Chex Mix Puppy Chow

Chex Cereal Puppy Chow is a crunchy, chocolate peanut butter treat! Add color to this snack mix with M&M candies and sprinkles for birthdays, holidays and more. Makes 15 servings.

The first time I tried Puppy Chow—also known as Muddy Buddies,—I was in second grade, and I remember it vividly because I was grossed out by the name, but also a little intrigued. (It should be noted that we also ate pudding cups with gummy worms and “dirt” that evening, too.)

I took one bite and fell in love.

Decades later, I still very much love the combination of crunchy Chex Cereal, creamy peanut butter, semisweet chocolate and powdered sugar.

And today, I’m using this recipe to spread some cheer as I participate in the Good Cookie Valentine’s Day event.

Why I love this Chex Mix Puppy Chow recipe:

There’s something about the combination of the flavors in this party dessert because this Puppy Chow recipe is incredibly well-balanced.

Instead of making this into the classic recipe we all know and love, I wanted to give it a little flair. So I added M&Ms and sprinkles. And the best news? You can do this, too, and make this puppy chow fit for various holidays.

Also, this snack mix recipe is super fun to make with kids, who will have a blast with every step—from the measuring to the melting to the mixing and decorating.

It’s also great for making and sharing since it makes a lot of puppy chow. So you could make a batch, purchase cute little containers to share it in and drop it off on friends’ doorsteps!

More party snack recipes: Sweet and Savory Party Mix | Halloween Trail Mix | Pepperoni Pizza Rolls | Tabasco Honey Butter Popcorn | Maple Cayenne Chex Party Mix

Need more sweet treat ideas? Head on over to my Dessert Recipe Index for inspiration!

What you’ll need to make Chex Mix Puppy Chow

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• Large mixing bowl
• Liquid measuring cup
• Rubber spatula

What are the ingredients for Puppy Chow?

• Rice Chex Cereal—you can also use Corn Chex Cereal if you prefer that. Crispix cereal is also a cereal you could use in this recipe, too, though the shape of the puppy chow will be different.
• Peanut butter—creamy and unsweetened, if possible. A lot of recipes will tell you that the sweetened, more processed kind of best for sweet recipes, but I still enjoy the natural peanut butter. That said, use what you’ve got in your home, and it’ll work like a charm!
• Semisweet chocolate chips—You could also use milk or dark chocolate chips in place of these.
• Unsalted butter
• Powered sugar—there’s no substitute for this, so make sure you’ve got enough to coat your puppy chow.
• Milk Chocolate M&Ms—whichever colors make you happy! If you’re making a festive Chex Mix Puppy Chow, grab the holiday M&M bag!
• Sprinkles—the same goes for the sprinkle colors as the M&Ms!

Puppy Chow variations

I added both sprinkles and M&Ms to this puppy chow recipe because I love to add color to them! Here are some color combinations for holiday puppy how:

• Pink, red and white for Valentine’s Day Puppy Chow
• Green, white and mint for St. Patrick’s Day Muddy Buddies
• Pastels for Easter Muddy Munch
• Red, white and blue for Patriotic Puppy Chow
• Green and red for Christmas Puppy Chow or Reindeer Chow (how cute is that name?!?)

How to make Puppy Chow

First and foremost, find the biggest mixing bowl you’ve got in your kitchen. Measure the Chex cereal into it. We’re going to mix the ingredients in the bowl instead of using a plastic bag for the coating process, so we want there to be enough room. (Alternately, if you don’t have a huge mixing bowl, you can make this in batches!)

In a glass measuring cup or a microwave-safe bowl, measure out the peanut butter, chocolate chips and butter. Heat in the microwave in 30-second burst until they’re melted together. Stir until smooth. You might have to microwave it upwards of 2 minutes, just depending on your ingredients.

Pour the peanut butter-chocolate mixture over the Chex. Use a rubber spatula to stir the ingredients together, coating the Chex completely. Be gentle while stirring, as the cereal could break if you’re not careful.

Sprinkle in the powdered sugar, and toss gently until coated. (Alternately, you could toss the ingredients together in the airtight container that you’ll store the Puppy Chow in, and shake it together—your call!)

Let the chocolate mixture cool for 30 minutes, then add in the colorful M&Ms and sprinkles. Stir them together and then serve or store until later.

PRO TIP! Swap out the M&Ms and sprinkles for different holidays (or just because!) This way, you can have Christmas Puppy Chow, Halloween Muddy Buddies, St. Patrick’s Day snack mix and more!

Erin’s Easy Entertaining Tips

This Chex Mix Puppy Chow recipe would be a tasty addition to any gathering you host in your home because it’s great for nibbling. It’s also well-loved by both kids and adults.

If you’re going to make it for a party, whether you’re celebrating a holiday, a birthday or just because, here are some ideas to making homemade Puppy Chow for sharing:

• Make the Puppy Chow a day in advance. It keeps well and won’t get soggy on you, so you can mix it, store it in an airtight container on the countertop and then share it the next day.
• Feeding a lot of people? Double the recipe. I know this recipe makes a lot, but if your friends and family are going to nibble on it for a long while, making double the amount might be a good idea, especially if you know that they like this combination of flavors.
• Celebrating a holiday? Customize it! This Puppy Chow recipe can turn into Christmas Puppy Chow (also known as Reindeer Chow) with green and red M&Ms and sprinkles. You can do the same and make this for Valentine’s Day, Independence Day and more!

Frequently Asked Questions

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Quick tips for making Chex Mix Puppy Chow

• Read over the ingredients. This puppy chow recipe should be gluten free, but confirm everything that’s going in is, especially if you’ll be sharing this with friends who have Celiac or a gluten intolerance.
• Store Chex Mix Puppy Chow at room temperature in an airtight container. It will keep for up to 4-5 days, but chances are, it won’t last that long! If you want it to last longer, it will keep for a week in the fridge.
• Swap out the colors of M&Ms and sprinkles for different holidays and celebrations. This recipe can be transformed into Christmas Puppy Chow (also known as Reindeer Chow) with green and red M&Ms and sprinkles. You can do the same and make this for Valentine’s Day, Independence Day and more! Add rainbow sprinkles for a birthday, too!
• Don’t want to make as much puppy chow? Half the recipe and call it a day!