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Home » Recipes » Single Serving Desserts

By Joanie Zisk Published: Mar 8, 2023 · Updated: Mar 8, 2023 · This post may contain affiliate links · Please read my disclosure

Small Batch Puppy Chow

Jump to Recipe
an overhead view of a bowl of muddy buddies made with white chocolate chips on a silver tray

Easy small batch puppy chow recipe. Chex cereal coated in a mixture of butter, peanut butter, and chocolate then tossed with powdered sugar. The best sweet and salty snack!

a bowl of puppy chow next to a gold napkin

Puppy Chow is one of my favorite snacks. Also known as Muddy Buddies, this sweet treat is made from Chex cereal, chocolate, peanut butter, and powdered sugar. Despite its name, Puppy Chow is not meant for dogs, but rather for humans who enjoy a sweet and crunchy snack.

Jump to:
  • Why Is It Called Puppy Chow?
  • What Is The Difference Between Puppy Chow And Muddy Buddies?
  • Why This Recipe Works
  • Ingredients
  • Ingredient Notes
  • How To Make Puppy Chow
  • Expert Tips
  • Variations
  • Storage
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
  • Recipe

Why Is It Called Puppy Chow?

Puppy Chow is believed to have originated in the Midwest and looks very much like dog kibble.

What Is The Difference Between Puppy Chow And Muddy Buddies?

No difference - Muddy Buddies is the official name of the recipe marketed by the maker of the original chocolate-covered cereal treat, General Mills. This snack is also known as Muddy Munch, Monkey Munch, and Reindeer Chow.

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Why This Recipe Works

  • Made with pantry staples: Puppy Chow is made with ingredients you may already have in your pantry. This easy no-bake dessert recipe is a scaled-down version of the Puppy Chow recipe I've been making for years. It's a tested and perfected recipe that everyone loves!
  • Easy to customize: While the basic recipe for Puppy Chow is delicious, there are many ways to customize it by adding new flavors and textures. Some popular additions include adding M&Ms, pretzels, crushed Oreo cookies, or extra chocolate chips. Although I use white chocolate chips to create a white chocolate Puppy Chow, you can use semi-sweet chocolate chips or dark chocolate chips instead.
  • Recipe can be doubled: If you'd like to make a larger batch of Puppy Chow, just double or triple the ingredient amounts.

Ingredients

white chocolate puppy chow ingredients on a kitchen counter

Ingredient Notes

See below for ways to use leftover ingredients.

  • Rice cereal: Use Chex cereal or a generic equivalent. Although I mostly use Rice Chex, you can use a different variety like corn or wheat.
  • Chocolate chips: I like making Puppy Chow with white chocolate chips but you can use dark chocolate chips or semi-sweet chocolate instead.
  • Peanut butter: I recommend using creamy peanut butter. Don't use natural peanut butter because of the oil separation. Feel free to use another nut or seed butter if you have a peanut allergy.
  • Butter: Use salted or unsalted butter.
  • Powdered sugar: Also called confectioners' sugar, this ingredient gives the Puppy Chow its signature white-dusted look.

This is just an overview of the ingredients I used and why I used them. For the full recipe please scroll down to the recipe box at the bottom of the post.

How To Make Puppy Chow

See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.

  1. Place the white chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter in a medium-sized microwave-safe bowl.
white chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter in a large mixing bowl
  1. Microwave on high in 30 seconds intervals, mixing in between until the chocolate has completely melted. Stir until smooth
melted chocolate chips and butter and peanut butter in a mixing bowl
  1. Add the cereal to the bowl and stir until the cereal is fully coated.
chex cereal in a bowl mixed with peanut butter and white chocolate chips
  1. Transfer the coated cereal to a gallon-sized resealable bag.

Pro Tip: Alternatively, you can keep the cereal in the bowl and stir in the powdered sugar but I find it easier to seal the ziplock bag and shake the ingredients together rather than stirring the ingredients together in the bowl.

puppy chow in a ziplock bag
  1. Pour the powdered sugar into the bag, seal the top, and shake until the cereal is fully coated with the powdered sugar.
white chocolate puppy chow in a ziplock bag
  1. Transfer to a bowl and enjoy.

Pro Tip: The chocolate will not be completely firm but is still great to eat at this point. If you'd like to let the chocolate harden a bit before eating, spread the Puppy Chow out on a rimmed baking sheet or large plate and place it in the refrigerator.

a bowl of puppy chow for one person next to a gold napkin

Expert Tips

  • Read through the entire recipe and the Ingredient Notes section before beginning. Next, gather your ingredients so everything is close at hand.
  • Use fresh ingredients. Stale cereal or old chocolate can affect the flavor and texture of the Puppy Chow.
  • Shake the bag vigorously. When shaking the mixture in the plastic bag it's important to shake it vigorously. This will help to evenly coat the cereal and prevent the sugar from clumping.

Variations

This is the best Puppy Chow recipe - it's not only easy to make but it's easy to customize too. Consider adding in other ingredients like ¼ cup of any of the following: peanuts, pretzels, mini marshmallows, M&Ms or Reese's pieces, or holiday candies.

Storage

Puppy Chow tastes best within 1 to 2 days of making it but will keep well if stored in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Puppy Chow Need To Be Refrigerated?

No. This snack mix can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature.

What If I'm Allergic To Peanut Butter?

For peanut butter-free Puppy Chow, use another type of nut butter or seed butter like cashew butter, almond butter, or sunflower seed butter.

Can I Make Vegan Puppy Chow (Muddy Buddies)?

Yes. To make a dairy-free Puppy Chow, use vegan chocolate chips or vegan white chocolate chips and margarine or vegan butter instead of butter.

Can This Recipe Be Doubled?

Absolutely! As written, this recipe yields a wonderful amount of Puppy Chow for one or two people. If you'd like to make a larger batch, just double the ingredient amounts.

an overhead view of a bowl of muddy buddies made with white chocolate chips on a silver tray

Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients

If you have any ingredients leftover from this small batch Puppy Chow recipe, you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:

  • Peanut butter: Peanut Butter Balls, Peanut Butter Fudge, Buckeyes, Peanut Butter Cookies, Peanut Butter Toast With Apples
  • Chocolate chips: Strawbery Scones, Peppermint Bark, Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies, Skillet Cookie
  • Powdered sugar: Mini Texas Sheet Cake, Two Chocolate Cupcakes, Carrot Souffle, Apple Fritters, Ricotta Cookies, Peanut Butter Pie

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If you’ve tried this small batch Puppy Chow recipe or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.

Also, if you take a picture please tag us on Instagram (@onedishkitchen) we’d love to see it!

Recipe

a bowl of puppy chow for one person next to a gold napkin

Small Batch Puppy Chow

Easy small batch puppy chow recipe. Chex cereal coated in a mixture of butter, peanut butter, and chocolate then tossed with powdered sugar. The best sweet and salty snack!
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
See the post above for expert tips,
FAQs and ways to use leftover ingredients.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 2 servings
Calories: 507kcal
Author: Joanie Zisk

Equipment

  • Mixing bowl

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup white chocolate chips
  • 3 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 2 cups Rice Chex cereal
  • ½ cup powdered sugar
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Place the white chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter in a medium-sized microwave-safe bowl.
  • Microwave on high in 30 seconds intervals, mixing in between, until the chocolate has completely melted. Stir until smooth.
  • Add the cereal to the bowl and stir until the cereal is fully coated.
  • Transfer the coated cereal to a gallon-sized resealable bag.
    Pro Tip: Alternatively, you can keep the cereal in the bowl and stir in the powdered sugar but I find it easier to seal the ziplock bag and shake the ingredients together rather than stirring the ingredients together in the bowl.
  • Pour the powdered sugar into the bag, seal the top, and shake until the cereal is fully coated with the powdered sugar.
  • Transfer to a bowl and enjoy.
    Pro Tip: The chocolate will not be completely firm but is still great to eat at this point. If you'd like to let the chocolate harden a bit before eating, spread the Puppy Chow out on a rimmed baking sheet or large plate and place it in the refrigerator.

Notes

Expert Tips
  • Read through the entire recipe and the Ingredient Notes section before beginning. Next, gather your ingredients so everything is close at hand.
  • Use fresh ingredients. Stale cereal or old chocolate can affect the flavor and texture of the Puppy Chow.
  • Shake the bag vigorously. When shaking the mixture in the plastic bag it's important to shake it vigorously. This will help to evenly coat the cereal and prevent the sugar from clumping.
Storage
Puppy Chow tastes best within 1 to 2 days of making it but will keep well if stored in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
Nutrition Facts
Small Batch Puppy Chow
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 507 Calories from Fat 225
% Daily Value*
Fat 25g38%
Saturated Fat 11g69%
Trans Fat 0.2g
Polyunsaturated Fat 3g
Monounsaturated Fat 8g
Cholesterol 20mg7%
Sodium 310mg13%
Potassium 237mg7%
Carbohydrates 69g23%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 44g49%
Protein 8g16%
Vitamin A 682IU14%
Vitamin C 6mg7%
Calcium 158mg16%
Iron 9mg50%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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About Joanie Zisk

Joanie Zisk is the creator of OneDishKitchen.com, the number one go-to site for single serving recipes. The aim of One Dish Kitchen is to inspire individuals with access to single serving recipes that will enable them to enjoy the preparation of a meal that will nourish both body and soul. Her website is filled with hundreds of easy, flavorful recipes that are tailored for those cooking for one. Joanie is the author of "The Ultimate Cooking For One Cookbook" and her recipes and food photography have been featured in various publications including, TODAY.com, Huffington Post, Real Simple, Self.com,Women’s Day, Buzzfeed, and others. Come say hello and follow Joanie on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and LinkedIn.

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    Recipe Rating




  1. J. Hegyi says

    March 08, 2023 at 8:50 pm

    Great recipe.

    Reply
    • Joanie Zisk says

      March 09, 2023 at 11:15 am

      Thank you.

      Reply

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