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!
Carrie
As I read your opening comment, I poked my hubby and said, ‘This is my soul sister…’. Yum!!!
Ashley D
I love puppy chow and have been making with my mom, who does NOT cook at all, for over 35 year!! Of course I use milk chocolate chips because of my sweet tooth, but I also use Golden Graham cereal instead. After we pour the mixture over the cereal we put it all into a clear or white trash bag and dump the powdered sugar small amounts at a time and shake the bag in between. I’m sure that’s the part I loved as a child and what I could “help” with but it worked so well that’s the way I still do it with my kids!
Tina
I used rice Chex, Lily’s chocolate chips and swerve confectioners sugar to make this gluten and sugar free. It was yummy!!!!
Diana
Yum!
Cameron
Didnt think to chill to reduce powdered sugar.
I have made a batch with the meltable carmel balls in baking area (not as sticky as squares, and peanut free.)
Not sure on amount but I would guess about 2/3 cup carmel to 1 c chocolate
Laura
Chilling is KEY!
Sandi
What is a serving size for this? 1/2 cup?
Rebecca Wilson
Great recipe with awesome tips like double chilling! I did tweak it though because thats just what I do. I used corn chex and cheerios plus I used half cup semisweet plus half a bar of 100% unsweetened chocolate. Instead of using straight peanut butter I used nutella and peanut butter. it is pretty freaking amazing without being sickening sweet. Thanks
Sarah
Can this be frozen and eaten at a later date? Or how long will it be good in an air tight container?
Michelle Mmmm.
Wow, Laura! I cannot believe I have lived so long and never tried this until now! I am from Chicago, currently living in NW Indiana, and had never heard of it until I read an article online about typical Midwesternisms.
Puppy Chow is so delicious, fulfilling all of my dessert/sweets cravings as well. After perusing many different recipes I tried only yours, and I have to say – MAJOR RIGHT ON, MAMA! Your tips about “not too much cereal” and the double-chilling WERE crucial and made for a totally successful first try. My only tweak was to add a little finely crushed salted dry-roasted peanuts for a bit more salty crunch.
Thank you, Laura, so very much, for sharing your Snack Goddess Wisdom. – Michelle M…..
Andrea
THE BEST!! Love puppy chow for the peanut butter and chocolate fix, and the idea of mixing 1 cup of both, thenlettingit cool to get some chunks was genius!! So delicious!
Laynna
This was good but unfortunately it was way too sweet for me. My family loved it however and I’m excited to make it again soon for them. Thanks for sharing this recipe with all of us😊
Lisa
This is the best puppy Chow I’ve made!
Laura
Thank you Lisa!!
Sarah
Yum.Mmy
That is all.
Sarah
Yum.Mmy.
That is all.
Lily Manderville
This recipe was EPIC! I enjoyed the puppy chow and shared it with friends and teachers while at school. Thank you!
Jessica and Nick Deratany
Oh my goodness, this is so good! Thank you for the recipe! I chose yours because it had more peanut butter to chocolate, and I’m so glad I did. Two thumbs up!
Emily
This recipe is delicious! I’ve made it several times and it always comes out perfectly!
Ander
I wondered if I could make puppy chow without butter but the closest I came to finding a recipe was one which called for 2 Tbsp. of coconut oil instead. Thank you for posting this one! BTW, at one time Chex cereals was owned by Ralston Purina who made Puppy Chow dog food. This snack looks exactly like Purina’s “milk-coated” Puppy Chow. General Mills purchased Chex cereals, and then Purina merged with Nestle, and somewhere along that line the name on the Chex box recipe changed to Muddy Buddies.
Amber
Made this on multiple occasions! Love this recipe 🙂
CassI P
This was my all-time FAVORITE snack for my girl scout camping trips. I just never made it before tonight, I have camp training this weekend and what a great memory to share with the girls! This was very simple and quick to make!
Kelly
This looks so good, I am definitely making some! Thank you for acknowledging allergies – my daughter is allergic to dairy and peanuts but that does not mean she doesn’t love a treat! Enjoy Life chocolate chips are the best and a regular staple in our home. Thank you for the recipe!
Supriya Kutty
I’m thinking to make this recipe tonight for my family I was just going through some blogs to check out some new recipes but I couldn’t find one, but now I think I will try this one because it looks so yummy and healthy I kids will totally like it.thanks for sharing keep posting
Brit
I had to follow this blog as soon as I read this article and made this recipe. Also a Midwesterner, I call it puppy chow. And I couldn’t have related more to this article. I too limit my dinner intake to accomated for how much dessert I plan to devour and if I don’t have some sort of chocolate or peanut butter each night I can hardly fall asleep because I’m craving it so badly. I made this recipe for my family who loves lots of flavor and tons of toppings and it was a major success! Can’t wait to make more of your recipes. Thank you!
Laura
Thank you so much for your sweet comment! It sounds like we are foodie soul sisters! 😉
Michelle
Have made this recipe twice and am officially and desperately addicted. I like to leave them in a container in the fridge though. Makes the flavor seem more crisp!
Jennifer
Can you use wowbutter or sunbutter instead of peanut butter? I have a child with a peanut allergy and another child with dairy allergy.
Laura
Hey Jennifer! Yes! you can use any nut or seed butter of your choice!