My 4th of July snack mix is a colorful, festive, and incredibly easy puppy chow recipe that’s perfect for summer celebrations. It takes just 10 minutes from start to finish! With red, white, and blue M&Ms, a sweet peanut butter coating, and crunchy Chex cereal, this 4th of July puppy chow is always a crowd favorite. I make a big batch every year, and without fail, it’s the first thing to disappear at our Independence Day party!
Red, White, and Blue Puppy Chow
This puppy chow is my go-to for the 4th of July. It’s so cute and seriously addictive! I start with Rice Chex and roasted peanuts, then coat them in a mix of white chocolate, peanut butter, and butter. After tossing everything in powdered sugar, I add festive sprinkles, patriotic M&Ms, and white chocolate-covered pretzels for a colorful crunch. No baking, no fuss, just a delicious 4th of July snack mix that’s perfect for BBQs, fireworks, and picnics. This is a crowd-favorite recipe for July 4th, but I always make it for Memorial Day and Labor Day parties too.
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Don’t be shy with the powdered sugar!
I always start with 1 cup, but often add more as I go to fully coat the cereal. The key is to shake it really well so every piece is covered. This helps it stay fresh and gives it that classic sweet crunch everyone loves.
4th of July Snack Mix Recipe
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
Ingredients
- 3½ cups Rice Chex cereal
- 1 cup roasted salted peanuts
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- ¼ cup salted butter (½ stick)
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 cup red, white, and blue M&M’s
- 1 cup white chocolate covered pretzels left whole or roughly chopped
- ½ cup patriotic sprinkles
Instructions
- Place the Chex mix and roasted salted peanuts in a large bowl. Set aside.3½ cups Rice Chex cereal, 1 cup roasted salted peanuts
- In a microwavable bowl, add the white chocolate chips, smooth peanut butter, and salted butter. Microwave in increments of 15 seconds until everything is just melted and combined. Do not overcook.1 cup white chocolate chips, ½ cup creamy peanut butter, ¼ cup salted butter
- Pour microwave mixture into the large bowl with Chex mix and salted peanuts. Stir until everything is coated.
- Transfer to a large Ziplock bag and add in the powdered sugar. Shake and toss until everything is coated and combined thoroughly. Add more powdered sugar as needed to make sure the cereal is completely covered.1 cup powdered sugar
- Remove from the bag and transfer to another large bowl. Add in the M&Ms, chocolate-covered pretzels, and sprinkles (here is what I used) and stir to combine.1 cup red, white, and blue M&M’s, 1 cup white chocolate covered pretzels, ½ cup patriotic sprinkles
Notes
- Use a fresh box of cereal; stale cereal won’t stay crispy!
- Do NOT overcook the microwaved ingredients! If it’s too hot, it will burn and not taste right. Additionally, it could melt and scald the Chex Mix, ruining the entire consistency of the mix.
- Make sure you let the puppy chow cool down spread out over a baking sheet to remove any excess moisture and prevent fogginess.
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