Name: Best Muddy Buddies
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 9 cups Rice/Corn Chex; 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips; ½ cup peanut butter; ¼ cup butter; 1 tsp vanilla; 1½ –2 cups powdered sugar

Introduction

Best Muddy Buddies (aka Puppy Chow) is pure, addictive snack magic: crisp Chex cereal coated in a silky peanut butter-chocolate mixture and tossed in powdered sugar for that irresistible sweet-crunchy bite that disappears faster than you can shake the bag. This no-bake, 15-minute wonder is the ultimate party snack, holiday gift, or midnight craving fix — dangerously easy and endlessly customizable. Served in a big bowl with extra powdered sugar dust, this Best Muddy Buddies recipe offers a stunning, appetizing aesthetic that instantly turns any gathering into a grab-and-go frenzy.

Why you’ll love this recipe

15 minutes total — no oven, no bake.
Perfect coating — microwave + shake method = even coverage.
Make-ahead & storage MVP — stays fresh for weeks.
Naturally gluten-free option — just GF Chex.
Endlessly riffable — Nutella, white chocolate, or spicy versions.

Ingredients (≈12–16 cups, 12–16 servings)

Base Mix

9 cups (about 1 box) Rice Chex or Corn Chex cereal (or mix)

Chocolate-PB Coating

1 cup (170 g) semi-sweet chocolate chips
½ cup (130 g) creamy peanut butter
¼ cup (57 g) unsalted butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
Pinch kosher salt

Powdered Sugar Dust

1½–2 cups (180–240 g) powdered sugar (more = snowier)

Optional Add-ins

1 cup mini Reese’s Pieces, M&Ms, or pretzels
½ tsp cinnamon or espresso powder in coating

Essential Tools and Equipment

Large microwave-safe bowl
2-gallon zip bag or huge bowl with lid
Measuring cups

Step-by-step process

Measure cereal — pour Chex into the largest bowl or divide between two.
Melt coating — in microwave-safe bowl, combine chocolate chips, peanut butter, butter → microwave 1 minute → stir → 30-second bursts until smooth. Stir in vanilla + salt.
Coat cereal — pour warm mixture over cereal → gently fold with spatula until evenly coated (don’t crush cereal).
Cool slightly — 2–3 minutes so sugar sticks better.
Sugar dust — transfer to 2-gallon zip bag → add powdered sugar → seal → shake vigorously until fully coated (or toss in bowl with lid).
Spread & cool — dump onto parchment-lined sheet → cool 15–20 minutes (or fridge 5 min for faster set).
Add extras — fold in candies/pretzels once cooled.
Serve — in a big bowl or portion into bags.

Mistakes to avoid

Hot coating + sugar — melts sugar → clumpy mess; cool 2–3 min first.
Over-microwaving chocolate — seizes; short bursts + stir.
Small bag — uneven coating; 2-gallon zip essential.
Crushing cereal — gentle fold only.
Skipping cool — sticky disaster.

Variations of the Best Muddy Buddies

Nutella — swap PB for Nutella + hazelnuts.
White Chocolate — white chips + vanilla Oreos crushed in.
Spicy — pinch cayenne in coating + chili-lime seasoning dust.
Holiday — red/green M&Ms + peppermint extract.
Protein — add protein powder to sugar dust.

Tips for better storage & make-ahead

Storage — airtight container, room temp up to 2 weeks; fridge 1 month (crisper).
Freezer — freeze in bags up to 3 months → thaw room temp (still perfect).
Gifting — portion into cellophane bags + ribbon.

Frequently Asked Questions

No microwave? Double boiler on the stove, low heat.
Gluten-free? GF Rice Chex.
Nut-free? Sunbutter + allergy-safe chips.
Less sweet? Cut sugar to 1 cup + extra salt.
Double batch? Two bags for shaking.

Conclusion

Best Muddy Buddies is pure snack sorcery — each crunchy, peanut-butter-chocolate-powdered bite tastes like the ultimate no-bake treat that makes everyone lose control. One bowl turns Chex into the most addictive, most requested party snack you’ll ever make. Keep Chex and chocolate chips stocked, and an instant crowd-pleaser is literally 15 minutes away. Whether it’s movie night, holidays, or “because it’s Tuesday,” these muddy buddies deliver pure joy and empty bowls in perfect harmony. One handful, endless “I can’t stop,” and the quiet thrill of puppy chow mastery.