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Original Puppy Chow with Chocolate and Peanut Butter

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Chocolate and peanut butter puppy chow is the perfect sweet snack mix. There are a ton of flavor variations, but this original puppy chow recipe is still the favorite. It’s only 4 ingredients and finger licking good.

Bowl of original puppy chow with chocolate and peanut butter coated Chex cereal covered with powdered sugar.

The puppy chow recipe that started it all. This favorite snack has the perfect combination of peanut butter and chocolate with a bit of crunch and leaves you fun powdered sugar fingers just waiting to be licked. We have to have a batch every Christmas, but love it all year long.

It seems a little silly sharing a recipe for the tried and true original puppy chow. So many people I know already know and love it.

bowl of muddy buddies with a spoonful of peanut butter and pile of chocolate chips.

But judging by the comments I get on some of my puppy chow variations, not everyone grew up with it like we did.

So for those of you who are unfamiliar, let me start by saying this is not meant to be fed to puppies. Chocolate can make dogs sick.

I am not sure how the name got started. Perhaps because the shape and chocolate coating my remind you of kibble.

Chocolate chips and peanut butter in bowl ready to be melted and made into original puppy chow.

The flavor however will definitely not make you think of dog chow! It is sweet heavenly yumminess!

Some people call this mix muddy buddies instead, probably to avoid the confusion. But where I’m from almost everyone calls it puppy chow.

It really doesn’t get much more simple to make. It just takes 4 ingredients and a few minutes of your time.

Start by melting chocolate and peanut butter together. I’ve always used semi-sweet chocolate chips for this.

You are welcome to try your favorite kind of chocolate. I just find that with the powdered sugar coating, you don’t need to start with a sweet chocolate.

The creamy peanut butter and melted chocolate just take a minute or two to melt in the microwave. You want to stop as soon as you can stir it into a smooth consistency. You don’t want to scorch the chocolate!

Bowl of Chex cereal coated in melted chocolate and peanut butter, ready to go in the bag of powdered sugar.

Then stir in the cereal. Just keep folding it until it is all coated.

Now for the fun bit. Add it to a zipper topped bag with powdered sugar and give it a shake shake shake.

This helps set the coating and gives it that trademark finish. Those powdered sugar fingers are a sign of a good time!

While the different variations we’ve made over the years have all been good, this version still reigns supreme. Perhaps it’s due to the nostalgia or maybe it just is the perfect combination of flavors.

No matter the reason, if this is something you’ve never tried before you definitely need to change that. If it’s just been a while, you should change that too!

Have you tried a fun and different kind of puppy chow? I’d love to hear all about it!

Are puppy chow and muddy buddies the same thing?

Yes, snacks referred to as puppy chow, muddy buddies, monkey munch, reindeer chow and other names usually all refer to a crisp cereal coated in melted chocolate, and usually peanut butter. The mixture is coated in powdered sugar and enjoyed as a sweet snack mix.

More fun puppy chow recipes:

Reindeer Chow  is a fun Christmas snack mix with dark chocolate and bits of candy cane. Rudolph would love it for sure!

bowl of powder sugar coated muddy buddies ready to eat.

Red Velvet Puppy Chow is a fun pink-ish version of puppy chow. It uses red velvet cake mix for color and flavor!

Fall Puppy Chow is a combination of hillbilly hash and puppy chow. I use white chocolate and toss in peanuts and candy corn.  My family goes squirrely for it every time!

Or try Christmas Puppy Chow with peanut butter filled pretzels and holiday candies. It is extra festive and adds a little more salty crunch to the mix.

Love this recipe? Give it a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review in the recipe card below!

Bowl of original puppy chow with chocolate and peanut butter coated Chex cereal covered with powdered sugar.

Puppy Chow

Carlee
Original puppy chow was a childhood favorite of almost everyone I know. It's only 4 ingredients and full of chocolate and peanut butter goodness.
4.91 from 11 ratings
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 2 minutes
Total Time 7 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 14 Servings
Calories 280 kcal

Ingredients
 

  • 1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 7 cups rice chex
  • 2 cups powdered sugar

Instructions
 

  • In a large microwave safe bowl, heat chocolate chips and peanut butter for 30 seconds on high. Stir well and then return to the microwave, heating in 15 second bursts. Stir after each trip to the microwave and stop once it stirs smooth.
    1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips, 1 cup creamy peanut butter
  • Add the cereal and carefully stir to coat. You don’t want to crush the cereal, but it all should be well coated.
    7 cups rice chex
  • Add powdered sugar to a gallon zipper bag, then add the chocolate coated cereal. Close the bag and shake to coat.
    2 cups powdered sugar
  • Allow to set completely before serving. Store in an airtight container.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1ServingCalories: 280kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 5gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gSodium: 199mgFiber: 2gSugar: 24g
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Recipe Rating




Carlee

Monday 21st of January 2019

Thank you!

Erlene

Friday 11th of January 2019

I've seen this, but I didn't grow up eating it. I'm sure it's tasty though as it's been around forever. Pinned.

Carlee

Monday 21st of January 2019

It really is good, just be warned that if you make some it will be hard to share!

Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen

Monday 7th of January 2019

I didn't grow up eating puppy chow so it's fairly new to me but it's absolutely a favorite treat. This looks so good right now!

Carlee

Monday 21st of January 2019

It is sooooo easy and super delicious!

Anonymous

Monday 7th of January 2019

Such a classic yummy treat! No devices will let me comment as me so it’s Andrea Nine and I hope you have the BEST Monday!

Carlee

Monday 21st of January 2019

Hi Andrea! The devices are out to get you today, huh? Or keep you incognito at least!

mommar6

Monday 7th of January 2019

It’s fun that this is still one of your favorites. I’m pretty sure you are the one who introduced this to me back when you were in grade school. You came home from a bake sale and said it sold out quickly at every sale and that we needed to make it. We found the recipe on the cereal box and have enjoyed it ever since!

Carlee

Monday 21st of January 2019

<3 That sounds about right! It's hard to imagine life without it ;-)