The Best Puppy Chow Recipe (AKA: Muddy Buddies) EVER! Only 4 ingredients and a few minutes results in an irresistible dessert loaded with chocolate and peanut butter! The perfect sweet treat to feed a crowd!
My love language is dessert. Sometimes I even determine the amount of dinner I eat based on how much dessert I would like to consume that evening.
However, in my opinion, dessert has to be chocolatey…like insanely chocolatey. Or full of peanut butter. Or, if you make me something that’s both insanely chocolatey and full of peanut butter…you’ll win me over for life.
Seriously, usually the only time I eat desserts that are vanilla-y or fruity is when I’m trying to be polite…which is the opposite of my husband and kids. Their desserts of choice include vanilla cake, key lime pie, and gummy bears.
No thanks. This Puppy Chow recipe meets all the criteria for a perfect dessert, and then some! Plus it’s gluten-free and dairy-free!
This Puppy Chow Recipe is one of my top five favorite desserts. I’m usually satisfied with just a small amount of something sweet after dinner. However, when it comes to puppy chow, I could literally eat an entire batch myself. It’s the only treat that I consider truly dangerous (or maybe it should consider me dangerous).
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.
Listen carefully now, my version of this 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.
How to Make Puppy Chow Recipe
Every step in making this recipe is so beautiful, I had to share some process shots with you! Start by melting equal parts of chocolate (semi-sweet or dark) and peanut butter together. (Look at that picture up there, seriously look). If you want it to be dairy free, just use dairy-free chocolate chips!
1. Don’t use too much cereal!
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.
2. Chill!
Next, mix it all together, making sure the cereal is thickly coated . Then put it 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!
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.
3. Chill AGAIN!
Next, let it 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.
I LOVE this dessert because you get the maximum amount of insane deliciousness with minimal effort. Seriously, it only has four (4!) ingredients!
It is gluten-free and can be dairy-free & vegan (with the right choice of chocolate)! It’s perfect to feed a crowd too, because people can take as much or as little as they’d like!
Puppy Chow Recipe: Substitutions
There are only 4 ingredients here people! But there are a few ways you can change this recipe up 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! 😉
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Puppy Chow Recipe
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
- Any variety of chocolate can be used: Chopped bars, chocolate chips, etc. You can also choose your favorite percentage of cocoa. I prefer 60% dark chocolate or semisweet chocolate. I don't recommend milk chocolate because I think it makes this puppy chow overly sweet, but it's up to you!
- Choose your favorite peanut butter variety. I have used both natural peanut butter (with only one ingredient, peanuts) and regular varieties like Jif or Skippy. Both work well! If you have a peanut allergy all other nut/seed butters work! Almond, cashew, sunflower butter, etc.
- Crispy rice square cereal is the best choice for this recipe, it can be any brand. Feel free to use other cereals too like Crispex!
- 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
This post was originally published on February 25, 2016. It has been updated with new photos and more helpful instructions, but the recipe remains the same!
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!
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!