The BEST Muddy Buddies Recipe (2024)

Whether you call it muddy buddies or puppy chow, this classic is always guaranteed to be a crowd favorite. Rice Chex cereal is coated with a combination of melted chocolate and peanut butter, then tossed in powdered sugar for the ultimate easy sweet snack.

The BEST Muddy Buddies Recipe (1)

The first time I heard about this recipe, it was referred to as “puppy chow” and I absolutely thought that people were talking about a homemade dog food snack. I soon found out that it was an alternative (and sometimes regional) name for what is more commonly known as Muddy Buddies – a super quick recipe made with Rice Chex cereal. Traditionally, the cereal is coated with a melted mixture of chocolate chips, butter, peanut butter, and vanilla extract, then dusted with powdered sugar. Basically, it’s one of the most addicting snacks you’ll ever make. The fact that it can be thrown together in just 15 minutes is both wonderful and dangerous. If you ask me, it’s all sorts of wonderful.

I’ve tinkered with the recipe over the years, eliminating the butter from the chocolate and peanut butter coating, upping the peanut butter, and adjusting the powdered sugar and cereal amounts to make the most chocolatey and peanut buttery version that clumps up wonderfully (aren’t those clumps the best?!) and is coated in a nice thick layer of powdered sugar without using too much.

Basically, this version is muddy buddy perfection and I hope you’ll love it as much as I do!

It’s great for parties, snacks and even to give as a gift. Fill some canning jars, tie a ribbon or some twine with a nice tag and you have a perfect gift for a hostess, a teacher, or anyone in need of a pick-me-up.

The BEST Muddy Buddies Recipe (2)

What ARE muddy buddies?

Such a crazy name, right?!

Muddy buddies can go by a lot of alternate names; you may have heard them referred to as puppy chow, monkey munch, reindeer chow, or doggy bag. They get the crazy names from their appearance, sometimes looking like dog food or animal treats.

No matter the name, the delicious sweet snack remains the same – a rice cereal is coated with a melted combination of chocolate and peanut butter, and then tossed in powdered sugar. To say it is addicting is an understatement!

The BEST Muddy Buddies Recipe (3)

Cereals and substitutions

The most common cereal used for muddy buddies is Rice Chex, but sometimes Crispix is used.

If you need a gluten-free option, choose the Rice Chex (Crispix is wheat-free, but not gluten-free).

Peanut butter options and substitutions

Creamy peanut butter is the number one option for muddy buddies. I prefer brands like Jif and Skippy; avoid natural-style peanut butter that has oil separation, as it will be too oily for this recipe. You can use chunky peanut butter, as well, for an extra, well, crunch.

If you need a peanut-free substitution, these will work:

  • Almond butter
  • Cashew butter
  • Sunbutter
  • Nutella for extra chocolate!
The BEST Muddy Buddies Recipe (4)

Chocolate tips

My preferred chocolate to use is simply semisweet chocolate chips – they’re easy and most likely to already be in your pantry!

However, if you like your muddy buddies extra sweet, you can use milk chocolate; or, for those of you in the dark chocolate camp, you can totally substitute dark chocolate. Even white chocolate is fair game! Use chips or, if using a block or bar of chocolate, finely chop it before melting.

My preferred melting method is in the microwave (see instructions in the recipe below), but if you do not have a microwave, you can melt the chocolate and peanut butter in a heatproof bowl set over a small saucepan of simmering water, stirring occasionally until completely melted and smooth.

The BEST Muddy Buddies Recipe (5)

Variations and mix-in ideas

I absolutely adore muddy buddies as-is, but there are a million different variations you could try. Some ideas for you:

  • Toss sprinkles in the powdered sugar before coating the muddy buddies.
  • Stir in M&Ms – use plain ones or different flavors – or Reese’s Pieces.
  • Stir in crushed candy canes (and maybe red and green M&Ms!) for some festive flavor.
  • Cookies and cream with crushed Oreos and white chocolate.
  • Add chopped nuts – peanuts, almonds, cashews, pecans, walnuts, etc.
  • Add whole chips – chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, butterscotch chips, mint chips, etc.
  • Adjust the flavoring by using different extracts.
  • See more muddy buddy versions below under “More Sweet Snacks”.
The BEST Muddy Buddies Recipe (6)

Storing Suggestions

Once the coating is set, you can store muddy buddies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.

However! I highly, highly recommend keeping it in the refrigerator or freezer – having it cold and extra crunchy is just phenomenal! If stored this way, you can easily keep them in the fridge for up to a month or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

More sweet snacks:

  • Snickerdoodle Muddy Buddies
  • Cinnamon-Sugar Candied Chex Mix with Pecans and Pretzels
  • Malted Pretzel Crunch
  • Reindeer Chow
The BEST Muddy Buddies Recipe (7)

Watch the Recipe Video Below:

If you make this muddies buddies recipe and love it, I would so appreciate it if you would take a moment to leave a rating below. Thank you so much! ❤️️

The BEST Muddy Buddies Recipe

Yield: 20 servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Total Time: 15 minutes mins

Muddy Buddies (also known as Puppy Chow) is an easy no-bake sweet snack and this recipe is hands-down the BEST!

4.67 (145 ratings)

Print Pin Rate

Ingredients

  • 7 cups (243 g) Rice Chex cereal
  • 1 cup (180 g) semisweet chocolate chips
  • 1 cup (129 g) creamy peanut butter
  • ½ teaspoon (1 teaspoon) vanilla extract
  • Pinch kosher salt
  • cups (180 g) powdered sugar

Instructions

  • Place the chocolate chips and peanut butter in a medium bowl. Microwave in 30-second intervals on 50% power, stirring after each, until the mixture is completely melted and smooth. Stir in the vanilla extract and salt.

  • Pour a little bit of the chocolate mixture into the bottom of a large bowl. Add about a third of the cereal, a third of the remaining chocolate mixture, and repeat two more times. Using a rubber spatula, gently mix it all together until all of the cereal is completely coated. Place in the refrigerator for 5 minutes.

  • Place ½ cup of the powdered sugar in a gallon-size zip-top bag, top with half of the cereal mixture, another ½ cup of the powdered sugar, the rest of the cereal mixture, then the remaining ½ cup of powdered sugar. Seal the bag, then shake it very well until all of the cereal is coated with powdered sugar.

  • Spread the mixture out onto a wax-paper lined sheet pan to cool and set, about 30 minutes, then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Notes

Nutritional values are based on one serving

Calories: 188kcal, Carbohydrates: 22g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 10g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Cholesterol: 1mg, Sodium: 61mg, Potassium: 142mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 13g, Vitamin A: 5IU, Calcium: 12mg, Iron: 1mg

Did you make this recipe?

Leave a review below, then snap a picture and tag @thebrowneyedbaker on Instagram so I can see it!

Author: Michelle

Course: Snack

Cuisine: American

[Photography byAri of Well Seasoned]

The BEST Muddy Buddies Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is puppy chow called in the south? ›

This quick, no-bake puppy snack mix will also answer to other names such as Muddy Buddies, Muddy Munch, Monkey Munch, or Reindeer Chow. Think of it as sweet chocolate and peanut butter Chex mix.

What is puppy chow slang for? ›

Slang for Heroin

Black tar, smack, H, Negra/o, puppy chow, dog food, onyx, beat, BT, black girl and the frequently used term “sh*t” all reference Heroin.

Is puppy chow the same as Muddy Buddies? ›

This classic chocolate, peanut butter and powdered sugar Chex™ Mix recipe has been a beloved part of families' kitchens for years. Transform Chex™ cereal into a delicious treat in just 15 minutes. We call it Muddy Buddies™, but you may know it as Puppy Chow.

What are Muddy Buddies made of? ›

“Muddy buddies” (a.k.a. puppy chow) is the name for a homemade candy or snack that's main ingredients include cereal, chocolate, peanut butter, and powdered sugar.

What came first, puppy chow or muddy buddies? ›

In 2002 General Mills developed Muddy Buddies, the same recipe as Puppy Chow. But it can't be said that General Mills invented the recipe since Midwesterners recall seeing it and eating it long before the early 2000s.

What is the difference between puppy chow and dog chow? ›

Puppy food also has more amino acids, fat, and minerals than adult dog food. Some brands even add extra omega-3 fatty acids to puppy food to help with brain and eye development. On top of all of this, large-breed puppies have additional special needs.

Is Puppy Chow a midwest thing? ›

Puppy chow is a party staple in the Midwest, but not everywhere else. Puppy chow — a snack mix made of Chex cereal covered in melted chocolate, peanut butter, and powdered sugar — is often a fixture at parties. People outside of the Midwest have often never heard of it, and they don't know what they're missing.

What does it mean when a guy says chow? ›

When you greet a friend informally, you can use the word ciao. You might call out, "Ciao!"and wave as your brother steps off the train at the station. While ciao, pronounced "chow," is a casual Italian salutation that can mean both "hello" and "goodbye," most English speakers understand it as well.

Why is Chex Mix called Puppy Chow? ›

How Puppy Chow Got Its Name. Chex cereal, originally made by the Ralston Purina Company, debuted in grocery stores in 1937. Because the company referred to their dog food as “dog chow” and cat food as “cat chow,” they jokingly called their new cereal line “human chow,” according to Taste.

Why are my muddy buddies soggy? ›

Why does my Puppy Chow get soggy? If you do not cool the Muddy Buddies or Puppy Chow completely after you pour the chocolate on, the fats from the chocolate can break down the cereal and make it soggy. Make sure to spread the entire mixture out in a single layer and cool completely.

What is a funny name for puppy chow? ›

Puppy chow, also known as monkey munch, muddy buddies, muddy munch, reindeer chow, or doggy bag, is the name for a homemade candy made in the United States, primarily in the Midwestern States.

Why is puppy chow so good? ›

Nutty, sweet, salty, and creamy, these nuggets of pure indulgence are paramount to all other flavor combinations. The inventor was probably a well-intentioned mother who would never sell the purity of puppy chow for personal gain, but it could have just as easily been invented in a government lab.

How to keep puppy chow from going stale without? ›

Letting the puppy chow rest will help it to keep from going soggy. It's also important to use a super tightly sealed container. Storing puppy chow in the fridge can also help it from going stale.

What's in Chex Mix Turtle? ›

Turtle Chex™ Party Mix. This no-bake game day snack is ready in less than 15 minutes and has the best sweet and salty flavor. It's loaded with Chex cereal, pretzels and almonds, then topped with a delicious chocolate-caramel drizzle. Take one bite and you will be hooked!

What are nutty buddies made of? ›

The snack consists of four wafers sandwiched together in a peanut butter mixture and covered with a "chocolatey coating".

What is another name for puppy chow? ›

Puppy chow, also known as monkey munch, muddy buddies, muddy munch, reindeer chow, or doggy bag, is the name for a homemade candy made in the United States, primarily in the Midwestern States.

Is puppy chow only a Midwest thing? ›

Puppy chow is a party staple in the Midwest, but not everywhere else. Puppy chow — a snack mix made of Chex cereal covered in melted chocolate, peanut butter, and powdered sugar — is often a fixture at parties. People outside of the Midwest have often never heard of it, and they don't know what they're missing.

What is Southern chow chow? ›

Chowchow is a pickled relish dish that was used to preserve summer vegetables for later in the year. Recipes for the relish are highly regional, and tend to be generational recipes, passed down through families. While no one batch is the same, a lot of Southern chowchows use tomatoes, cabbage, bell peppers, and onions.

What states have puppy chow? ›

It was a present as emblematic of her blonde hair, blue eyes, and flat vowels. The puppy chow belt runs through the Dakotas, Iowa, Nebraska, and Wisconsin, fanning out into the surrounding areas. There it is at every potluck, picnic, and holiday party table. Children learn to make it early and often.

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