I LOVE LOVE LOVE when some of the most yummiest treats are also the most easiest to make. Ten years ago my friend Nancy gave each woman in our small group a beautifully packaged container of Puppy Chow aka Muddy Buddies. This was the first time I had ever had this “crazy good” treat. From the first bite I was hooked but also intrigued by what it was made of. When she told me how she made it I couldn’t believe it because it was such an easy recipe yet the combination of all the ingredients produced such a wonderful taste. I will warn you though, it is very addicting. Batches of this stuff have been known to disappear within minutes in our home. Best of all, Chex now makes their rice and corn cereal Gluten-Free. This would make a great homemade Christmas gift or Hostess gift – or a special treat just for yourself. Enjoy!
**DISCLAIMER** Although this recipe is called “Puppy Chow” it’s not for doggie consumption – since chocolate is poisonous for dogs. Many thanks to my friend Jen for pointing this out!
- 9 cups Combination of Corn, Rice, and Wheat Cereal squares (Chex) *For gluten-free, omit the wheat chex.
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- ¼ cup butter
- 2 teaspoon vanilla *make sure to check vanilla for gluten-free
- 1½ cups powdered sugar
- 2 1-gallon ziplock bags
- Place cereal in a large bowl and set aside. In a medium microwavable bowl, add chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter. Microwave on High for 1 minute and stir. Microwave 30 seconds longer and stir mixture until smooth. Stir in vanilla. Pour sauce over cereal and stir until evenly coated. Spoon half of the mixture in each 1-gallon resealable ziplock bag. Add ¾ cup powdered sugar to each bag, and seal. Shake the bag until everything is coated. Spread on waxed/parchment paper to cool. Store in airtight container in refrigerator.
*Several people have asked me where I got my snow flake pails I used to package these. I bought them at Target in their $1 section<–Yay for Tar-jay!
This is very good i would influence everyone to try it my mom makes it every christmas i love it!!!
Puppy chow is my absolute FAAAVORITE snack! I’ve never heard them called muddy buddies–that is equally adorable 🙂
You don’t have to bake to make this recipe. Also, you should try it – it’s pretty much fool-proof 🙂
Stumbled this post…you can change the chocolate chips to white chocolate and the powdered sugar to cocoa and you have a whole different snack!
Oh, give me a break. This stuff has been called Puppy Chow, like, forever. Where have you been living? Under a rock?
To OLNN, REALLY?!?!? Puppy Chow is like a well known snack/dessert. No one is going to change the name because it takes some common sense not to feed it to your dog. Sorry, but GEEZ.
Agreed. I thought the same thing.
I’ve never tried these. I’m going over to my cousin’s for a movie marathon this week; perfect opportunity!
looks great. only too bad i can’t bake 🙁
For those who want to try this it ROCKS!!! Been having this treat for years it never gets old.
Now these look YUMMY!
My friend brought this to school 3 years ago for here b’day treat and it was AWESOME
I learned about “Puppy Chow” from my friend a couple years back and it has always been a hit at parties and family gatherings.
Also, instead of using ziploc bags, I just use the big brown paper bags you get at grocery stores. It saves the expensive plastic bags and you can just throw it all in at once. Easy to shake around and get the mix covered with the powdered sugar.
Wow, that looks absolutely delicious! Great post, you did such a nice job presenting the pictures too…I am definitely going to have to try that recipe this weekend! Thanks!
I LOVE this recipe!
Instead of chocolate chips, i’ve used butterscotch chips, a whole different flavor and taste. its so yummy.
also instead of peanut butter, since i have an allergy i have used Nutella. mmm
An easier way to mix this is to put the cereal mix in a big brown paper grocery bag, add the chocolate mix, the powdered sugar, fold over the top and Shake Shake Shake!!!!
YUMMY!!Thanks alot!! 🙂
Pantea: I’m sure you could.. not sure how it would taste but if you do, come back and report to us how it went.
Can I use caramel instead of peanut butter? Would it still work?
Puppy chow, along with lemon bars, oatmeal fudge, and hello dollies, were one of the “tempting treats” as we called them that my mom would always make around Christmas every year. Nothing reminds me more of home or gives me that warm fuzzy feeling inside than a big handful of puppy chow, thanks for sharing 🙂
I appreciate the gluten-free angle but I just had to throw in this suggestion for those that may not be a problem for: I’ve always made these with Golden Grahams and crunchy PB and they are AWESOME!
Nell: while that is a great idea for those who can eat it…part of the point in this recipe is that it is gluten free. For those of us with an intolerance (and my children with Celiac’s) wheat is COMPLETELY forbidden.
These are my kids FAVORITE treat and it’s sooo nice to serve them for a treat that everyone enjoys and can eat!