This Christmas Puppy Chow is a delicious and easy no-bake holiday treat! Crispy cereal chocolate in a delicious chocolate peanut butter mixture and then tossed with powdered sugar. Like the Pretzel m&m's Hugs, this is perfect for gifting, or for enjoying as a festive snack.
Need another great holiday treat? Be sure to try the Rolo Turtle Pretzels, so yummy!
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Why you'll love this recipe
✔️ It's no-bake and this easy treat only takes about 15 minutes to make.
✔️ This is also a great sweet treat to give as a gift to teachers and neighbors.
✔️ This coated cereal snack is a great addition to your holiday movie night.
✔️ You only need a few simple ingredients to make this festive recipe.
Ingredients
For the exact measurements, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Rice Chex cereal
- I use creamy peanut butter, but crunchy peanut butter works great as well.
- semi-sweet chocolate chips
- powdered sugar
- Christmas m&m's
Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions for the Christmas Muddy Buddies. For the complete directions just scroll down to the bottom!
- Line two baking sheets with parchment paper, set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, melt the chocolate and peanut butter in the microwave at 30 second intervals. Mixing at every 30 break. It will take about 90 to 120 seconds total.
- Add the cereal to the melted chocolate and peanut butter. Mix to combine. Make sure they are all well until coated.
- Next add the cereal to a large ziploc bag with the powdered sugar. Shake the cereal mixture and powdered sugar until fully coated.
- Pour mixture onto a lined baking sheet to cool. Sprinkle with holiday m&m.
- Let stand for 30 minutes or longer to cool completely. The chocolate needs to hardened and be completely dried. Store in an air tight container, refrigerated update a week.
Equipment
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- baking sheets or rimmed cookie sheet
- parchment paper
- large bowl
- gallon size plastic bag
- airtight container
FAQ's
This often happens when the chocolate isn't completely cooled and hardened before storing. Make sure you let them sit out long enough to cool completely.
Yes, I recommend storing them in the fridge in an airtight container.
Yes, they are the same thing just different names.
Things to know
- Do not overheat the chocolate and peanut butter. You want to melt them slowly so they don't scorch.
- Give the cereal a firm shake but be careful not to crush the cereal.
- Line your baking sheet with parchment paper or wax paper, otherwise, they will stick.
- If you want to gift them, put the Christmas Muddy Buddies in a cellophane bag and tie them with a bow. You could also put them in a large mason jar with a piece of fabric on the lid. So cute!
Variations
- You can use Corn Chex instead of Rice Chex however it will change the flavor slightly.
- Milk chocolate chips can be used in place of semi-sweet.
- Any type of holiday candy or sprinkles can be used on top.
- You could also use white chocolate chips or dark chocolate chips, but semi-sweet chips really work best for this Christmas puppy chow recipe.
- You can personalize this holiday favorite by adding a cup of salty pretzels to the mixture. I like to use pretzel sticks or mini twists.
Storage
Refrigerate - Store the Christmas Puppy Chow in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
Freezer - I don't recommend freezing these as the cereal will get soggy once thawed.
Related recipes
- Are you looking for an easy recipe to make for your holiday parties this year? If so, give these Homemade Buckeyes a try. They are chocolate shells that are filled with peanut butter goodness, you can't go wrong with this combo.
- Are you a Grinch lover? The Christmas Charcuterie Board is a must-make for the holidays!
- These Pretzel M&M Hugs are the perfect snack recipe to serve this Christmas season. They are a delicious blend of sweet and salty and your family will rave about them.
- White Chocolate Dipped Oreos are a simple sweet treat, but the combination is AMAZING!
- These Reindeer Rice Krispies Treats are easy Christmas treats that will look great on your holiday cookie tray and the kids will love them.
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If you love this recipe please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating!
Traditional Muddy Buddies Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 box Rice Chex cereal
- ¾ cup peanut butter
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 2 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 2 cups Christmas m&m's
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Instructions
- Line two baking sheets with parchment paper, set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, melt the chocolate and peanut butter in the microwave at 30 second intervals. Mixing at every 30 break. It will take about 90 to 120 seconds total.
- Add the cereal to the melted chocolate and peanut butter. Mix to combine. Make sure they are all well until coated.
- Next add the powdered sugar to a large ziploc bag. Add the cereal mixture. Shake the cereal mixture and powdered sugar until fully coated.
- Spread the muddy buddies onto a lined baking sheet to cool. Sprinkle with holiday m&m's.
- Let stand for 30 minutes or longer to cool completely. The chocolate needs to hardened and be completely dried. Store in an air tight container, refrigerated update a week.
Sharon
We can't get enough Christmas puppy chow in my house. I also love making an extra large batch for gifts.
Bowl Me Over
The perfect sweet, salty treat. I'm glad it's a hit Sharon!
Sam
My kids loved making (and eating) this Christmas puppy chow! Delicious!
Bowl Me Over
Yum, yum, yum!! I just love all of that sweet crunch! Glad it was a hit.
Debbie
Christmas puppy chow is hands-down my favorite holiday treat. Plus, it is so easy to make and customize. The hardest party is not gobbling it all down right away!
Bowl Me Over
Right? I totally agree, LOL! Glad you enjoyed the recipe. Now it's time to make another back for Christmas! 😋
Cynthia Rusincovitch
Christmas Muddy Buddies are the yummiest treat ever. My grandma always made this and left it sitting on the table for the grandkids. We would grab a handful and run. haha!
Bowl Me Over
The BEST nostalgic treat for the holidays. Who doesn't love Puppy Chow!!!
Alyssa
I can't wait to make some Christmas puppy chow! This would make the perfect gift for friends and family!
One Crazy House
Do you think you can make a peanut-free version of Christmas puppy chow, using Sunbutter (sunflower seed butter) instead of peanut butter?
Kristen
My grandma ALWAYS made Christmas muddy buddies for my little brother and I each year! She knew enough to make us each our own bag, because we would fight over it LOL!
Bowl Me Over
Isn't puppy chow just the BEST? Love those foodie memories Kristen. Enjoy the recipe and Happy Holidays!!
Cynthia
My girls love Christmas puppy chow! We change up the M&M colors for various holidays because it's always a hit!
Brandi
Christmas muddy buddies are always a hit in my house! We end up making extra and putting them in decorative bags for neighbors and my kids' teachers!
Rita Joy
This Christmas muddy buddies recipe looks like the perfect snack to have with a Hallmark Christmas movie. Yum!!
Brittany
Christmas muddy buddies are perfect for parties or gifting. They're such an easy and delicious treat.