This easy puppy chow recipe (aka muddy buddies) is made with just 5 simple ingredients! The peanut butter chocolate combo makes it such a delicious sweet treat that’s absolutely addicting.

Puppy chow (aka muddy buddies) is one of my all-time favorite holiday treats that I grew up eating as a kid. Even as an adult it’s always been a staple at our house this time of year. You just can’t beat the combo of crunchy cereal coated in chocolate peanut butter goodness and then tossed in powdered sugar.

Those of you who have had puppy chow before already know how addicting it is and if you haven’t made it, you’re in for a real treat (literally)!

The recipe I’m sharing today is a real deal puppy chow recipe, except we’re skipping the butter and using more peanut butter instead. And here you won’t find thinly coated cereal where the powdered sugar melts into the chocolate (that’s the worst!)… not in my kitchen! This easy-to-make recipe results in perfectly coated cereal every time that’s hard to put down!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• It’s super easy to make with only 5 simple ingredients!
• The combo of chocolate + peanut butter = pure perfection!
• This recipe is made without butter.
• It’s a classic recipe that both adults and kids will love
• It makes a big batch making it the perfect shareable treat for parties and holiday gatherings.

What is Puppy Chow?

Puppy chow is a popular sweet and crunchy snack mix that’s made by coating Chex cereal in a chocolate peanut butter mixture and then tossing it in powdered sugar. It is believed to have originated in the Midwest around the 1950’s. The exact origin isn’t documented, but it quickly became a popular treat due to its ease of preparation and sweet, satisfying taste. It’s a party favorite, especially during the holidays.

Puppy chow is known by various names across the country such as muddy buddies, monkey munch, muddy munch, trash and reindeer chow. The name muddy buddies was popularized thanks to General Mills. They started featuring the recipe on the back of their Chex® cereal boxes in an attempt to reach a wider audience and bring a fresh and appealing twist to the well-known snack. The name “muddy buddies” suggests a more social and enjoyable snacking experience shared with friends or “buddies. It also emphasizes the “muddy” aspect, referring to the chocolate coating that gives the cereal a messy appearance and texture.

Why is it Called Puppy Chow?

The name puppy chow comes from its resemblance to dog food. Despite the name, don’t feed this to your fur babies! This recipe is for human consumption only as chocolate can be toxic to dogs. If you’re looking for a real dog treat check out my peanut butter dog treats recipe instead.

Ingredients & Substitutions

• Rice Chex® cereal – the base of our puppy chow! I prefer the the Rice Chex cereal, but you can use Corn Chex if that’s what you prefer. Crispix will also work, but the shape of your puppy chow will be a tad different than the photos.
• chocolate chips – can’t have puppy chow without chocolate! I used Enjoy Life semi-sweet mini chocolate chips, but feel free to use your favorite variety of chocolate chips. Dark chocolate and milk chocolate chips will work well and for a lower sugar option use Lily’s Dark Chocolate Baking Chips.
• peanut butter – make sure you use creamy peanut butter with no added sugar, just peanuts and salt! For a peanut-free option use almond butter or another nut butter of choice and for a nut-free option use sunflower seed butter! Both will work well and taste delicious in this recipe.
• vanilla extract – just a dash to enhance the flavors!
• powdered sugar – a.k.a. Confectioners’ sugar. This adds sweetness and what gives our puppy chow its signature dusted look.

How to Make

This recipe couldn’t be any easier to make! Here’s how to make a big batch of puppy chow:

1. Start by adding your cereal to a large mixing bowl and setting it aside.
2. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the chocolate chips and peanut butter. Place it in the microwave on high for 1 minute, then take it out and give it a good stir. If it’s not fully melted, continue heating in 30-second increments until you have a smooth, creamy mixture. Add the vanilla to your melted chocolate mixture and stir to combine.
3. Here’s where it gets fun! Pour your warm chocolate mixture over your cereal. Gently stir it all together, making sure each piece of cereal is evenly coated with that chocolatey goodness.
4. This is important! Place your chocolate-coated cereal into the fridge for about 10-15 minutes to chill. This helps cool the chocolate down before coating it with powdered sugar otherwise the powdered sugar will soak into the cereal not allowing the pieces to separate properly.
5. After your cereal chills, transfer your coated cereal into a large resealable plastic bag. Pour in your powdered sugar, seal the bag, and then give it a good shake. You want to make sure every piece is evenly coated.
6. Once your cereal is nicely coated, spread it out onto parchment paper to cool to help ensure your pieces don’t stick together. To speed up the process spread it onto a parchment-lined baking tray and place it in the fridge.
7. You can enjoy this sweet treat immediately or store it in the fridge or freezer for later.

How to Store Puppy Chow

Once your puppy chow has cooled and hardened store it in an airtight container on the counter at room temperature for 1-2 weeks. You can also store it in the refrigerator if you prefer chilled puppy chow.

For longer storage, freeze this puppy chow in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 2 months. I love making a big batch for the holidays and storing it in the freezer. It’s delicious eaten straight from the freezer!

Puppy Chow FAQs

More Healthy Treats to Try

Be sure to check out the full collection of dessert recipes on EBF!