A few weeks ago I mentioned Muddy Buddies in my Sweet and Sour Meatball post. And sure enough there were comments and emails asking what the heck they were. Some of you have probably heard of this addictive little snack referred to as “Puppy Chow” but I refuse to call anything this delicious by a name referring to dog food. That’s just gross. (I know I know, “mud” isn’t all that much tastier than dog food, but still…)
My little sister made these several times when we were all together for Christmas this past year and it instantly took us back to our childhood days when my Mom would bring them to our neighborhood pool and we’d sit in the sun and snack after a long afternoon of playing in the water.
Now I make them with my own kids and we love that they’re super quick, super easy, and super delicious!
It all starts with this crunchy cereal. You can use any variety of Chex. There’s like a million different flavors now like rice, corn, wheat, and hello- chocolate! I for one choose plain ol’ rice and I go with a cheap-o store brand,
because let’s be honest. The cereal is basically a carrier, or skeleton if you will -to get the chocolate mixture into your mouth (as opposed to just eating it with a spoon from the bowl.) Kind of like the purpose of fruit for this fruit dip, or chips for this dish, or anything that sits under under a pool of Buttermilk Caramel.
So just dump the cereal in a big bowl. Similar to making Caramel Corn, you’ll want to use a bowl that’s larger than you think you need.
The next part is super easy because you just make it right in the microwave. Melt some chocolate chips along with some butter and peanut butter. Three of my most favorite ingredients all in one bowl. I can’t tell you how that warms my heart. (I’m making a little mini-batch for these photos)
Just melt until smooth and stir it up. You’ll add a little vanilla at this point too.
Stir it all up and you’ll have a gooey chocolaty mess. The powdered sugar is going to remedy this problem. Traditionally you put the mix in a zip-lock bag and shake it around with some powdered sugar. I find it much easier (and more practical) to just dump the powdered sugar right in the bowl and stir it up.
The sugar sticks to the wet chocolate and makes everything all pretty and snowy looking. If you can resist eating them all right now, dump them out onto some foil or waxed paper for the chocolate to harden a bit.
Store in an airtight container, or just start munching!
Fabulous party food, and fun for kiddos to help make and eat. My boys devour this stuff.
Questions & Reviews
This is one of my favs. I can literally eat the whole thing myself in one day. Which is bad since I am trying to lose another twenty pounds. lol
Aubree and Susan, Can you have other types of nuts? Several people noted on our facebook page that they've made it with almond butter and it works great, so that's something to try!
I was wondering if you guys had any suggestions for a substitute for the peanut butter. I'm so jealous of all of you because I have always thought this "puppy chow" looked soooo delicious but can't have any because I'm severely allergic to peanuts!
Let me know if anyone has tried it without it or with something else in place of it!!
OMW! Seriously Sara & Kate….i just found your site yesterday. I got up this morning and started perusing your site again and now it's 4:00!!! I love it..obviously! I have a whole list of recipes I can't wait to try. Sara- I live in Idaho, too (Twin Falls). Okay…i must get off now, my butt hurts from sitting so long, and I'm hungry!
That's so funny that you posted this! I made these like 2 days ago! Now they're gone and it's just me and hubby! Love it!
Hear that people?? I actually won a giveaway, woo hoo!!
Miss Sara, you won the jewelry giveaway on my blog! 🙂 Will you email me please?
joshandbeki AT yahoo.com
This is a favorite in our house too! Unfortunately I tend to eat a LOT of these when I make it. Yum!
Robin
Haven't had this since I was a kiddo!
We love these too – and often use the chocolate chex to kick it up a notch… The best snack for movie watching!
this stuff is addicting. I have had it when people have trown m&m's in there… are you kidding me? more chocolate?
thanks for posting it- I have eatten this several times, never made it but now I can!
This recipe saved my life tonight. Thank you for posting it. My husband is working late and I was in desperate need of first, something like this to snack on for myself, and second an activity to do with my kids to pass the time till bedtime. Viola! Thanks again.
Oh, yum!!! I can't believe people haven't heard of these before! I used to eat them all the time as a kid.
Ambrosia in a bowl, that's what that is. Once I start on these, it's very difficult to stop.
Has anyone tried adding peanuts? I like it, but was thinking a different texture would be even better to munch!
My daughter and I made these for our D week for at home preschool. (With wheat chex so I could pretend they were a little bit healthy!!!)
"Pretend Dog Food" She LOVED it. Especially shaking the bag…oh and eating it of course!!
We love these too and just like 'cookies and cups' said they are gluten free. That is a double score. We have made these for neighbor Christmas gifts in the past. I have not been to party around Christmas where these have not been served. Thank you Chex.
These are one of my favorite snacks to make. I usually do a combination of Rice, Corn and Wheat (I somehow feel healthier eating these if I know there is whole wheat Chex in them…)
I LOVE these! I could totally eat the whole batch.
these look so good right now. I've never made them myself but yum, good to know that they can be gluten free I've got some friends that will appreciate that
Mmmm, these are a favorite in my house. They don't last a day! I grew up eating these…we called it puppy chow!
Oh man, I love this stuff so much, I could eat a whole batch. My mom would make it growing up, but called it puppy chow.
Ha ha I just made these last week. Yum! They always get devoured super fast! (And who can argue with chocolate-peanut butter-sugar goodness that's done in 10 or 15 minutes?!) 🙂
Love Muddy Buddies! My sister always makes a double batch for Christmas when we are all home.
Also, if you don't have a large bowl just use a 2 gallon ziplock bag. My sister just dumps in the cereal then the chocolate mixture. Seal the bag shake it up a bit, open the bag and dump the powdered sugar in, seal it and shake it up again and you are all set to eat this yummy goodnes…
I loved these as a kid!
my girl is allergic to peanuts–have you ever made this with almond butter? i would assume it would work the same…?
We just made some. I didn't have any chex so we used cheerios. I'm sure they're a little different but great anyway! Thanks for the idea!
This was my weakness in college!!!! I'm not sure if I'm ready to go down that road again 🙂 They were soooo good! Maybe I'll make this and then package it up right away to give to friends!
my boys would love this!
These are a favorite in my house and if you leave out the vanilla they are also gluten free. score!
There’s gluten in vanilla…? I thought it was just vanilla beans steeped in alcohol.