30 Puppy Chow Snack Recipes (Muddy Buddy Recipes) (2024)

We have a collection of the absolutely best puppy chow recipes which are also known as muddy buddies, monkey munch or muddy munch. Puppy chow is the perfect snack anytime we want a sweet treat, yummy snack or special dessert. Here are our favorite puppy chow recipe variations that you have to try!

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Best Puppy Chow Snack Recipes

My family LOVES puppy chow. Don’t worry, I don’t mean the kind dog’s eat, not dog food for us, but rather, the super delicious treat! Calling it puppy chow originally stated in the midwestern states of the US, but it is now pretty universally known as puppy chow.

What is Puppy Chow?

Puppy chow is a fancy snack mix that usually consists of a coated Chex cereal (chocolate, white chocolate, peanut butter, butterscotch or other candy coating) sprinkled with powdered sugar mixed with other bite size treats like candies, cookie pieces, nuts, marshmallows, chocolate chips and other cereals. All that goodness put together with a stir or a shake and the resulting treat will simply melt in your mouth!

Why is it called puppy chow?

It seems obvious that the reason we call these recipes puppy chow is how closely it resembles dog food! The dog kibble resemblance is enhanced when puppy chow is served in a large bowl that looks like a dog bowl.

Is Muddy Buddies the same as puppy chow?

Yes, puppy chow and muddy buddies can be used interchangeably. Other names include monkey munch, muddy munch or doggy bag.

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What is puppy chow made of?

Most puppy chow recipes start with a crunchy cereal like Chex (Corn Chex cereal, Wheat Chex cereal or my favorite Rice Chex cereal) and add a flavoring like peanut butter and/or chocolate, butter, vanilla and powdered sugar. Variations to add different types of cereal, candies and different types of flavors like mint.

You can easily make gluten-free versions of puppy chow by choosing a gluten-free cereal and making sure the other ingredients pass as well.

My Favorite Muddy Buddy Recipe

I honestly don’t know which is the best puppy chow recipe! They all are so good…

1. S’mores Muddy Buddies Recipe

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Like Mother Like Daughter‘sS’mores muddy buddies are delicious and way less messy and sticky than a regular smore. My children LOVED this one. It’s a fun twist of the traditional muddy buddies recipe and the leftovers were even better the next day after being stored in an airtight container.

2. Birthday Cake Puppy Chow Recipe

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This birthday cake cookie puppy chow, from Deliciously Sprinkled, is one of my favorites, and is so festive and fun that it would go great at a birthday party. Sit it in a large bowl or put it in individual baggies, this is sure to please. I mean, powdered sugar is always the best, eh?

3. Nutella Muddy Buddies Recipe

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If you’re crazy about Nutella like I am then you are going to love this recipe, from Belle of the Kitchen. Nutella muddy buddies are sweet, chocolatey, and nutty! All you need is a half cup butter, Nutella, chocolate chips, powdered sugar, and General Mills Chex Cereal all mixed in a large bowl! This chocolate peanut butter mixture, ahem, I mean nutella mixture is sure to please!

4. Charlie Brown Mix Recipe

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I can’t wait to kick back and watch some Charlie Brown with my kiddo this weekend, while eating Totally the Bomb‘s Charlie Brown mix! This Charlie brown mix has traditional puppy chow, yellow M&M’s, and zig zag chocolate pieces! You’ll need to make the chocolate zig zags using a plastic bag and parchment paper.

5. Brownie Muddy Buddies Recipe

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Double up on the chocolate with this brownie muddy buddies from Fresh April Flours. This chocolate mixture is so good! But don’t worry it’s not too sweet. It has sugar and semi-sweet chocolate chips, but the unsweetened cocoa powder helps even it out. This sweet cereal mixture is sure to please.

6. Fun Muddy Buddies Flavors Recipe

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Welcome summer with Totally the Bomb‘s lime muddy buddies! This is one of the fun muddy buddies flavors I was talking about. It is sweet, crunchy, and tart, perfect for a summer treat. You don’t need milk chocolate or semisweet chocolate chips for this one! It uses white chocolate instead!

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7. Salted Caramel Puppy Chow Recipe

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Don’t wait for Fall to make The Cookie Rookie‘s yummy salted caramel puppy chow – it’s so good! Salted caramel is one of my favorite flavors. Don’t worry, it’s a simple recipe, you don’t have to make your own caramel or anything.

8. Peanut Butter Muddy Buddies Recipe

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Peanut butter lovers! Here is an amazing peanut butter muddy buddies, from Dessert Now Dinner Later, that you will adore. Creamy peanut butter and chocolate are the best mixture.

9. Heath Muddy Buddy Mix Recipe

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If Reese’s aren’t your thing, maybe you’ll like Your Cup of Cake‘s Heath muddy buddy mix. This Heath muddy buddy mix is crunchy, sweet, and buttery. It has always been one of my favorite candy bar.

10. Melted Snickers Puppy Chow Recipe

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Not a fan of the Heath muddy buddy mix? Then maybe you’ll love this melted snickers puppy chowfrom Chef In Training. Caramel, peanuts, chocolates, it’s perfect! Don’t worry, it’s and easy puppy chow recipe that you can use rice cereal or corn Chex in.

11. Butterfinger Puppy Chow Desserts Recipe

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Just in case….You can also make A Latte Food‘s Butterfingerpuppy chow desserts.Peanut butter, chocolate, and butterfingers, my mouth is watering already!

12. Captain Crunch Puppy Chow Recipe

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Try this Captain Crunch puppy chow, from With Salt and Wit. Yum! Add peanut butter peanut butter cereal, peanut butter chips, chocolate, and powdered sugar! A sweet cereal mix.

13. Bubble Gum Puppy Dog Chow Recipe

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Baking Beauty‘s bubble gum puppy dog chow sounds like fun – don’t worry, no gum is in the actual recipe! Just the nostalgic delicious flavor of bubble gum.

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How to Make Puppy Chow

14. Puppy Chow Eggnog Recipe

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Don’t wait for Christmas to have eggnog, make Puppy Chow Eggnog snack, from Wine and Glue. Be festive all year round!

15. Mocha Cappuccino Mix Recipe

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This mocha cappuccino mix, from Inside Bru Crew Life, sounds incredible – I can’t wait to try it! Mocha is one of the best combinations to me. It’s coffee, which is life juice, and chocolate, who could want anything more?

16. Lemon Muddy Buddies Recipe

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If you want to stay away from Chocolate, try these lemon muddy buddies,from A Few Shortcuts. I love how sweet they are and the fresh citrus taste. It almost reminds me of the flavor of lemon cake.

17. Root Beer Puppy Chow Mix Recipe

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Wow, there is even a root beer puppy chow mix mix! I can’t wait to make this recipe, from Tasty Kitchen. It tastes like a root beer float! So good!

18. Orange Creamsicle Muddy Buddies Recipe

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The Gunny Sack’s orange creamsicle muddy buddies mix sounds like a fun summertime mix. Creamy, citrusy, and delicious. I am very excited to try this. Link no longer available.

19. Pink Lemonade Muddy Buddies Recipe

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Also fun for summer is this pink lemonade puppy muddy buddies, fromSomething Swanky. It’s bright, tangy, and sweet. The perfect summer snack!

20. Samoa Cereal Treat Recipe

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Your Cup of Cake‘s Girl Scout cookie inspired Samoa cereal treat are to die for. So good! Now I can enjoy Samoa’s even when I can’t get my hands on them!

21. Mint Muddy Buddies Recipe

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Speaking of Girl Scout cookies, here is another one! Shugary SweetsMint Muddy Buddies is the best! They taste almost as good as Thin Mints.

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Holiday Puppy Chow Recipe Ideas

22. Red Puppy Chow Recipe

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Treat your Valentine to Your Cup of Cake‘s Red Puppy Chow! It tastes just like red velvet cake! Which I might add, is my favorite type of cake!

23. Mardi Gras Dog Chow Recipe

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Celebrate Mardi Gras with Totally the Bomb‘s Mardi Gras dog chow recipe.It’s purple, green, and gold! Perfect for celebrating Mardi Gras. The chocolate pretzels you’ll either have to heat up in a microwave-safe bowl, or lay on a baking sheet and heat up in the oven.

24. St. Patrick’s Day Puppy Chow Recipe

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Appreciate the luck of the Irish with this tasty St. Patrick’s Day puppy chow, from Gal On A Mission. While this seems like traditional puppy chow it has a fun twist. It is minty!

25. Easter Muddy Buddies Recipe

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Whip up a batch of Frugal Momeh!‘s Easter muddy buddies while you wait for the bunny! This is pretty and delicious. I love the pastel and bright colors of the candy and puppy chow.

26. Pumpkin Spice Puppy Chow Recipe

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Pumpkin Spice all thing things… including this pumpkin spice puppy chow recipe, with this delicious idea from Sally’s Baking Addiction. The best part is it includes mallowcreme pumpkins.

27. Pumpkin Pie Puppy Chow Recipe

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Still craving pumpkin? Try this pumpkin pie chow, from Sweet Pennies from Heaven. Now you can enjoy the flavor of pumpkin pie all year long! It’s a fun snack with a taste of fall.

28. Christmas Puppy Chow Recipe

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Cookies aren’t the only thing Santa loves… try this yummy Christmas Puppy Chow, from Lil Luna. It is traditional puppy chow with holiday M&M’s making it a festive treat. My family also called this Reindeer chow and we’d leave some out for Santa’s reindeer.

29. Peppermint Puppy Chow Recipe

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Daily Dish Recipespeppermint puppy chow is a great addition to cookie platters to hand out to friends and family for the holidays! Sweet, minty, festive, plus it is white and red!

30. Christmas Puppy Chow Recipe

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Gingerbread screams Christmas to me. If you love gingerbread then you’ll love Dessert Now Dinner Later‘s Christmas puppy chow recipe while you decorate your gingerbread house.

Storing a Recipe for Puppy Chow

It never lasts very long in my house. However, I have always made traditional puppy chow.

And as long as you keep in in an airtight container and at least room temperature it’ll stay good for a hot minute, if it lasts that long. If you have a very dense recipe that doesn’t dry completely, you may want to place it in the fridge if you have leftovers!

How long does puppy chow last?

You can store most puppy chow recipe leftovers for up to a week at room temperature in an airtight container. You can also freeze your finished muddy buddy recipe once it is cooled for up to 3 months.

More Delicious Snack Recipes From Kids Activities Blog

We love muddy buddy recipes, but we have another great recipe for you to try! Choose any of these easy recipes that use simple ingredients down below!

  • Move over cereal squares, this sweet Shark Bait Snack Mix uses butter flavored puff corn! What a sweet snack your kids will love.
  • Crockpot Trail Mix is delicious, savory, and sweet! Rice Chex Mix, Cheerios, and a couple other ingredients added in the crockpot with seasoning makes this one of the easiest recipes!
  • Red, white, and blue trail mix is sweet treat. Cover the crispy rice squares in melted chocolate! We used white chocolate chips of course, but then add fruit and M&Ms.
  • Kids toasted trail mix has cups of Chex, pretzels, Triscuits, and peanuts. Don’t worry, they’re whole peanuts, no needing to mess with any sticky peanut butter mixture or anything.
  • Make this Trail Mix for kids using this classic recipe. This is the original recipe that uses things like dried fruit, nuts, and chocolate chips.
  • Are you looking for more recipes? We have so many different sweet treats ideas you will love!

Which of the puppy chow recipes are you going to make first? Did we miss a favorite puppy chow recipe that you love? <–Please add it in the comments below!

30 Puppy Chow Snack Recipes (Muddy Buddy Recipes) (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between puppy chow and Muddy Buddies? ›

This treat is called Puppy Chow or Muddy Buddies depending on the region. There is no distinction between the two recipes, it is just one recipe that goes by two names. It is also sometimes called Muddy Munch, Reindeer Chow or Puppy Food.

What came first puppy chow or Muddy Buddies? ›

In 2002 General Mills developed Muddy Buddies, the same recipe as Puppy Chow. But it can't be said that General Mills invented the recipe since Midwesterners recall seeing it and eating it long before the early 2000s.

What are the names of the Muddy Buddies? ›

Puppy chow, also known as monkey munch, muddy buddies, muddy munch, reindeer chow, or doggy bag, is the name for a homemade candy made in the United States, primarily in the Midwestern States.

What is puppy chow snack made of? ›

What Is Puppy Chow? “Puppy chow” (a.k.a. muddy buddies) is the name for a homemade candy or snack that's made with cereal, chocolate, peanut butter, and powdered sugar. General Mills sells their own version of the popular treat, but it's easy to make at home with just a few ingredients.

Why is puppy chow hard to find? ›

If pet food aisles seem sparse, it's likely due to supply chain issues. A familiar issue lately for stores and consumers (especially over the past few years), supply chain issues have affected almost everything you can think of. In this case, these supply chain issues are significantly impacting smaller stores.

What is the Southern name for puppy chow? ›

This quick, no-bake puppy snack mix will also answer to other names such as Muddy Buddies, Muddy Munch, Monkey Munch, or Reindeer Chow. Think of it as sweet chocolate and peanut butter Chex mix.

What is puppy chow slang for? ›

Slang for Heroin

Black tar, smack, H, Negra/o, puppy chow, dog food, onyx, beat, BT, black girl and the frequently used term “sh*t” all reference Heroin.

Why do they call it puppy chow? ›

How Puppy Chow Got Its Name. Chex cereal, originally made by the Ralston Purina Company, debuted in grocery stores in 1937. Because the company referred to their dog food as “dog chow” and cat food as “cat chow,” they jokingly called their new cereal line “human chow,” according to Taste.

Can dogs eat Muddy Buddies? ›

Puppy Chow (also known as Muddy Buddies) is a great last-minute snack that can be completely ready in under 10 minutes! Loaded with plenty of peanut butter and chocolate, this is a super crave-able snack. Please note that this recipe is for humans only and is not dog-friendly!

What is another name for puppy chow recipe? ›

There's sort of an ongoing debate about the name of this chocolate-covered cereal treat. Some people call it puppy chow, while others know it by different names: muddy munch, monkey munch, or muddy buddies. Muddy Buddies is actually the official name of the recipe marketed by General Mills, the maker of Chex cereal.

Is puppy chow a Midwest thing? ›

Puppy chow is a party staple in the Midwest, but not everywhere else. Puppy chow — a snack mix made of Chex cereal covered in melted chocolate, peanut butter, and powdered sugar — is often a fixture at parties. People outside of the Midwest have often never heard of it, and they don't know what they're missing.

Do Muddy Buddies have wheat? ›

Ingredients & Allergens

Freshness Preserved by Calcium Propionate, TBHQ and Citric Acid. CONTAINS PEANUT, SOY AND MILK; MAY CONTAIN WHEAT INGREDIENTS.

Are Muddy Buddies the same as puppy chow? ›

This classic chocolate, peanut butter and powdered sugar Chex™ Mix recipe has been a beloved part of families' kitchens for years. Transform Chex™ cereal into a delicious treat in just 15 minutes. We call it Muddy Buddies™, but you may know it as Puppy Chow.

What states eat puppy chow? ›

The puppy chow belt runs through the Dakotas, Iowa, Nebraska, and Wisconsin, fanning out into the surrounding areas. There it is at every potluck, picnic, and holiday party table. Children learn to make it early and often.

Why is my puppy chow soggy? ›

Without giving the 'chow time to cool, all that scalding-hot fat will continue to absorb the powdered sugar, making it too sweet and a bit soggy inside . Spread the stuff out on a sheet pan and let it rest for 20ish minutes before tossing the mix in powdered sugar.

Why do some people call Muddy Buddies puppy chow? ›

Its brown kibble-like appearance harkens back to the chow of the Purina company, and the name wasn't subtle, people called it Puppy Chow, knowing well that the dog food company manufactured that cereal. While party mix was a little more universally known for many decades, Puppy Chow was a neat quirk of the Midwest.

When should I switch from puppy chow? ›

Most of the time, 10 to 12 months of age is a safe time frame. If you're unsure it's better to err on the side of caution and keep your pup on puppy food a little longer than needed. But don't overdo it: all those extra calories can lead to obesity if an adult dog eats puppy food for too long.

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