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    Home ยป Recipes ยป No Bake Desserts

    Puppy Chow (Muddy Buddies)

    September 18, 2020 Updated May 22, 2025 BySam 24 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure policy.
    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video
    Puppy Chow

    Puppy Chow (also known as Muddy Buddies) is a great last-minute snack that can be completely ready in under 10 minutes! Loaded with plenty of peanut butter and chocolate, this is a super crave-able snack. Please note that this recipe is for humans only and is not dog-friendly!

    My Favorite 10-minute Snack

    I must have made this puppy chow recipe over 100 times when I was pregnant with Luke. Super easy (ready in literally ten minutes), just a couple of ingredients, no oven or stovetop or any fuss, and incredibly satisfying for even your most intense chocolate/peanut butter cravings.

    It beats even my rice krispie treats and buckeyes in terms of ease and minimal ingredients. It’s perfect if you’re a procrastinator like I am and need a last minute snack for a party or potluck (Hah, remember the pre-2020 days of parties and potlucks?).

    I was first introduced to this Puppy Chow recipe (AKA “Muddy Buddies”) when I worked at Arby’s during college and a coworker brought it in around the holidays (thanks, Steph!). Chocolate & peanut butter and easy to grab a handful of every time I walked into the back, what’s not to love (except maybe the powdered sugar handprints on my black pants).

    What You Need

    melted chocolate in bowl

    Minimal ingredients, maximum taste. This recipe uses only 6 ingredients:

    • Chex cereal. You can use rice Chex or corn Chex, my preference is rice.
    • Chocolate chips. Use a quality brand of chocolate chips, since so much of our flavor is going to come from these (I love Ghirardelli and have had bad experiences using generic).
    • Peanut butter. Creamy or crunch will work. I have recently tested this recipe with my homemade peanut butter and it turned out quite well that way, I was pleasantly surprised! See my FAQ section below for nut-free alternatives and notes.
    • Salted butter. Usually I sing the praises of using unsalted butter, but I actually feel that salted works better here. If you only have unsalted, just add a pinch (about a heaping โ…› teaspoon) of salt to your chocolate mixture before melting.
    • Vanilla extract. I love the extra flavor vanilla adds and was surprised it wasn’t an original puppy chow ingredient — it takes the recipe to the next level!
    • Powdered sugar. You need a lot of sugar for this recipe because you need to make sure every single square of chocolate is thoroughly coated. Any excess sugar will sink to the bottom of the bowl, you really can’t use too much.

    This list is just an overview of the ingredients I used and why. For the full recipe please scroll down to the bottom of the post!

    SAM’S TIP: Any time you melt chocolate (as you’ll be doing here) it is important to do it slowly to avoid the chance of it seizing. Heat in 30-second increments and stir well in-between. See my tips on how to melt chocolate chips in the microwave if you have ever struggled with this step before.

    How to Make It

    chocolate coated chex
    1. Melt together chocolate, peanut butter, and butter.
    2. Stir in vanilla extract and pour mixture over cereal. Toss until cereal is completely coated.
    3. Coat with powdered sugar until cereal is completely covered.

    Use a spatula and a gentle hand once you add your powdered sugar so you don’t crush the cereal into small pieces. Don’t be afraid to add more sugar as needed, either! Any excess will sink to the bottom of your mixing bowl.

    SAM’S TIP: You can quickly and easily coat your cereal by placing it in a large, clean paper bag and then adding your sugar. Fold the bag closed and then shake shake shake it until all of the cereal is coated with sugar!

    stirring powdered sugar over chocolate coated cereal

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Why is it called Puppy Chow?

    Evidently it got its name because it resembles dog food! Another common name for it is “Muddy Buddies”. It should not be fed to your dog, despite its name!

    Can I make this without peanut butter?

    Many people have successfully made this recipe with peanut butter substitutes, such as sun butter. I do not recommend removing the peanut butter without a substitute, the taste/texture won’t be quite right.

    Can I feed it to my dog?

    No! Please do not feed it to your dog! For humans only.

    puppy chow in blue bowl

    Enjoy!

    Let’s bake together! Make sure to check out the how-to VIDEO in the recipe card! 

    puppy chow in blue bowl

    Puppy Chow

    Puppy Chow (also commonly known as "Muddy Buddies") is an easy, popular, peanut butter & chocolate snack! This is a great treat to bring to any potluck or party.
    PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS FOR HUMANS, DO NOT FEED TO YOUR DOGS AS IT CONTAINS CHOCOLATE WHICH IS TOXIC TO DOGS
    4.91 from 11 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Servings: 14 servings (about heaping ยฝ cup each)
    Calories: 354kcal
    Author: Sam Merritt

    Ingredients

    • 7 cups (210 g) rice or corn chex I use rice chex
    • 1 ½ cup (226 g) semisweet chocolate chips
    • ¾ cup (210 g) creamy peanut butter (see FAQ above for substitute notes)
    • 6 Tablespoons salted butter cut into 6 pieces
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 2-4 cups (250-500 g) powdered sugar

    Recommended Equipment

    • Mixing bowls

    Instructions

    • Measure cereal into a large bowl and set aside.
      7 cups (210 g) rice or corn chex
    • In a separate, medium-sized, microwave-safe bowl, combine chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter.
      1 ½ cup (226 g) semisweet chocolate chips, ¾ cup (210 g) creamy peanut butter, 6 Tablespoons salted butter
    • Transfer to the microwave and heat for 30-second intervals, stirring well between, until chocolate is completely melted and mixture is smooth.
    • Stir in vanilla extract.
      ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
    • Pour chocolate mixture over your cereal and use a spatula to gently stir (you don’t want to crush your cereal pieces!) until all cereal is coated in chocolate.
    • Once all cereal is well-coated, add powdered sugar to the bowl and use a spatula to stir until all cereal is coated with powdered sugar. Add more sugar as needed. Enjoy!
      2-4 cups (250-500 g) powdered sugar

    Notes

    Storing

    Puppy chow will keep for up to a week when stored in an airtight container at room temperature.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving (ยฝ cup) | Calories: 354kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 14mg | Sodium: 230mg | Potassium: 221mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 26g | Vitamin A: 410IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 69mg | Iron: 6mg

    Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.

    Tried this recipe? Show me on Instagram!Mention @SugarSpun_Sam or tag #sugarspunrun!

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    Recipe originally published December 12th 2018.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Valerie

      February 14, 2025 at 9:23 pm

      Friend of ours makes some for our boy at Christmas. Up in northern Canada they call it โ€˜moose droppingsโ€™ sigh.
      They do taste ok, but wayyyyy too sweet, even for a sweet tooth like me.

      Reply
    2. Tammy

      June 01, 2021 at 4:56 pm

      I am looking forward to making this for my grandsons paw patrol birthday party. Heโ€™ll be 2. My daughter bought several plastic dog bowls to put the puppy chow in and set around on the tables for ppl to snack on.

      Reply
      • Sam

        June 01, 2021 at 9:37 pm

        I hope everyone loves it! ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    3. Joyce Ribey

      October 31, 2020 at 5:27 pm

      5 stars
      It turned out great!

      Reply
      • Sam

        October 31, 2020 at 9:31 pm

        I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Joyce! ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    4. Lynda

      May 21, 2020 at 12:40 pm

      I make a cookies and cream variation. Top half of the chocolate covered cereal with powdered sugar. Grind a package of oreo’s into crumbs and toss the remaining cereal in the oreo crumbs. Combine the two batches and viola cookies and cream muddy buddies!

      Reply
      • Sugar Spun Run

        May 21, 2020 at 1:45 pm

        That sounds amazing, Lynda! Thanks for sharing. ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
      • Tracy

        September 14, 2021 at 2:45 pm

        As the holidays approach, do you have any ideas how to make this more festive?

        Reply
        • Sam

          September 14, 2021 at 9:31 pm

          Hi Tracy! Colorful sprinkles or festively colored M&Ms make a great addition!

    5. Grace E Gosz

      November 18, 2019 at 6:44 pm

      5 stars
      I love this recipe! I have found it easiest to put the puppy chow in a large tupperware and shake it to get the powdered sugar coating. That way it doesn’t crush as many cereal pieces ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
      • Sam

        November 18, 2019 at 7:57 pm

        Love that idea, thanks for the suggestion, Grace! And I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe, I’ve been making it at least once a week recently (pregnancy craving! ๐Ÿ˜‚)

        Reply
      • anne

        March 25, 2024 at 7:03 pm

        5 stars
        10/10 would make again

        Reply
        • Sam

          March 25, 2024 at 8:50 pm

          I’m so glad everyone enjoyed it so much! ๐Ÿ™‚

    6. Lisa

      July 03, 2019 at 5:46 pm

      Bonus if you use chocolate Chex cereal!

      Reply
      • Sam

        July 03, 2019 at 6:23 pm

        YES! Sooo good!

        Reply
    7. ITried

      December 31, 2018 at 11:19 am

      5 stars
      Maybe explicitly state that chocolate is poisonous to dogs. a handful of these can kill a small dog. Friends’ teacup killed from a small slice of chocolate cake w real chocolate frosting.

      Reply
      • Sam

        December 31, 2018 at 11:31 am

        I have a note up at the top of the post but I added another one in the recipe. Thanks for the suggestion! Can’t be too careful, I’m sorry about your friend’s dog!

        Reply
        • Colter

          September 18, 2020 at 11:44 am

          5 stars
          Great and easy goto snack!

    8. Donna

      December 18, 2018 at 11:47 pm

      Great instructions!

      Reply
    9. Mary Danner

      December 13, 2018 at 7:27 am

      Thank you for sharing this recipe. It is my favorite. I find that when I make the snack, my powdered sugar seems to sink into the cereal and almost appear non existent. Any ideas why? Yours appear so well coated.

      Reply
      • Sam

        December 13, 2018 at 10:05 am

        Hi Mary! You’re very welcome ๐Ÿ™‚
        Could it be that they just need more powdered sugar? I just keep adding sugar until my Puppy chow is very well-coated, you really can’t add too much because the excess just falls to the bottom.

        Reply
        • Madi

          November 30, 2020 at 1:20 pm

          4 stars
          This is awesome. I love it.

        • Sam

          November 30, 2020 at 9:11 pm

          I’m so glad you enjoyed it so much, Madi! ๐Ÿ™‚

      • Sarah

        October 06, 2019 at 1:21 am

        Mary Danner- try letting the puppy chow cool a bit before coating with powdered sugar. The sugar sinks right into the chocolate mixture when itโ€™s too warm.

        Reply
    4.91 from 11 votes (5 ratings without comment)

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    The author (Sam) in blue shirt holding donut Hi, I'm Sam! I'm dedicated to bringing you sweet, simple, and from-scratch dessert recipes. My life may or may not be controlled by my sweet tooth. Send help (or chocolate). Read more about me.

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