How To Make Muddy Buddies
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Muddy Buddies, also known as puppy chow, is quick to make and even quicker to disappear from the table! It’s got everything going for it. Crispy cereal, a chocolate-peanut butter coating, and a generous dusting of powdered sugar, and no baking required!
Table of Contents
- Here’s Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Ingredients You’ll Need
- How To Make Homemade Muddy Buddies
- FAQ
- More Snack Recipes
This is the perfect treat for movie nights, parties, road trips, or whenever you’re craving something sweet, salty, and crunchy all at once. Just toss everything together in a big bowl and you’re good to go.
This recipe comes together in minutes and makes a big batch. Pack it into bags for lunchbox snacks, gift it around the holidays, or just keep a stash on hand for munching.
Besides just snacking on them by the handful, there are lots of great things you can do with muddy buddies.
Pour into big mason jars, tie with ribbon, and give them away as holiday gifts!
You can always buy colorful M&M’s in all sorts of seasonal colors and toss them in with the mix. And if you’re a fan of the sweet-salty flavor combo, try adding pretzels, peanuts, and/or popcorn. You could even get creative and try using white chocolate with sprinkles or crushed up Oreos. Yum!
I also think it’s fun to bag up smaller portions of muddy buddies in cello bags and give them as party favors. This is a great idea for your kids’ class parties!
And they make a great bake-sale item, so keep this recipe in mind when school starts and you are planning those fundraisers!
Here’s Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Fast: Just 10 minutes from start to finish!
- Crowd-pleasing: This snack mix is a hit with both kids and adults.
- Customizable: You can add in mix-ins like pretzels, candy, or nuts.
- No oven needed: Great for warm days or last-minute company.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The recipe card at the bottom of the post contains the full list with all of the amounts. Refer to that when you’re cooking.
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips: Milk chocolate chips also work really well in this recipe.
- Peanut butter: Smooth peanut butter works best, but if you like the chunky kind, that will work, too!
- Unsalted butter: Makes the coating smooth and creamy. If you sub in salted butter, omit the additional salt from the recipe.
- Vanilla extract: Avoid the imitation vanilla! We want the real deal here.
- Kosher salt: Balances the sweetness and brings out the chocolate flavor.
- Crispy cereal squares: Chex or any similar rice cereal works well.
- Powdered sugar: Coats each piece in a sweet, powdery finish.
How To Make Homemade Muddy Buddies
Step 1: Melt the coating
In a large, microwave-safe bowl, combine the chocolate chips, peanut butter, butter, vanilla, and salt. Microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring after each round, until smooth. If you prefer, you can melt the mixture in a heatproof bowl over simmering water.
Step 2: Coat the cereal
Add the cereal to the bowl and stir gently until every square is evenly coated. Try not to crush the cereal as you mix.
Step 3: Add the sugar
Sprinkle the powdered sugar over the coated cereal, and toss everything together until fully covered. Work in batches if needed to get an even coating.
Helpful Tips and Tricks
- Use a large zip-top bag to shake the cereal with powdered sugar
- Let the coated cereal cool slightly before adding the sugar to avoid clumping
- Add mini M&Ms, crushed pretzels, or peanuts for extra texture and flavor
FAQ
Yes, both almond butter and sunflower seed butter work well.
Keep them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.
Yes. They freeze beautifully and can be enjoyed straight from the freezer.
More Snack Recipes
How to Make Muddy Buddies
Ingredients
- 1 cup (180 g) semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup (129 g) peanut butter
- 1/4 cup (56.75 g) unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 9 cups (360 g) crispy cereal squares, (such as Chex)
- 2 1/2 cups (300 g) powdered sugar
Instructions
- Place the chocolate chips, peanut butter, butter, vanilla, and salt in a large bowl and microwave* in 30-second increments, stirring.
- Stir the mixture together until smooth.
- Add the cereal and gently stir until all the squares are evenly coated.
- Add the powdered sugar and toss to coat.
I just made this recipe a few days ago..they’re very good! Even my Dad, who doesn’t eat much chocolate, said these were “Not bad.” (That’s high praise lol)
Haha I’ll take it! Thank you (and thank your Dad!) for the good feedback!
Yesssss-a total fave!!! And so nostalgic too!
I could snack on this deliciousness all day long!
Such a good snack! Love this so much!