Puppy chow is one of my favorite easy treats. And over the years, I’ve made quite a few variations. Below you’ll find all of my puppy chow (aka muddy buddies) recipes, including plenty of seasonal and holiday versions and a variety of puppy chow flavors.
I’ve also answered some of the most common questions about making, storing, troubleshooting, and customizing puppy chow so you can make the perfect batch.
Table of contents
About Puppy Chow/Muddy Buddies
• What is puppy chow?
Despite the name, puppy chow is a human snack. It is also running around under the name of muddy buddies.
The classic version uses Chex cereal (usually rice or corn), chocolate, peanut butter, and powdered sugar. But hundreds (if not thousands) of variations have been developed over the years.
There are versions using other cereals (like my Snickerdoodle ones).
There are versions without chocolate (like my red velvet ones) that often use candy melts (which are NOT chocolate).
There are versions without peanut butter (like my mint ones).
There are even versions without the powdered sugar (no, I don’t have any of those on this site…bring on the sweetness!). Alternative I’ve seen suggested include protein powder, oat flour, finely ground nuts, or cocoa powder.
• Are muddy buddies and puppy chow the same thing?
Yes! It originally known as puppy chow because the classic, original version looked quite a bit like, well, puppy chow (for dogs) once it was finished. General Mills, the maker of Chex cereal, uses the name “Muddy Buddies” for both its recipe and packaged versions of the snack.
The different terms are often regional. (I grew up in the Midwest calling it puppy chow and didn’t know muddy buddies even EXISTED as a term until I moved away.)
• Is puppy chow gluten free?
First, always, always check the individual ingredient package details (but if you have celiac, you know to do that).
Puppy chow can be gluten free if you use a certified gluten free cereal such as rice Chex and you you make sure the other common ingredients (chocolate, peanut butter, and powdered sugar) are also gluten-free. If you’re making it for someone with celiac disease or a gluten allergy or sensitivity, check every ingredient for gluten and potential cross-contact.
Candy-Inspired Puppy Chow Recipes
Reese’s Puppy Chow is a candy-filled twist on classic puppy chow loaded with Reese’s Peanut Butter cups and Reese’s Pieces.
Butterfinger Muddy Buddies: peanut butter, chocolate, Butterfingers, Chex, and powdered sugar make this delightful, easy sweet treat.
Cookies and Cream Puppy Chow: white chocolate, semisweet chocolate, Oreos, and chopped Hershey’s Cookies ‘n’ Creme bars combine to make a delicious candy-inspired puppy chow.
Andes Mint Puppy Chow: chocolate Chex, mint baking chips, and chopped Andes Mints make this candy-inspired puppy chow perfect for chocolate-mint lovers.
Seasonal and Holiday Puppy Chow Recipes
Reindeer Puppy Chow: Santa’s reindeer are sure to love this classic puppy chow with a Christmas twist.
Peppermint Puppy Chow: Chex cereal, red and white candy melts, and peppermint make this the perfect treat for Christmas.
Patriotic puppy chow: these red, white, & blue muddy buddies are perfect for the 4th of July.
Easter Puppy Chow: classic peanut butter and chocolate treat with a little twist for Easter.
Fall Puppy Chow: an autumn twist on classic peanut butter chocolate puppy chow, loaded with Reese’s Pieces, candy corn, harvest candy corn, and candy pumpkins.
Pumpkin Pie Spice Puppy Chow: Cinnamon Toast Crunch, white chocolate, and pumpkin pie spice combine to make a delicious, easy, fall treat.
Red Velvet Muddy Buddies: easy twist on a classic favorite. Chex, candy melts, and red velvet cake mix make a pink & white treat that is great for Valentine’s Day.
Dessert-Inspired Puppy Chow Recipes
Snickerdoodle Puppy Chow: quick and easy cinnamon and sugar treat with Cinnamon Toast Crunch and white chocolate.
Peanut Butter Brownie Puppy Chow: delicious brownie twist on classic puppy chow.
S’mores Puppy Chow: Golden Grahams, chocolate, marshmallows, and peanut butter combine to make a delicious campfire-inspired treat.
Red Velvet Puppy Chow: Chex, candy melts, red velvet cake mix, and colored M&M’s (the M&Ms are optional if it’s the wrong time of year) make a red-velvet inspired treat.
Puppy Chow Without Peanut Butter Recipes
Looking for puppy chow without peanut butter? These recipes skip the traditional peanut butter entirely, with flavors ranging from Cookies & Cream to Pumpkin Pie Spice.
Cookies & Cream Puppy Chow: white chocolate, semisweet chocolate, Oreos, and chopped Hershey’s Cookies ‘n’ Creme bars combine to make a delicious puppy chow without peanut butter.
Peppermint Puppy Chow: Chex cereal, red and white candy melts, and peppermint make this the peanut-butter-free treat.
Mint Puppy Chow: chocolate Chex, mint baking chips, and chopped Andes Mints make this candy-inspired puppy chow perfect for someone looking for a puppy chow without peanut butter.
Red Velvet Puppy Chow: easy twist on a classic favorite. Chex, candy melts, and red velvet cake mix make a pink & white treat. If it’s not around Valentine’s Day, just skip the M&Ms. Same red-velvet flavor and still no peanut butter.
Pumpkin Pie Spice Puppy Chow: Cinnamon Toast Crunch, white chocolate, and pumpkin pie spice combine to make a delicious puppy chow treat without peanut butter.
Ingredients and Substitutes
• What is the best cereal for puppy chow?
-Chex is what is traditionally used.
-I prefer Rice Chex, followed by Corn Chex. You can also use Chocolate or Vanilla Chex (I suggest Chocolate Chex in my Andes Mint muddy buddies).
-I recommend avoiding Wheat Chex. In my testing, it has a heavier taste that affects the overall results and has a tendency to break down when coating and mixing, resulting in a lot of crumbles.
-Crispix or Life cereal are alternatives.
-If you’re aiming for a particular flavor, you can try other cereals. (For example, I use Golden Grahams in my S’mores muddy buddies and Cinnamon Toast Crunch in my Snickerdoodle muddy buddies.)
-I haven’t tested Cheerios myself, but I’ve read that Cheerios can be used to make puppy chow, though the final result will be denser.
• What is the best chocolate for puppy chow?
-Semi-sweet chocolate is what is traditionally used. The “bite” of the semi-sweet balances the sweetness of the powdered sugar well.
-If you’re making a flavor that is going to clash with traditional chocolate, white chocolate can work too. (My pumpkin pie spice muddy buddies and snickerdoodle muddy buddies both use white chocolate).
-If you’re going for a unique flavor profile, you can try flavored baking chips of different varieties. (My mint muddy buddies includes mint chips; Reese’s muddy buddies include peanut butter chips.)
-I have read recipes that use dark chocolate instead of semi-sweet; I’ve also read reviews that the resulting product is too bitter. I shall report back when I have tested this myself.
-Milk chocolate can be used, but it will have a sweeter overall result.
-If you’re looking for a particular color profile, try candy melts. I suggest mixing in paramount crystals to thin them. Yes, I realize candy melts aren’t technically chocolate. But they worked wonderfully with my patriotic muddy buddies and Easter muddy buddies, which needed specific colors to fit the holiday theme.
• Can you make puppy chow without peanut butter?
Yes! The final product may vary depending upon the substitute. The question is why you want to avoid peanut butter. This will determine what substitute works best.
-For every substitute suggested- be sure to choose a product that’s appropriate for your specific allergy and check the label for potential cross-contact.
-If you have a peanut allergy, but not a general tree nut allergy, I would suggest alternative nut butters such as almond butter or cashew butter. This will probably get you closest to the “traditional” puppy chow taste.
If tree nuts are not a concern and you don’t mind a more chocolate flavor, a chocolate-hazelnut spread such as Nutella will also work.
-Sunflower seed butter can also substitute for peanut butter.
-I have also heard soy butter suggested, but have never tried it.
-If you want to avoid any nut butters or nut butter alternatives, you can simply melt extra chocolate and extra unsalted butter (the dairy kind) to provide enough mixture to thoroughly coat the cereal.
-If you don’t want to use peanut butter because it’s going to clash with the taste you’re going for (like my mint muddy buddies), simply omit it and go with extra flavored baking chips or chocolate.
• Can I make puppy chow without butter?
Yes. The butter- in most recipe variations- simply helps thin the coating and (supposedly) slightly richer flavor. I’ve made multiple batches without butter for various experiments or trying different flavors and have never noticed a lack of flavor due to a lack of butter.
• Should I use vanilla extract in puppy chow?
Yes, if it’s available and compliments that flavor you are making. Traditional puppy chow/muddy buddies, for example, will benefit from a bit of vanilla extract. Other flavored puppy chows- such as mint or red velvet- don’t necessarily need the vanilla extract for that little bit of extra richness.
• What else should I add to puppy chow?
The sky is basically the limit when it comes to puppy chow variations. Some people swear that adding a bit of salt balances the sweetness perfectly. Others recommend mix-ins, such as pretzels, marshmallows, or various candies. And, as you can see if you scroll down, I LOVE experimenting with different flavors (and all the substitutions and additional ingredients that entails.)
Making Puppy Chow and Trouble-Shooting
• What is the secret to perfect puppy chow?
1) Using enough chocolate and peanut butter to thoroughly coat the cereal. (But don’t go crazy…too much chocolate will result in soggy lumps.)
2) Let the coated cereal cool slightly before adding the powdered sugar. I usually let it rest 3 to 5 minutes at room temperature in the bowl before I start the process of adding the powdered sugar. Some bakers recommend refrigerating it for 10-15 minutes instead.
3) Use vanilla extract when it compliments the other flavors.
4) Use semisweet chocolate if available instead of milk chocolate.
• How do you keep puppy chow from getting clumpy?
Let the cereal coated in chocolate/peanut butter rest for 3-5 minutes before adding the powdered sugar. Then, add the coated cereal and powdered sugar in small batches to a gallon-size Ziploc bag before tossing gently to coat the cereal.
• How do you mix puppy chow without crushing the cereal?
Use a large bowl with plenty of room for stirring. Stir gently (using a flexible silicone spatula if you have one available). You do NOT need to continue stirring until every piece of cereal is completely coated. Tossing the mixture with the powdered sugar helps redistribute the chocolate/peanut butter coating onto areas that may have been missed during stirring.
• How long does puppy chow need to cool? How long does puppy chow need to dry?
-The cereal coated with the chocolate and peanut butter mixture should rest at room temperature for 3–5 minutes before adding the powdered sugar.
-The puppy chow—once coated and tossed with powdered sugar—should be laid out on a baking sheet and allowed to sit at room temperature until completely cool and dry, about 1-2 hours.
• Powdered/sugar sticky issues:
-Why is my puppy chow sticky instead of powdery? There are a couple of possible answers.
The powdered sugar might have been added while the cereal’s chocolate and peanut butter coating was too hot. This can cause the powdered sugar to dissolve, leaving you with a sticky mess. (See how to fix soggy puppy chow below for possible solutions).
The other possibility is simply that you haven’t added enough powdered sugar yet. Try adding more. If you accidentally add too much powdered sugar, let the puppy chow dry completely, then transfer it to a strainer and gently shake off the excess.
-Why isn’t the powdered sugar sticking to the coated cereal? Again, there are a couple of possible answers.
The first is that the coated cereal cooled for too long before the powdered sugar was added. (This is one reason I let it sit at room temperature 3-5 minutes instead of adding the variable of placing it in the refrigerator). If the coating becomes too dry, the powdered sugar won’t stick as well.
The second possibility is that there wasn’t enough chocolate/peanut butter mixture to thoroughly coat the cereal, leaving too little coating for the powdered sugar to stick to.
• Why is my puppy chow soggy?
The mostly likely cause is that the puppy chow mixture is storing it before it’s completely cool and dry. If it’s placed in an airtight container or Ziploc bag, the trapped heat likely formed condensation, making the puppy chow soggy. I suggest spreading the puppy chow mixture out on baking sheet at room temperature and allowing it to cool completely before storing it.
• How to fix soggy puppy chow?
-The first method I would suggest is simply spreading the puppy chow out in a thin layer on a baking sheet and letting it dry longer. Once it has dried, add more powdered sugar if necessary. This may help if the puppy chow simply needs more drying time, but cereal that has absorbed too much moisture may not regain its original crisp texture.
How to Store Puppy Chow
• Can you make puppy chow ahead of time?
Yes, definitely. That’s one of the best things about it—especially if you’re using it at a party. No day-of baking. See below for specific storage times and conditions. Proper storage will also help keep your puppy chow from going stale.
• How to store puppy chow? How long does puppy chow last?
-An airtight container is best. I use a Ziploc bag but you can also use an airtight food-storage container. Always allow the puppy chow to cool and dry completely before storing.
-Most puppy chow can be stored at room temperature for up to a week. The exception are those with ingredients that need to be refrigerated, such as variations with cream cheese.
• Does puppy chow need to be refrigerated?
Most puppy chow does not need to be refrigerated, but you can if you want. In my experience, it stays crisper at room temperature. It can be store in the fridge up to 2 weeks and some people prefer to eat it chilled. Keep it in an airtight bag or container, as described above.
• Can you freeze puppy chow?
Yes. Store it in an airtight bag in freezer for 2-3 months. I personally prefer room temperature storage. But some bakers swear by freezing it. Some even prefer to eat it frozen!
