Puppy Chow is a snacking favorite that has been passed down for years in my family (and many others!). It is a simple recipe that everyone absolutely loves! Using peanut butter, chocolate, and rice cereal you can create an easy, no-fuss, handheld snack that everyone will rave about! {This is human food}
Puppy Chow
Puppy chow, otherwise known as “Muddy Buddies” is a simple 4 ingredient treat that is ready in just a few short minutes. The homemade version is SO much better than the store-bought version. Every single bite is filled with an amazing combination of peanut butter, chocolate, and confectioners’ sugar.
Ingredients
With six simple ingredients, this recipe is one you will not easily forget. To get started, here is what you will need:
Chocolate: Semi-Sweet was the chocolate of choice for this recipe. You could use milk chocolate too, but that might be too sweet and not have much depth of flavor.
Peanut Butter: The great debate, creamy versus chunky. When it comes to puppy chow, creamy peanut butter is the only way to go.
Butter: The unsalted version is best but to be perfectly fair, you likely won’t notice a huge difference either way.
Vanilla: The vanilla really rounds out the flavor, giving it a smooth and creamy taste.
Rice Cereal: I use Rice Chex, but any waffle-shaped cereal will do. This is just the vessel that holds all of the chocolatey goodness together.
Confectioners Sugar: This is the glue that keeps our hands from being completely smeared in chocolate and peanut butter. If I am being honest though, you will still want to lick your fingers clean either way.
Variations
Over the years there have been a few brave souls who have decided to mess with a good thing. It is a good thing they did because we are the lucky recipients of these amazing spins on the traditional snack.
Some of my favorite variations are:
- Lemon Puppy Chow
- S’mores Puppy Chow
- Birthday Cake Puppy Chow
- Banana Pudding Puppy Chow
- Orange Creamsicle Puppy Chow
- Puppy Chow Bars
How to Store
You can store the puppy chow in an airtight container on the counter or in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, but I doubt it will last that long!
Puppy Chow
Ingredients
- 1 cup (168 g) semisweet chocolate chips
- ½ cup (129 g) creamy peanut butter
- ¼ cup (½ stick / 56 g) unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 6 cups Rice Chex cereal
- 2 cups (250 g) confectioners' sugar
Instructions
- To a medium microwave-safe bowl, add the chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter. Microwave on high in 30-second intervals and stir after each session. Continue until the mixture is smooth when stirred.
- Mix in the vanilla extract.
- Pour the cereal into a large mixing bowl. Add the chocolate mixture and gently stir until cereal is evenly coated. Pour the coated cereal into a large Ziploc bag.
- Add the confectioners' sugar to the bag with the coated cereal. Seal the bag and shake until the cereal is well-coated. Spread on parchment paper or waxed paper. Let sit until cool and the chocolate is set.
- Store the puppy chow in an airtight container on the counter or in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Video
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Have tried this before family liked it. Looking forward to the brownie and lemon versions. I ship family boxes every year for Christmas. Read and try your recipes all the time.
I thought dogs could not have chocolate?
This is a human snack.
Hi Amanda,
I’d love to try Puppy Chow, have been for a while now. But since I live in Europe, I can’t get Rice Chex. Any idea, what I could use instead? Frosted Mini-Wheats might be too sweet already, as might be Cinnamon Toast Crunch. We do have chocolate-filled cushions, I believe something similar is marketed in the US as Krave. Could that work?
Thanks in advance!
I will do some research and see what will work!
I thought chocolate was lethal to dogs
You should not feed chocolate to your dog, but this recipe is for people as it states several times.
Simply the BEST snack ever, my whole family loves this. Making some today for my hubbys bowling team tonight, they will be happy (:
Super easy and so delicious! However, I’m regretting having tried these as they are so yummy and very addicting…I can’t stop eating them! This recipe is definitely going into my Christmas baking list.
I made a batch and they were so good I had to make another because I planned on giving some out to my sister and some friends. The second batch I didn’t even bother with placing in a ziplock, I just poured the powdered sugar over the cereal and tossed them up in the bowl. It was much easier for me to break up any clumps that way.
These are going to be a favorite with the kids!
Would this work with Chex Mix? Has anyone tried it? Thanks for any replies.
Is there any place to obtain nutrition values on your recipes?
Thanks,
Barbara