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!
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.
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!
Stir until combined
The chocolate peanut butter mixture together until it’s smooth and glossy.
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.
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.
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)!
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)!
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Puppy Chow Recipe (Muddy Buddies)
Ingredients
- 1 cup semisweet or dark chocolate chips*
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter**
- 6-7 cups Rice Chex Cereal***
- 1-2 cups powdered sugar
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
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Ella
How important is it to let it cool?
Madi
This recipe is so yummy! I made this for the Fourth of July and added red, white, and blue m&ms to this and it was delicious!
Emily
I just wanted to say it’s about gd time someone made a recipe for those of us serious about our puppy chow. So thank you.
Laura
LOL!!! AMEN Emily!!! 😉
Cheyenne Dilley
Plan on making this and was curious what is the serving size? It says its 230.6kcal but how much puppy chow is that?
Kelly Evans
Can I use corn Chex or does it HAVE to be rice?
Laura
I do not recommend corn Chex. You can try Crispex cereal if you don’t have rice!
Jessica Wang
The recipe looks amazing!!! How long should we let it cool in the fridge before adding the powdered sugar?
Laura
Hey Jessica! This depends on how warm the chocolate/peanut butter mixture is when added to the cereal. I suggest anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes. You just want the chocolate/peanut butter mixture to be slightly solidified onto the cereal, but still stir-able.
Wednesday Andrews
So easy and so addictive. My husband would literally eat a double batch by himself. Keep up the good work!
Noelle
OmGOODness!!! Lady u must be an angel. Lol. This is one of my fave sweet snacks.. but I don’t make it often bc of th sugar content. And I never liked the fact that I felt that I had to add a lb. Of powdered sugar for the consistency 2 turn out right. Like you, I want to use as LITTLE sugar as possible. And the cooling part beforehand is such a simple concept but a complete game changer!!! Thank you SO VERY Much for saving my fave treat for me! Gives me nostalgia from the young days 🥰👍😆
Laura
Thank you Noelle! YES! I perfected the method of this recipe to make sure there were the maximum number of clumps (cereal heavily coated with chocolate and peanut butter) and the minimum amount of powdered sugar! 🙂 I’m so glad you love it as much as I do!!!
Melissa
If you are looking for a good powdered sugar substitute to lower the sugar content, try Monk Fruit powdered sugar. It is great and it is 70% of the sweetness without all the refined sugar concerns.
Veronica
This is the best recipe for puppy chow! Sooo good and so simple to make! And I love the trick you do to using less powdered sugar!
Laura
Thank you Veronica! Using less powdered sugar is so important to letting the chocolate and peanut butter really shine! 🙂
Diane Nielsen
This is truly the best puppy chow ever! It is easy to make and a great treat to share!
Laura
Thank you Diane! I love sharing it with you! <3
CJ
This puppy chow recipe is the best one I’ve tried. It’s the perfect combination of chocolate, peanut butter and powdered sugar. It’s creamy crunchy goodness! Plus this is perfect comfort food, and brings back many happy memories of swim meets and celebrations!
Laura
It is the best nostalgic comfort treat I 100% agree! 🙂
Sandy
this is my go-to recipe for puppy chow! Perfect ratios of chocolate, pb and powdered sugar and the method is the easiest one I’ve seen.
Laura
I’m so glad you love it, Sandy! 🙂
Lindsay
This turned out perfect! I love that it has no butter in it like most recipes use, I wasn’t sure if that would make a difference but I tried it and I’m so glad I did. It only took 1 cup powdered sugar for me and I used a box of chex cereal. So easy!
Nunya
For the record I myself, my children,and my children’s children will only ever know this as puppy chow; as it should be. Amazing recipe thank you!
Bernadine milarck
My 12yr old granddaughter texted me from school to make this with your pic. Of course I ran out and bought the ingredients . Before making the recipe I checked out a few. Yours had to be the best because of your step by step guidance and comments. And it is the best because all your “heads up” comments. I now know tho that she could do this herself 😊
Monica Slayton
BEST recipe by far because the chocolate/peanut butter to cereal ratio is just perfect…no uncoated cereal! I made it with Sunbutter due to peanut allergies and it was loved by all! Thank you!
Michelle columber
This is by far the best recipe. it goes like magic as soon as it is done. It is easy to make and has step by step instructions which is so helpful. Thank you for sharing it.
Rachel
I used milk chocolate wafers because that’s what I had on hand and I think you’re right about it being too sweet! Oh well I’ll pawn it off on whatever kids I see this Christmas! Happy holidays!
Mike
Hello! How far ahead can you make this & it still taste fresh???
Jeri
I’m curious too how long it will stay fresh.
Laura
I’d say it’s best when eaten within 5 days of making it! Just be sure to store it in an airtight container!
Danielle
Well I’m trying your recipe next time. I tried another one that called for a whole stock of butter, told me to put it all in a ziplock, and didn’t say anything about cooking before putting on powdered sugar. It was awkward and messy to make, less healthy, and turned out a grayish brown instead of powdery white. It tastes delicious, but that’s all it has going for it.
Colleen S Taylor
This stuff is great! I used crunchy peanut butter and it turned out fabulous. Thanks so much for the recipe!
Laura
Thank you Colleen! I’m glad you enjoyed it as much as we do!
Suzy
My first time making puppy chow. Thank you for posting this.
Trisha
Thanks so much. This was my first time EVER making puppy chow. Turned out amazing!
Jami
This is my 5th time making puppy chow and this is by far the best!!! Thanks for sharing!!!
Barbie
Your description of this treat is perfect! I knew I found the right recipe just reading the introduction. Chilling the mix a bit before adding the sugar is such an amazing step I will never do it another way! Thank you for the perfect recipe for my favorite preteen treat!
Carrie
As I read your opening comment, I poked my hubby and said, ‘This is my soul sister…’. Yum!!! Thank you!