Muddy buddies, a chocolate version of the classic snack puppy chow, is an irresistible combination of Chex with chocolate cereal with creamy peanut butter and rich chocolate, all with a sugar and cocoa coating.
While these are always a hit at parties, they’re also perfect to keep around as a quick, sweet snack!
Grab This at the Store
These ingredients are easy to find at the grocery store and come together quickly to make this simple snack.
- Semi-sweet Chocolate – Once melted, this is what will coat the cereal. You can use chips or chunks.
- Creamy Peanut Butter – Peanut butter is the other main ingredient in the cereal coating. Creamy peanut butter works best so that the mixture is perfectly smooth.
- Salted Butter – Using salted butter gives the snack the perfect blend of sweet and salty flavor. If you’re looking to lower your sodium content, though, you can use unsalted butter.
- Vanilla Extract – Vanilla balances out the chocolate coating.
- Chocolate Chex Cereal – For double the delicious chocolate flavor, I like to use the chocolate version of this cereal.
- Powdered Sugar – Also known as confectioners’ sugar, its fine texture is perfect for lightly coating the cereal.
- Dutch Process Cocoa Powder – For even more chocolatey goodness, cocoa is mixed with the powdered sugar before the cereal is tossed in the mixture.
- Mini M&M Candy – These add a little extra crunch and color. You know I love to infuse some SOME into things!
Variations
There are tons of ways to switch up this simple recipe!
- Chocolate – Swap out the semi-sweet chocolate for dark chocolate, milk chocolate, or white chocolate.
- Add-ins – Instead of mini M&Ms use another small candy or add chocolate chips or peanut butter chips. You can also add crumbled cookies like Oreos or Thin Mints. Or, just leave them out!
- S’mores – Sprinkle in some mini marshmallows (even the crunchy dehydrated ones!) and crushed graham crackers for a s’mores version.
- Holiday-style – Transform this snack into a Christmas treat by making holiday puppy chow. Or try making Valentine’s Day puppy chow or St. Patrick’s Day puppy chow!
- Nuts – Toss the mixture with almonds, pecans, peanuts, or walnuts.
- Coconut – Add shredded coconut when tossing the coated cereal with powdered sugar.
- Salt – Add a sprinkle of salt for a little more salty flavor.
- Chex – Instead of chocolate you can use Rice Chex cereal, Corn Chex, or Honey Nut Chex.
How to Make Muddy Buddies
This recipe comes together in a snap — the hardest part is waiting for it to set!
- Heat wet ingredients. Add the chocolate, peanut butter, butter, and vanilla to a medium saucepan over low heat. Use a rubber spatula to mix the ingredients until the mixture is silky smooth. You can also melt chocolate along with the other ingredients in a microwave in intervals. Stir after each until smooth.
- Combine chex and chocolate mixture. In a large bowl, toss together the Chex and the chocolate-peanut butter mixture, taking care not to break the cereal.
- Mix together sugar and cocoa. And the powdered sugar and the cocoa to a small bowl and stir until completely combined.
- Coat the cereal mixture. Place half of the sugar and cocoa mixture into a resealable plastic bag. Then place half of the coated cereal in the bag as well. Seal the bag and shake until the cereal pieces are covered with the sugar mixture. Pour them out onto a baking sheet and do the same with the remaining cereal and sugar.
- Add M&Ms. After the cereal has set, place it in an airtight container and add the M&Ms.
Storage and Freezing
Keep this snack in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag — at room temperature, they’ll stay fresh for about a week.
How to Store Muddy Buddies
If you want the muddy buddies to be chilled, keep them in the fridge until ready to serve. They can be stored for 1 week.
Can I Freeze Muddy Buddies?
Place the snack mix in a freezer-safe container or resealable freezer bag and freeze for up to 2 months.
Common Questions
Muddy buddies are made with a combination of chocolate, peanut butter, powdered sugar, cocoa and chocolate Chex.
The origin of muddy buddies isn’t completely clear. General Mills has their version that they began selling in the early 2000s, but it’s believed that the snack was being made in the midwestern United States prior to that.
In the South, people may refer to puppy chow as muddy buddies, monkey munch, reindeer chow, or monkey munch.
More Sweet Snacks
Searching for more ways to satisfy your sweet tooth? Try some of our other favorites!
Muddy Buddy Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate
- 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
- 4 tablespoons salted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 8 cups chocolate chex cereal*
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon Dutch process cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup mini M&M candy
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the chocolate, peanut butter, butter and vanilla. Stir until smooth and fully combined.
- Place the Chex cereal into a large mixing bowl (larger than you think you need) and pour the chocolate mixture over the cereal. Gently toss to coat. Do not stir- the pieces will break.
- Combine the powdered sugar and cocoa in a small mixing bowl, whisk together.
- Put half of the powdered sugar mixture into an airtight plastic bag along with half of the tacky cereal. Shake to fully coat.
- Sift out onto a rimmed baking sheet to set. Repeat with the other half of the powdered sugar mixture and cereal mix.
- Allow the snack mix to set for at least 1 hour before transfering to a plastic container. gently mix with the mini M&M candy.
- If you’ve tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or star ratings.
Notes
Nutrition
