This Christmas puppy chow is Chex cereal mixed with peanut butter, chocolate and sprinkles, then coated in powdered sugar and tossed with red and green M&M’s. A fun and easy snack for the holidays!
You can never have too many sweet Christmas recipes! Some of my favorites include peppermint bark, Christmas crack, Christmas popcorn, reindeer chow and this simple yet delicious no bake Christmas puppy chow.
Chex mix, puppy chow, muddy buddies – whatever name you call it by, this chocolate peanut butter treat is always a hit! Christmas puppy chow features the classic flavors, with the addition of sprinkles and M&M’s for extra fun.
Christmas Puppy Chow Ingredients
To make this recipe, you will need rice Chex cereal, semisweet chocolate chips, peanut butter, powdered sugar, Christmas sprinkles and Christmas M&M candies.
How Do You Make Christmas Puppy Chow?
Place the cereal in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, melt the chocolate chips and peanut butter. Pour the chocolate mixture into the cereal and stir to combine. Add the sprinkles and stir once more. Place the powdered sugar in a resealable bag. Add the chocolate covered cereal to the bag, seal the bag then shake to coat. Spread the puppy chow onto a sheet pan to let it dry. Combine the puppy chow with the M&M’s, then serve. You can add a few more sprinkles to the mix as a garnish for an extra festive touch.
Tips For The Perfect Treat
- Cook the chocolate and peanut butter in shorter time increments in the microwave. This will allow for everything to melt without the chance of it burning.
- Christmas puppy chow will stay fresh for a week in an airtight container.
- This recipe works best with creamy peanut butter. Chunky peanut butter will change the texture of the treats, and natural peanut butter is oily and may also be an issue.
- You can give these muddy buddies as a gift by packaging them up in cellophane bags. They’re also great for class parties, especially when served with Grinch punch!
Quick Tip
I do not recommend freezing this recipe, as the M&M’s may bleed their colors when thawed due to condensation.
Recipe FAQs
Is it muddy buddies or puppy chow?
Muddy buddies and puppy chow both refer to the same thing, which is rice Chex coated in chocolate, peanut butter and powdered sugar. The Chex brand officially calls this dish muddy buddies, but the term puppy chow is also a common name.
What is puppy chow made of?
Puppy chow contains rice cereal, chocolate chips, peanut butter and powered sugar. Some recipes also use butter or vanilla extract.
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Flavor Variations
This recipe is delicious as it is, but you can change some of the ingredients to suit your tastes.
- Chocolate: Feel free to swap out the semisweet chocolate for milk chocolate chips or white chocolate chips. You could also use red or green candy melts to add more holiday color.
- Cereal: Try using corn Chex instead of rice Chex for a different flavor.
- Toppings: You can coat your chocolate covered cereal in a combination of powdered sugar and crushed peppermint candy. You can also add other ingredients to make a snack mix like pretzels, mini peanut butter cups, mini marshmallows or mixed nuts.
Christmas puppy chow is a welcome addition to any cookie exchange or winter gathering!
