Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Muddy Buddy Recipe

Save this Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Muddy Buddy Recipe (also called Puppy Chow) for a quick and easy snack that no one can stop eating! No baking needed, and just a few ingredients from your pantry!!

I can’t think of a more popular holiday party snack than Muddy Buddies, made with Chex cereal coated in a chocolate, peanut butter and powdered sugar. But have you had our dark chocolate muddy buddies? The secret isn’t in chocolate chips, it’s actually in the peanut butter!

Ok, the 2 questions I always have to ask:
Did you grow up calling this addicting snack “muddy buddies”, or “puppy chow?” 

And 

Did you mix in a bowl or a large ziploc bag?

My siblings and I grew up saying puppy chow, but I mostly call it muddy buddies now. My mom would make a big batch, throw powdered sugar in a ziploc, add the chocolatey cereal and we would take turns shaking the snack to coat it in the powdery deliciousness. We couldn’t wait to dig in!

Ingredients for Dark Chocolate Muddy Buddy Recipe

• Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter & Co Spread: This is your main flavor powerhouse, combining intense dark chocolate with creamy peanut butter. It coats the cereal, binding the mix together and delivering a rich, slightly bitter-sweet taste that balances the sugar. 
• Butter: Adds richness and helps thin the chocolate mixture so it flows smoothly over the cereal. It also gives a softer bite and helps the coating stick. 
• Semisweet Chocolate Chips (or Peanut Butter Chips): Boosts the chocolate (or peanut butter) flavor and helps create a firmer coating once cooled. Semisweet chocolate adds sweetness without being too sugary, while peanut butter chips give a more nutty, creamy twist.
• Rice Chex Cereal: The crunchy, airy base. Its hollow squares trap the coating, creating little pockets of chocolate-peanut-butter goodness while staying crisp under the sugar. Corn Chex can also be used.
• Powdered Sugar: Creates that signature powdery, sweet coating. It also keeps the pieces from sticking together and adds a pleasant sweetness to contrast the darker chocolate. 
• Cinnamon Sugar: Adds warmth and a subtle spiced aroma that deepens the chocolate flavor.

How to Make Dark Chocolate Muddy Buddies

1. Melt: Add the dark chocolate spread, butter and chocolate chips to a microwave-safe medium mixing bowl and melt in 30 second intervals stirring frequently until creamy. You can also melt it over medium heat in a saucepan on the stove.
2. Coat: Add the cereal to a large bowl and pour the chocolate-peanut butter mixture over the cereal and stir until the cereal is evenly coated. Let cool for a few minutes.
3. Combine: Let the mixture cool for a bit so it’s not too warm. Add 1 cup powdered sugar and cinnamon sugar. Mix until combined. Add more powdered sugar 1/4 cup at a time until your cereal is coated to your satisfaction and let the muddy buddies cool. I like to pour it out in a baking sheet so it will cool more quickly and evenly.

Using a Ziploc Bag

Add the coated cereal to a large ziploc bag then add the powdered sugar and cinnamon sugar, seal the bag, and shake until coated adding more powdered sugar if needed.

What We LOVE about Puppy Chow:

• Versatile: Have you tried all of our different variations for puppy chow chex mix? We have the original muddy buddies or our peanut butter muddy buddies. We even have a super fun Christmas muddy buddy recipe. So make this recipe or your own with any variations listed below.
• Easy for Crowds: Unlike many snacks that take a list of ingredients or the oven, this snack is so easy to throw together and it makes so much you can feed a large group of adults, kids or teens. 
• Make Ahead: You can make this crunchy snack ahead of time, and better yet, it freezes so well. In fact, many readers prefer it frozen!

Storage Tips

Muddy buddies should be stored in an airtight container. It can be stored at room temperature, in the fridge or in the freezer.

This is a great treat to have ready when the kids get home from school or when a bunch of their friends are going to be over. We’ve made it for gameday parties, birthday parties and family reunions. It’s just a classic and family favorite snack recipe. This dark chocolate muddy buddy recipe is fantastic!

More Snacks to Grab By the Handful:

How to Make Dark Chocolate Muddy Buddies