Hopefully it goes without saying that this Puppy Chow recipe is for you and not for your four-legged friends! Loaded with extra chocolate, extra peanut butter, extra flavor, and plenty of powdered sugar, this isn’t a dog-friendly recipe. It doesn’t get much more human-friendly than this, though. Quick and easy, Puppy Chow (also known as Muddy Buddy) makes a great last-minute, need-it-in-a-pinch kind of snack.
Includes a brief how-to video below the recipe!
Puppy Chow
There are a few recipes that I like to keep handy for when I need them quickly. For when my procrastinator-self gets the best of me and whoops I need something for that party we’re going to right now. I’ve shared some of my savory favorites (broccoli salad and taco dip) and my sweet favorites (homemade brownies!), but Puppy Chow is an easy recipe I’ve been making forever, yet somehow never shared before.
I was first introduced to this Puppy Chow recipe 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).
How to Make Puppy Chow
- Measure out 7 cups of cereal (you can use rice or corn Chex, I usually go for the rice)
- Melt together chocolate, peanut butter, and butter.
- Stir in vanilla extract and pour mixture over cereal. Toss until cereal is completely coated.
- Coat with powdered sugar until cereal is completely covered.
If you have a large, clean paper bag you can measure your powdered sugar into that, add your cereal, and just shake the bag until all of your cereal is well-coated with powdered sugar. This is how I used to coat my cereal, but I never seem to have a bag large enough anymore so now I just stir everything together. Use a spatula and a gentle hand 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.
How to Store Puppy Chow
Puppy chow disappears so quickly in our house there’s hardly ever a need to store it. However, if you find yourself with leftovers, store them in an airtight container at room temperature. Leftover Puppy Chow will keep for up to a week.
Treat yourself to a FREE E-BOOK!
Enjoy!
Puppy Chow
Ingredients
- 7 cups rice or corn chex I use rice chex (210g)
- 1 ½ cup semisweet chocolate chips 226g
- 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter 210g
- 6 Tablespoons salted butter cut into 6 pieces
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2-4 cups powdered sugar 250-500g
Instructions
- Measure out cereal into a large bowl and set aside.
- In a separate, medium-sized, microwave-safe bowl, combine chocolate chips, peanut butter, and 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.
- 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!
Notes
Nutrition
Lynda says
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!
Sugar Spun Run says
That sounds amazing, Lynda! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Grace E Gosz says
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 🙂
Sam says
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! 😂)
Lisa says
Bonus if you use chocolate Chex cereal!
Sam says
YES! Sooo good!
ITried says
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.
Sam says
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!
Donna says
Great instructions!
Mary Danner says
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.
Sam says
Hi Mary! You’re very welcome 🙂
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.
Sarah says
Mary Danner- try letting the puppy chow cool a bit before coating with powdered sugar. The sugar sinks right into the chocolate mixture when it’s too warm.