessert loaded with chocolate and peanut butter! The perfect sweet treat to feed a crowd! 

Overhead view of a bowl of the best puppy chow recipe in a bowl

Listen carefully,  my Puppy Chow Recipe is not for the faint of heart. You will never find weak puppy chow in my kitchen. You know what I mean? The stuff that is so thinly coated with chocolate and peanut butter that the powdered sugar barely sticks to it? Not on my watch. I want clumps, and globs, and hunks, and chunks of chocolate-peanut buttery goodness.

Now the name of this treat can be controversial. I’m a midwesterner (born and raised) so I call this treat “Puppy Chow.” It has other names too, like muddy buddies, monkey munch, etc., but no matter what you call it, it’s delicious.

Overhead view of a bowl of the best puppy chow recipe in a bowl

How to make puppy chow

This puppy chow recipe is very easy to make, however the method matters, a LOT.  I consider myself a muddy buddies expert, so I devised the absolute perfect method to making the best puppy chow ever – no butter required.

Melt Chocolate and Peanut Butter

Melt equal parts of chocolate (semi-sweet or dark) and peanut butter together. Start by warming it for 60 seconds, stir and then warm in increments of 30 seconds so you don’t make it too hot!

Overhead photo showing how to make puppy chow

Stir until combined

The chocolate peanut butter mixture together until it’s smooth and glossy.

overhead photo showing how to make puppy chow

Combine cereal and chocolate/peanut butter mixture

Next, put some cereal in the bottom of a large bowl, pour some of the peanut butter/chocolate mixture on top, and continue to alternate cereal/chocolate/cereal, etc. until you’ve used up all the ingredients.

The key here is to start VERY conservatively with the amount of cereal! You do not, I repeat, do not want to use too much cereal. It will ruin your puppy chow, and consequently, your day.

front view showing how to make puppy chow

Chill 

Next, mix it all together, making sure the cereal is thickly coated . Then put the muddy buddies somewhere to cool off (outside in the winter, or in the refrigerator) before adding any powdered sugar.

This step is absolutely crucial. I am not into sickeningly  sweet desserts, so I like to use as little powdered sugar as possible. If you add the powdered sugar while the mixture is still warm it will soak right in and won’t help separate the chunks at all.

Making sure your mixture is slightly cooled will mean you can use less powdered sugar in the end. 

Overhead photo showing how to make muddy buddies (puppy chow)

Add powdered sugar

Once the mixture is at or just below room temperature, but not hard, add the powdered sugar until there is a thin coating and some of the pieces start separating. It’s helpful to use a bowl with a lid, so you can shake it to coat the cereal evenly.

Chill Again!

Next, let the muddy buddies cool down even more (for about 15 or 20 more minutes) before adding a little more powdered sugar. You want to add just enough so that the puppy chow can be eaten without making your hands a chocolatey-mess.

Let harden

Let the puppy chow sit at room temperature for about 2 hours until it’s hardened. This process can be expedited in the refrigerator. Just be sure to serve it at room temperature!

Store

Store this puppy chow in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week (if it lasts that long)! 

Side view of a bowl of the best puppy chow recipe

Puppy Chow Recipe: Ingredients & Substitutions 

There are only 4 ingredients in this muddy buddies recipe! But there are a few ways you can adapt it if you’d like.

  • Chocolate. I recommend using a dark or semi-sweet variety. In my opinion, making this Puppy Chow Recipe with milk chocolate makes it too sweet. But if you have a serious sweet tooth by all means use whatever chocolate you prefer! If you need an allergy-friendly chocolate both Sunspire and Enjoy Life Foods make great options!
  • Rice Cereal. Chex is my favorite cereal to use (or a generic equivalent)! However many people love Crispex!
  • Peanut Butter. You can substitute any nut or seed butter if you’re allergic to peanuts!
  • Powdered sugar. There’s really no substitute for this. You could make your own refined sugar free variety but it will NOT be white. So if you’re OK with that then go for it! 😉

FAQs about puppy chow

Can you freeze puppy chow?

Yes! this puppy chow recipe can be frozen in an airtight container for up to 2 months! 

How long is puppy chow good for? 

This puppy chow stays fresh for up to 1 week stored in an airtight container (but it usually gets eaten way faster)!

front view of hands holding a bowl of puppy chow (muddy buddies)

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5 from 48 votes

Puppy Chow Recipe (Muddy Buddies)

The Best Puppy Chow Recipe  (AKA: Muddy Buddies) EVER! Only 4 ingredients (no butter) and a few minutes results in an irresistible dessert loaded with chocolate and peanut butter! The perfect sweet treat to feed a crowd! 
Course Dessert, Snack
Cuisine American
Keyword christmas puppy chow, easy puppy chow recipe, muddy buddies recipe, puppy chow, pupy chow recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Chilling time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 15 servings
Calories 230.6kcal
Author Laura

Ingredients

  • 1 cup semisweet or dark chocolate chips*
  • 1 cup creamy peanut butter**
  • 6-7 cups Rice Chex Cereal***
  • 1-2 cups powdered sugar
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Melt peanut butter and chocolate together, either on the stovetop or in the microwave.
  • Next, add 3 cups of cereal to a large bowl. Pour 1 cup of your chocolate/peanut butter mixture over the cereal.
  • Add 3 more cups of cereal to the bowl and then pour the rest of the chocolate/peanut butter mixture on top.
  • Stir until the cereal is evenly coated. If there are pools of chocolate/peanut butter at the bottom of your bowl, add more cereal 1/4 cup at a time until all that deliciousness is coating your cereal. Remember we WANT clumps, so do NOT add too much cereal!
  • Let the mixture cool slightly (I throw mine in the fridge or outside on my porch if it's cold out). You do not want it to harden!
  • Once your mixture is at or below room temperature, add 1 cup of powdered sugar. Mix until combined.
  • Let cool for about 15 minutes.
  • Add more powdered sugar 1/4 cup at a time until your cereal is coated to your satisfaction.
  • Store in an airtight container at room temperature, if it lasts more than 0.3 seconds.

Video

Notes

Ingredient Substitutions 

  • Chocolate. I recommend using a dark or semi-sweet variety. In my opinion, making this Puppy Chow Recipe with milk chocolate makes it too sweet. But if you have a serious sweet tooth by all means use whatever chocolate you prefer! If you need an allergy-friendly chocolate both Sunspire and Enjoy Life Foods make great options!
  • Rice Cereal. Chex is my favorite cereal to use (or a generic equivalent)! However many people love Crispex!
  • Peanut Butter. You can substitute any nut or seed butter if you're allergic to peanuts!
  • Powdered sugar. There's really no substitute for this. You could make your own refined sugar free variety but it will NOT be white. So if you're OK with that then go for it! 😉

Chilling

  • Just a note that chilling the cereal/peanut butter/chocolate mixture before adding any powdered sugar is critical to making sure you have delicious clumpy, not overly sweet, puppy chow! 

Nutrition

Calories: 230.6kcal | Carbohydrates: 28.6g | Protein: 6.1g | Fat: 12.2g | Potassium: 62.4mg | Fiber: 2.7g | Sugar: 1.3g | Vitamin A: 200IU | Vitamin C: 3.3mg | Calcium: 44mg | Iron: 4mg

 

This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase a product through a link you clicked on here, I receive a portion of the sale. Thank you for supporting JoyFoodSunshine! 

 

You might also like:

Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Waffles
Homemade Pretzel Dogs
Raspberry Peach Crisp

Filed Under: Dessert, Gluten-Free, Healthier Desserts, Popular Recipes, Recipes, Snacks, Vegan Tagged With: chocolate, dairy free, gluten free, peanut butter

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Morgan

    January 6, 2021 at 7:51 pm

    5 stars
    Delicious! My 3 year old and I had so much fun making this today after playing in the snow. It was my first time making it and her first time ever eating it. We both loved it! Thanks for sharing such an easy and wonderful recipe.

    Reply
  2. Ashley

    January 1, 2021 at 2:44 pm

    5 stars
    I made this recipe twice now in the last two weeks 🙂 I like this one better than any other that I’ve tried. Why?? Because there was a point where I was addicted to this stuff after having my first baby and I never chilled it before coating it in powdered sugar so I used wayyyy too much looking back!! I like this much better this way..it’s sweet but not over taken by the sugar!! I’m definitely a fan!!

    Reply
  3. Yessica James

    December 31, 2020 at 3:30 pm

    If you chill it it will not come apart and powered sugar doesn’t help

    Reply
    • Laura

      January 1, 2021 at 1:42 pm

      You can’t chill it completely. You have to remove it when it’s slightly chilled.

      Reply
  4. Jen

    December 20, 2020 at 7:35 pm

    Can someone give me a better idea of how many boxes of cereal I’ll need to make this?

    Reply
    • Laura

      December 21, 2020 at 7:21 am

      Just one!

      Reply
  5. Megan

    December 17, 2020 at 1:56 pm

    5 stars
    Seriously is the BEST puppy chow!!! Just try it and find out! 🥳

    Reply
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Hello I’m Laura! I am a former chemistry teacher turned wife and mom of five beautiful babies with one on the way in 2021! I’m a green smoothie addict, lover of the outdoors, and a peanut butter & nap enthusiast! Click here to read more >>

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