Puppy Chow Recipe (Muddy Buddies)
Posted Feb 21, 2018, Updated May 31, 2024
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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!
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.
I make this dessert more than any others on my website (except for our famous chocolate chip cookies). It’s my favorite and it’s so easy to make!
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 can make your own refined sugar free variety.
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
The chocolate peanut butter mixture together until it’s smooth and glossy.
Assemble
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.
Harden
Let the puppy chow sit at room temperature for about 2 hours, or in the refrigerator for 30 minutes, until it’s hardened.
Serve
Serve this puppy chow recipe at room temperature or only slightly chilled. If it is in an environment that is too warm, it could start to melt, so be careful.
Store/Freeze
Store this puppy chow in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week (if it lasts that long) or in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Puppy Chow Recipe FAQs
Yes! this puppy chow recipe can be frozen in an airtight container for up to 2 months!
This puppy chow stays fresh for up to 1 week stored in an airtight container (but it usually gets eaten way faster)!
You can substitute sunflower seed butter, almond butter, cashew butter, etc. for peanut butter.
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Puppy Chow Recipe (Muddy Buddies)
Ingredients
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips (or dark chocolate)
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 6 cups Rice Chex Cereal
- 1 ½ 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 the 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 ¼ cup at a time until all the melted chocolate is being used to coat the cereal – up to a total of 7 cups of 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.
- Chill in the refrigerator for an additional 15 minutes.
- Add more powdered sugar ¼ cup at a time until the cereal is coated to your satisfaction.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature.
Video
Notes
- 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! 😉
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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 😊
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!
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.
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!
Hello! How far ahead can you make this & it still taste fresh???
I’m curious too how long it will stay fresh.
I’d say it’s best when eaten within 5 days of making it! Just be sure to store it in an airtight container!
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.
This stuff is great! I used crunchy peanut butter and it turned out fabulous. Thanks so much for the recipe!
Thank you Colleen! I’m glad you enjoyed it as much as we do!
My first time making puppy chow. Thank you for posting this.
I guess I used too much cereal because I didn’t get the clumps lol but it is still so delicious!!! I also love that it is so simple to make! Will definitely be making this again 🙂
Definitely decrease the amount you used so you can get the clumps! They’re the essence of the puppy chow! 😉
Thanks so much. This was my first time EVER making puppy chow. Turned out amazing!
This is my 5th time making puppy chow and this is by far the best!!! Thanks for sharing!!!
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!
As I read your opening comment, I poked my hubby and said, ‘This is my soul sister…’. Yum!!! Thank you!