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–+ servings
a bowl of cheesy chowder in a white bowl.

Homemade Puppy Chow Recipe

Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 9 cups
Calories: 427kcal
Author: Becky Hardin
This homemade puppy chow snack mix (aka muddy buddies) is a delicious combo of chocolate, peanut butter, Chex, and powdered sugar. Ready in 15 minutes!
Print Recipe
US Customary - Metric

Equipment

  • Kitchen Scale (optional)
  • 2-Gallon Ziplock Bag
  • Baking Sheet

Ingredients

  • 9 cups Rice Chex cereal *
  • ¼ cup salted butter (½ stick)
  • 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips **
  • ½ cup creamy peanut butter
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1½ cups powdered sugar

Instructions

  • Place the cereal in a large bowl.
    9 cups Rice Chex cereal
    a bowl of cereal and various ingredients.
  • In a saucepan set over medium heat, melt the butter and chocolate chips. Stir frequently. Then add the peanut butter and vanilla extract. Stir to combine.
    ¼ cup salted butter, 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips, ½ cup creamy peanut butter, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
    a bowl of food with a spoon and a bowl of food.
  • Pour the warm chocolate mixture over the cereal, and gently fold until all cereal is well coated.
    a bowl of chocolate cheesy granola on a marble counter.
  • Place the powdered sugar into a 2-gallon resealable bag.
    1½ cups powdered sugar
    a bowl of granola and a bag of pecans.
  • Transfer the coated cereal into the bag.
    a bag of chocolate cheesy granola is next to a bowl of granola.
  • Shake, toss, and turn to fully coat cereal with powdered sugar.
    a bag of chocolate cheesy gnocchi on a white table.
  • Pour the coated mixture onto a lined baking sheet to cool completely. Then serve and enjoy!
    a bowl of cereal on a table.

Notes

*I keep it classic with plain Rice Chex cereal. But Corn Chex, other Chex varieties, and Crispix cereal can all be used instead. Keep in mind that flavored/sweet varieties will affect the final taste.
**Other types of chocolate chips or baking chips can be used to change the flavor of this snack mix. Try caramel or butterscotch chips!
Tips:
  • To make your puppy chow sweeter and less salty, use unsalted butter instead of salted.
  • Honestly, there’s no rule as to how much powdered sugar to use. While I call for 1½ cups, you may need more than that as you toss your ingredients in the bag. You really want to make sure you have enough powdered sugar to cover every single piece of this mix, so don’t be afraid to add a little more as you go. The more sugar, the better, right?!
  • If your snack mix is soggy, it is likely that it was overcrowded on the baking sheet. You may need to spread it out over two baking sheets to allow it enough space to cool down fully.
Microwave Instructions: Place the chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 30-second increments, stirring between until well-combined. Fold in the cereal, then toss it in powdered sugar in Ziplock bag before spreading out to dry.
Storage: Store puppy chow in an airtight container or Ziplock bag at room temperature for up to 1 week, in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, or in the freezer for 3 months.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 427kcal | Carbohydrates: 57g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 323mg | Potassium: 248mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 31g | Vitamin A: 668IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 121mg | Iron: 11mg