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Chocolate Peppermint Puppy Chow

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This crunchy and sweet dark chocolate peppermint puppy chow mix is perfect for the Christmas. It only takes a few minutes to make and has the perfect mix of candy canes and chocolate.

Close up of a bowl of dark chocolate peppermint muddy buddies coated in powdered sugar and candy canes, ready to eat.

Chocolate and peppermint are a classic holiday flavor combination. This chocolate peppermint Chex mix is a fun way to get that yummy flavor in a no bake and super fun snack mix.

Make some as part of your holiday treat making, you won’t be sorry. This recipe is a super quick and easy way to add a little more chocolate mint goodness to the menu.

The resulting candy cane muddy buddies perfect for munching on and will remind you a bit of Thin Mints. It is hard to stop eating it once you get started, so be warned!

This Puppy Chow is for Humans

First of all, let me start off by saying you should not feed this to reindeer or puppies. I have gotten very concerned comments on past puppy chow posts about how dangerous it is to feed chocolate to your animals.

Ingredients: rice Chex, candy canes, dark chocolate chips, oil and powdered sugar ready to be made into Christmas puppy chow.

That is just the name we grew up calling this snack mix. It basically refers to chocolate covered cereal that is usually dusted in powdered sugar.

Supposedly the name comes from the fact that a bowl of puppy chow looks similar to a bowl of kibble. It may not be the most attractive food, but is sure is good.

What is the difference between Muddy Buddies and puppy chow?

Nothing. The terms Muddy Buddies, puppy chow and chocolate Chex mix all refer to cereal coated in chocolate and then dusted in powdered sugar. The name you call it might depend on the region you grew up in or where you first encountered this tasty snack.

Have Fun Changing Up the Flavors

In our family, puppy chow is a perfect holiday treat. While we love the original chocolate and peanut butter version, we also love to change it up.

The brownie batter puppy chow I shared early in this blog’s life was one of the first recipes that really got noticed on Pinterest.  It is still popular to this day.

Chex cereal coated in dark chocolate and crushed candy canes.

Then I made some red velvet puppy chow last year for Valentine’s Day and it was fun as well. It had sprinkles, pretzels and hint of red to make it fun and festive.

This version might rank among my new favorites though.  I love the added crunch the bits of candy cane give and it just feels like Christmas.

Of course if you don’t like dark chocolate, you can opt for something else.  Semi-sweet chips or milk chocolate would be wonderful as well. 

Using white chocolate would e delicious too. But there is something about the dark chocolate and candy cane mix that really called to me.

Serving bowl filled with Christmas muddy buddies next to candy canes, ready to eat.

You are welcome to unwrap and crush candy canes if you’d like.  You could also pulse them in your food processor a bit to make it easier.

However, if you check out the Christmas candy section of your grocery store there is likely a bag of candy cane bits there.  That saves you the hassle and mess of unwrapping and breaking them up yourself!

This batch of reindeer chow went to work with me.  Now I need to whip up some more for home.  I know that batch won’t last long either.

Have you tried any fun variations of puppy chow? What are your favorite sweet snack mixes?

Close up of a bowl of dark chocolate peppermint muddy buddies coated in powdered sugar and candy canes, ready to eat.

Candy Cane Dark Chocolate Puppy Chow

Carlee
This crunchy and sweet dark chocolate peppermint puppy chow mix is perfect for the Christmas. It only takes a few minutes to make and has the perfect mix of candy canes and chocolate.
4.89 from 9 ratings
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12 Servings
Calories 345 kcal

Ingredients
 

  • 7 cups chex cereal we used the rice version
  • 10 oz. dark chocolate chips
  • 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1 cup crushed candy canes divided
  • 2 cups powdered sugar

Instructions
 

  • Put the powdered sugar and ¼ cup of candy cane bits in a gallon zippered plastic bag and set aside.
    2 cups powdered sugar
  • In a large microwave safe bowl, microwave the chocolate chips and vegetable oil in 30 seconds at a time. Stir between each trip to the microwave and continue cooking a bit at a time until it is smooth. Be careful not to burn the chocolate.
    10 oz. dark chocolate chips, 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
  • Stir in ¾ cup of candy canes and the cereal until coated. Put chocolate coated cereal in the bag with powdered sugar. Zip tightly and shake to coat.
    7 cups chex cereal
  • Store in an airtight container until ready to serve.

Nutrition

Serving: 1ServingCalories: 345kcalCarbohydrates: 67gProtein: 2gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 2mgSodium: 124mgFiber: 2gSugar: 42g
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Recipe Rating




Big Rigs 'n Lil' Cookies

Friday 28th of December 2018

I haven't made puppy chow in years, and I have to say that I love the idea of adding dark chocolate to the mix! You always know how to tempt my sweet tooth! Hope you had a Merry Christmas!

Carlee

Monday 24th of December 2018

It's a fun one, isn't it? Merry Christmas!

Frugal Hausfrau

Friday 21st of December 2018

You are so creative wiht the puppy chow! I love how you have changed it up so it was great of you to include the different varieties!. Love the original, too!

Carlee

Monday 24th of December 2018

Thank you! I still need to make hubby a batch of the original!

Carlee

Monday 24th of December 2018

Thank you! I still need to make my husband a batch of the original. Maybe today!

Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen

Wednesday 19th of December 2018

Hello, new favorite Christmas snack! This sounds amazing, Carlee! You just can't go wrong with chocolate and mint.

Carlee

Monday 24th of December 2018

I agree!

Andrea Nine

Wednesday 19th of December 2018

I love a new puppy chow recipe and this is perfect for the Holiday, Love that you used dark Chocolate! Have a wonderful, festive day!

Carlee

Monday 24th of December 2018

It was so good with the sweet peppermint candy canes. Thank you!