Puppy Chow

The classic puppy chow: crunchy Chex cereal covered in chocolate, peanut butter, and sugar. It’s the ultimate sugary snack food (and perfect for gifting, too)!

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About Puppy Chow

Whenever a snack craving hits you, homemade puppy chow is always a solid choice, because… chocolate. And peanut butter. And sugar.

I mean, c’mon! You know what I’m talking about here. Puppy chow Chex mix is one of those foods that easily fits any situation thanks to its salty sweetness and sugary crunchiness.

Plus, it’s not too rich, so you can slowly graze on it to your heart’s content.

But wait, what is puppy chow?

Despite the fun-sounding name, this recipe isn’t for the dogs – it’s for anyone who loves a sweet and crunchy treat with the slightest hint of salt. Some regions of the United States also call this treat muddy buddies or even monkey bunch.

Ultimately, “puppy chow” refers to any recipe made with Chex cereal that’s been coated in various sweet candies and sugars. It has roots in the central US and gets its name for resembling puppy chow – just for humans.

And no matter what flavor of puppy chow you’re making, you’ll ultimately have three types of ingredients:

• Chex cereal
• Something that’s tacky, like melted chocolate.
• Something that’s powdery, like sugar or dry cake mix.

And as far as instructions, you’ll usually follow the same three steps:

• Coat the Chex cereal with the tacky ingredients.
• Toss the coated Chex cereal in the dry ingredients.
• Let the finished puppy chow cool and harden.

What are the other names for puppy chow?

Depending on where you’re from, you might have learned to call this sweet-and-crunchy treat by another name. Here are some of the most popular:

• Monkey Munch
• Muddy Buddies
• Muddy Munch
• Reindeer Chow

What’s in classic puppy chow?

In order to make this delicious puppy chow Chex mix, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• Chex cereal – The light and crispy cereal that forms the “base” of any puppy chow recipe.
• Semi-sweet chocolate chips – Melted until smooth and coated over the Chex cereal. You can use an equal portion of any type of chocolate that you’d prefer, but semi-sweet is the traditional choice with puppy chow.
• Creamy peanut butter – Another classic puppy chow ingredient, this adds delicious creaminess and nutty flavor to the melted chocolate. Creamy peanut butter is recommended for a smooth, even finish on the Chex. Also, this recipe has not been tested with natural peanut butter, so the “big brands” like Skippy or Jiff are the only ones I can recommend using.
• Unsalted butter – Adds a little fat content to the chocolate for a smoother texture and better taste, but this is also totally optional.
• Vanilla – Another optional ingredient, but adds some nice flavor.
• Powdered sugar – Used to coat the sticky chocolate and give this puppy chow its trademark powdery look and sweet flavor.

What type of chocolate should you use?

There are many different brands of chocolate chips – even some made by popular candy companies – but from my experience, the best chocolate for baking, fudges, or truffles is Ghirardelli. It consistently performs well while baking, has a great texture (never chalky), and has a delicious flavor. This brand is a little more expensive, but trust me, you’ll appreciate the flavor and consistency you’ll get from the premium quality.

You can find their semi-sweet chocolate chips or semi-sweet chocolate bar either in the bakery aisle of most grocery stores or you can buy it online.

What can you add to puppy chow?

Puppy chow is always good all by itself, but sometimes it’s fun to jazz it up with sweet candies or a salty crunch. Here are a few of my favorites:

• Cheez-its
• Whoppers
• Buttery popcorn
• Other types of M&M’s, such as peanut, peanut butter, mint, butterscotch, etc
• Reese’s Pieces
• Sno-Caps
• Milk Duds
• Mini Rolo’s
• Chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, etc
• Sprinkles
• Caramel popcorn
• Raisinets
• Kettle corn
• Junior Mints
• Cracker Jacks, Crunch ‘n Munch, or Buncha Crunch
• Peanuts, any type
• Bugles
• Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites
• Pretzels or chocolate-covered pretzels
• Mini marshmallows or dehydrated miniature marshmallows
• Other types of cereal, like Cheerios, Corn Flakes, etc

How long is puppy chow good for?

Once made, cooled, and stored in a sealed container, puppy chow will remain good at room temperature for up to one to two weeks.

Can you make puppy chow ahead of time?

Yes, you totally can! Because it can last up to two weeks, it’s great for making in batches for parties or giving away as gifts.

Can you freeze puppy chow?

Yes, you totally can!

Once prepared and set, puppy chow can be stored in a sealed container or freezer bag for up to two months. You can either thaw it before eating or eat it straight from the freezer like a frosty treat.

Notes & tips for this puppy chow recipe

• When making this recipe, you’ll need a big mixing bowl so you have enough room to maneuver and stir. I own a 13 quart mixing bowl for this very reason.
• If you’re running short on ingredients, you can exclude the butter and vanilla.

More puppy chow recipes

How to make puppy chow

This next part is only a photo tutorial of the recipe steps. If you’re looking for the full recipe measurements and instructions, scroll down to Recipe Details.

Step 1 – In a microwave-safe bowl, add the chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter, then microwave it until the chocolate has melted (for best results, follow the instructions on the bag of chips.)

Step 2 – Quickly add the vanilla extract, then stir well.

Step 3 – Add the Chex cereal to a large mixing bowl (I like using a 13-quart mixing bowl), then pour the melted chocolate mixture on top. Use a spatula to gently toss to mix until all the cereal is coated. Tip: while mixing, dig under the cereal, then pull up.

Step 4 – Add powdered sugar to a ZipLoc bag. Working in batches, scoop in a portion of the coated Chex cereal, seal the bag, then shake to coat the cereal in powdered sugar. Repeat this step until all the puppy chow is coated.

Step 5 – Spread the puppy chow out on a flat surface (like a baking sheet) and allow it to cool, dry, and set.

Step 6 – Serve and enjoy!