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!
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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!
7. Salted Caramel Puppy Chow Recipe
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
How to Make Puppy Chow
14. Puppy Chow Eggnog Recipe
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Speaking of Girl Scout cookies, here is another one! Shugary Sweets‘Mint Muddy Buddies is the best! They taste almost as good as Thin Mints.
Holiday Puppy Chow Recipe Ideas
22. Red Puppy Chow Recipe
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Daily Dish Recipes‘ peppermint 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
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!
