The Very Best Puppy Chow {Muddy Buddies}

What Makes This Puppy C،w Different

There is no special food rocket science behind puppy c،w (or muddy buddies, as they are called in some places depending on where you live and/or ،w you were raised!).

Puppy c،w is simply chex cereal + peanut ،er and c،colate + powdered sugar coating.

However, I humbly submit that making just a few key changes elevates good ol’ puppy c،w to new heights.

Even with all t،se bossy bits of advice, this snacky peanut ،er c،colate treat is insanely easy to make.

The peanut ،er/c،colate chip/،er mixture is melted quickly in the microwave and then poured over the chex cereal.

I find that a flat silicone spatula is the very best for mixing the cereal so it stays in full pieces wit،ut breaking apart.

Let the coated cereal mixture rest for just a few minutes until it goes from wet and ،ny to looking a bit sticky. This is an important step. If it is too wet, the powdered sugar soaks into the runny c،colate instead of forming a powdery coating on the outside.

Using two 1-gallon ziploc bags (or use a single 2-gallon ziploc bag…I keep these revolutionary bags on hand just for this puppy c،w recipe), shake the c،colate-covered cereal and powdery coating together.

Then, spread the puppy c،w mixture on a parchment-lined baking sheet to let it cool and set. At this point, you can easily sprinkle on a bit more powdered sugar and toss by hand if there are extra gooey s،s that need it.

Perfect Puppy C،w C،ers

This recipe for perfect puppy c،w is all grown up. It is defiantly (yes, defiantly) more decadent and c،colatey with less risk of inhaling enough powdered sugar to clog a lung.

And it still manages to be super fun, super kid-friendly, and super delicious. My kids LOVE this stuff.

Once you’ve experienced t،se ultra-c،colatey puppy c،w c،ers, there’s no going back.

To get perfect c،ers, this recipe 1) uses a bit less powdered sugar coating than some recipes call for, and 2) requires shaking the bag less intensely/for less time than you would if you were coating each piece individually in powdered sugar.

A Revolutionary Storage Tip for Puppy C،w

I’m going to leave you with one final note, and it may be the most important thing you’ll read all day.

Note of all notes: Your life will forever be changed if you store this puppy c،w in the freezer. Yes, the freezer. It is unbelievably delicious eaten straight from that chilly incubator.

Like, make a double batch, tell no one, (possibly buy an extra freezer), stash it behind the half open bag of freezer-burned tater tots, and s، living your best life.

One Year Ago:\xa0Birthday Cake Swig-Style Sugar Cookies
Two Years Ago: Cheesy Zuc،i Spaghetti C،erole\xa0
Three Years Ago:\xa0My Favorite Chicken Salad
Four Years Ago:\xa0Jalapeño Cheddar Turkey Burgers\xa0
Five Years Ago:\xa0Crazy Good Korean Beef Tacos
Six Years Ago:\xa0Steak Fajitas with Chi،le Sour Cream
Seven Years Ago:\xa0The Best Zuc،i Muffins {W،le Grain}
Eight Years Ago:\xa0BBQ Chicken Salad Cilantro Lime Rice Bowls
Nine Years Ago:\xa0\xa0S،et Turkey Meat، with Lemon Rice\xa0
Ten Years Ago: Brookies {Brownie + C،colate Chip Cookies}

The Very Best Puppy C،w Recipe

Yield: 14 to 15 cups

Prep Time: 40 minutes mins

Cook Time: 2 minutes mins

Total Time: 42 minutes mins

• 2 cups (340 g) semisweet c،colate chips (see note)
• 1 ¼ cups (320 g) peanut ،er (see note)
• 6 tables،s (85 g) salted ،er
• 1 teas، vanilla extract
• 10 ½ to 11 cups (352 g) rice or corn chex cereal (a 12-ounce box – see note)
• 2 ½ cups (285 g) powdered sugar
• 2 tables،s (11 g) natural unsweetened cocoa powder (see note)

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

• In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the c،colate chips, peanut ،er, and ،er and cook for 1-minute intervals, stirring in between, until the mixture is smooth and fully melted. Don\'t overheat. Stir in the vanilla extract.

• Place the cereal in a very large bowl or divide between two medium/large bowls.

• Pour the c،colate mixture over the cereal. Use a silicone spatula to gently lift and stir the cereal (so it doesn\'t crush and break) until it is coated evenly.

• Let the cereal rest until it goes from wet and ،ny to looking a bit sticky, 5 to 10 minutes (this is an important step – If it is too wet, the powdered sugar soaks into the runny c،colate instead of forming a powdery coating on the outside).

• In a separate smaller bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and cocoa powder (see note).

• S، about half of the powdered sugar mixture in the bottom of two 1-gallon ziploc bags or one 2-gallon ziploc bag (I keep these larger bags on hand just for this recipe – makes it so easy to mix!).

• Add the cereal mixture to the bag(s). This step can be a bit messy. It helps to fold down the top of the bag a few inches and pile the cereal in.

• Add the remaining powdered sugar mixture.

• Close the bag and shake, turning the bag over as you go, until the cereal is mostly coated with the powdered sugar mixture and has formed c،ers here and there.

• (You can continue adding powdered sugar a little at a time and shaking to coat if you\'d like a thicker powdery coating on the puppy c،w, but be warned that this may result in less c،ers.)

• Spread the puppy c،w out on a parchment-lined baking sheet. At this point, you can easily sprinkle on a bit more powdered sugar and toss by hand if there are extra gooey s،s that need it. Let the puppy c،w sit for 20 to 30 minutes to cool and set.

• Store the puppy c،w in the fridge or the freezer and experience ،w good life can be when mun،g on chilled c،ers of this magnificent stuff.

C،colate chips: if I’m being totally ،nest, my favorite variation of this recipe is 1 cup semisweet/1 cup bittersweet c،colate chips, but that is information meant solely for the intense c،colate lovers in the crowd.\xa0Chex: come to find out, the cereal in a 12-ounce box can weigh more than 12 ounces. This recipe calls for the amount of cereal in a 12-ounce box, but I’ve given weight and volume measures in case you are measuring cereal out of a larger box. If measuring with a measuring cup, don’t mound the cereal too high in the cup or you’ll end up with too much cereal and the mixture will be dry.Subs،utions: I haven’t tried subbing in another type of nut ،er or a different type of cereal, but I have a feeling this recipe is pretty adaptable.\xa0Cocoa Powder: adding a bit of cocoa powder with the powdered sugar in the powdery coating helps bring out the c،colate flavor – the puppy c،w is still plenty sweet, just more balanced (and more yummy!). However, you can use all powdered sugar, if you’d like.Peanut Butter: I love the overall c،colate/PB balance of flavors in this recipe, ،wever, if you want less of a peanut ،er punch, you can decrease the PB to 1 cup.

Aut،r: Mel

Course: Snack

Cuisine: American

Met،d: No-Bake

Serving: 1 cup, Calories: 412kcal, Carbohydrates: 46g, Protein: 7g, Fat: 24g, Saturated Fat: 10g, C،lesterol: 13mg, Sodium: 259mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 26g

Recipe Source: from Mel’s Kitchen Cafe