Muddy Buddies | Easy Homemade Puppy Chow Recipe

Muddy Buddies are the perfect no-bake sweet treat! Tiny bite-sized cereal is coated with a deliciously sweet peanut butter and chocolate mixture and then tossed in powdered sugar for a nostalgic bite the whole family will love. It is a classic comfort cook perfect for movie nights, holidays, or an after school snack.

What Makes This An Irresistible Snack

• Minimal ingredients. Forget gathering up a dozen ingredients just to make a simple recipe. This puppy chow only requires 6 ingredients for the perfect sweet bite.
• No baking required. If your oven is tied up with another delicious dish or you just don’t feel like heating up the kitchen, this no-bake dessert is just what you’ve been looking for.
• Ready in a flash. Satisfy your sweet tooth in under 30 minutes with this spectacular snack.

Whether you want to make a treat for a special occasion, prep the perfect after school snack, or celebrate a holiday with something guaranteed to bring back childhood memories, this recipe for muddy buddies is sure to satisfy.

Why Are They Called Muddy Buddies?

Muddy Buddies got their name because of their appearance. The rice cereal is coated with a chocolate and peanut butter mixture that resembles mud. Any sweet treat is best when shared with a friend, so Muddy Buddies were given their name to encourage you to enjoy them together.

What Is The Difference Between Muddy Buddies And Puppy Chow?

Muddy Buddies and Puppy Chow are interchangeable names for this delicious dessert. Depending on where you live, you may call it one or the other–or even use both terms to describe it. No matter what you call it, this spectacular snack is sure to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Ingredients To Grab

• Rice Chex– The base of Muddy Buddies. Its light, crispy texture holds the chocolate-peanut butter coating well, providing the crunch that balances the sweet coating.
• Butter– It adds richness and helps the chocolate and peanut butter blend together for a silky texture that coats the Rice Chex.
• Chocolate Chips– The chocolate gives the snack its signature sweet, indulgent flavor and pairs perfectly with the peanut butter.
• Peanut Butter– Adds a creamy, nutty flavor and helps bind the chocolate mixture to the Chex cereal.
• Vanilla Extract– Provides a depth of flavor and enhances the sweetness of the chocolate-peanut butter mixture.
• Powdered Sugar– Helps prevent the pieces from sticking together, adds sweetness, and creates the classic “powdery” look that gives Muddy Buddies their distinct appearance.
• Vegetable Oil (optional)– It can be added to the melted chocolate to create a smoother, thinner coating. It helps the chocolate mixture pour more easily and coat the cereal evenly without clumping.

How To Make Muddy Buddies

Melt the peanut butter and chocolate chips. Place the chocolate chips, peanut butter, butter, and vanilla extract in a pan. Warm it over low heat on the stovetop. Stir rapidly until the peanut butter and chocolate chips are melted. Remove from the heat to prevent scorching.

Fold in half of the cereal. Place half of the cereal in a large mixing bowl. Pour half of the melted chocolate peanut butter mixture over the top and gently fold them together until the cereal is coated.

Cover with powdered sugar. Place the coated cereal in a large ziptop bag partially filled with powdered sugar. Ensure the bag is closed completely and shake vigorously until the chocolate and peanut butter covered cereal is coated with powdered sugar. Remove the cereal from the bag, leaving as much excess powdered sugar in the bag as possible. Repeat the steps above until all of the rice cereal is coated with peanut butter, chocolate, and powdered sugar.

Serve and enjoy! Place the Muddy Buddies in a large airtight container or serve immediately for a tasty crowd-pleasing treat!

Tips And Tricks

For a deliciously easy sweet treat that comes out perfect every time, read over these tips and tricks before you get started:

• Use a big plastic bag. Don’t be like me. I forgot to check my plastic storage situation before I got started and all I had was small sandwich bags. While I was able to make it work, using a quart or gallon-sized bag would have made the process MUCH easier.
• Thin out the chocolate. The peanut butter and chocolate mixture can thicken very quickly. If you are worried about being able to work fast enough to coat the cereal before it solidifies, you can add a tablespoon or two of vegetable oil to the peanut butter and chocolate mixture. This helps keep it thin and easy to work with.
• Work in small batches. To prevent the puppy chow from clumping together and to allow it to coat completely with powdered sugar, work in small batches. Shake the cereal in 3-4 batches for the best results.

Variations

Even if you love this traditional take on Muddy Buddies, it’s still fun to play with flavors to create new and exciting flavor combinations. Here are some tasty twists to try:

• Use dark chocolate chips. If you’re a dark chocolate lover or want to try a less intensely sweet bite, try using dark chocolate chips in place of semi-sweet chips.
• Swap out the cereal. If rice Chex isn’t your jam, you can try wheat or corn Chex. You can even skip Chex completely and try coating bran flakes or Cheerios with the sweet coating instead.
• Add mix-ins. When it is time to coat the cereal with the sweet topping, toss in some chocolate candies, raisins, or pretzels to add texture and another layer of sweet or salty flavors.

What To Enjoy With Muddy Buddies

Not sure what to enjoy with your muddy buddies to create the ultimate snacking experience? Try one of my suggestions below to elevate snack time to the next level:

• Hot Chocolate
• Milk
• Pretzels
• Chips
• Cookies

How Long Do They Last?

When stored in an airtight container, Puppy Chow will stay fresh for around 1 week at room temperature. Make sure the container is sealed tightly to prevent it from going stale. If you can’t finish it within a week, you can freeze any leftovers using the instructions listed below.

Can You Freeze Them?

Yes, you can freeze any extra puppy chow you can’t eat within a few days. It can last in a freezer-safe airtight container for up to 3 months.

When you’re ready to enjoy it, allow it to defrost at room temperature for around an hour until it is ready to eat. Enjoy any defrosted muddy buddies within 1-2 days for the best flavor and texture.

More Sweet Treats

• Oreo Poke Cake
• Cherry Pie Bubble Up
• Peach Cobbler with Cake Mix
• Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
• Fruit Pizza Cookies

If you love this Homemade Muddy Buddies recipe as much as our family does, make sure you share it with your friends on social media so they can try it too! Don’t forget to save it so you can make it again next time you’re craving something simple and sweet.