Muddy Buddies are a crunchy chocolate peanut butter dessert snack that feeds a crowd! This gluten-free sweet treat is sometimes called a crazy name but any name you call it, it’s salty and sweet heaven. This is an easy treat and the best version out there. Great for game nights, holiday season, birthday party or just a favorite snack for hanging out. Always a crowd favorite.

muddy buddies

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MUDDY BUDDY RECIPE

There are so many versions out there but this really is the best version because of the ratio of butter, chocolate, and peanut butter. It’s thick and sticks to the cereal holding the powdered sugar on securely. The original recipe on the back of the General Mills cereal package has a little less butter and peanut butter.

In my opinion, you can’t have too much peanut butter chocolate flavor! The layers of crunchiness are from the crispy corn chex pieces.

WHAT ARE MUDDY BUDDIES?

Rice or Corn Chex coated in a mixture of peanut butter, chocolate, and butter, and dusted with powdered sugar.

CHEX MUDDY BUDDIES INGREDIENTS

This no bake treat is our favorite snack made with simple ingredients. You can make a whole batch in minutes.

  • chocolate chips – you can use semisweet chocolate chips or milk chocolate chips.
  • peanut butter – If you wanted a fun twist you could use crunchy peanut butter. Natural peanut butters aren’t ideal here for the texture.
  • butter – unsalted butter or salted.
  • Chex mix – you can use Rice Chex cereal or Corn Chex. You can even use Golden Grahams for an easy switch.
  • powdered sugar
  • vanilla extract
  • add ins – M&Ms, Rolos, whoppers, sprinkles, pretzels, Reese’s Pieces, Twix pieces

HOW TO MAKE MUDDY BUDDIES

peanut butter and chocolate chips

Melt the chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter in a bowl until melted. Stir in the vanilla and salt.

chex mix and chocolate

You’ll need a large mixing bowl. Larger than this.

chex mix and chocolate

Stir into the cereal thoroughly.

chex mix in a bowl

Sprinkle with powdered sugar stirring until well coated. You can use large ziplock bags for this as well. Or put it in a little plastic bag for snacks.

muddy buddies

A nice powdered sugar coating. Done!

muddy buddies with m&ms

Add M&Ms, sprinkles, Rolos, mini marshmallows, Whoppers, cut up Twix, or whatever you want!

muddy buddies with m&ms

Make them festive!

OTHER NAMES FOR MUDDY BUDDIES

Puppy chow, monkey munch, muddy munch, reindeer chow, or doggy bag.

WHY ARE MUDDY BUDDIES CALLED PUPPY CHOW?

Because it resembles the appearance of dog food.

CHEX MIX MUDDY BUDDIES

You can use Rice Chex, Corn Chex, Chocolate Chex, or Peanut butter Chex. This recipe calls for Corn or Rice Chex.

HOW TO MAKE MUDDY BUDDIES

  1. In a medium microwave safe bowl, add the chocolate cups, peanut butter, and butter. Melt in 30 second intervals in the microwave, stirring in between, until mixture is smooth. Stir in the vanilla and salt.

  2. In a very large bowl, add the cereal. Pour the chocolate peanut butter mixture on top and stir until evenly coated. Sprinkle the powdered sugar on top of the cereal mixture and stir until well coated.

  3. Mix ins aren’t necessary but you can add M&Ms, pretzels, sprinkles, Rolos, Whoppers, etc.

ARE MUDDY BUDDIES GLUTEN-FREE?

Yes. Rice Chex and Corn Chex are gluten-free.

HOW TO STORE

Keep in an airtight container up to two weeks.

OTHER EASY SNACKS

muddy buddies

Muddy Buddies

4.80 from 5 votes
Muddy Buddies are a crunchy chocolate peanut butter dessert snack that feeds a crowd! This gluten-free treat is sometimes called puppy chow but any name you call it, it's salty and sweet heaven. This is the best version out there.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 16 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 (12 ounce) package semi-sweet chocolate chips, (about 2 cups)
  • 1 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 (12 ounce) box Rice Chex or Corn Chex, (about 9-10 cups)
  • 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar, (more as needed)

Instructions
 

  • In a medium microwave safe bowl, add the chocolate cups, peanut butter, and butter. Melt in 30 second intervals in the microwave, stirring in between, until mixture is smooth. Stir in the vanilla and salt.
  • In a very large bowl, add the cereal. Pour the chocolate mixture on top and stir until evenly coated. Sprinkle the powdered sugar on top and stir until well coated adding more if needed.
  • Mix ins aren't necessary but you can add M&Ms, pretzels, sprinkles, Rolos, Whoppers, etc. Keep in an airtight container up to two weeks.
Cuisine: American
Course: All Recipes, Dessert
christmas muddy buddies muddy buddies
author avatar
Christy Denney
Christy is the voice behind The Girl Who Who Ate Everything! She is no stranger to making meals that kids and adults will love. She grew up in Mesa, Arizona as the youngest of ten kids. She can always be found in her kitchen with music playing and cooking with her kids. She published her first cookbook in 2014. She loves party food that gets the conversations going!