💚❤️🎁 Loaded Christmas Puppy Chow is a fast, easy, no-bake holiday treat that is LOADED with all the good stuff! Chocolate, peanut butter, sugar, M&Ms, peanut butter cups, and pretzels for a salty-sweet, crunchy, and addictive snack! It’s an EASY Christmas treat that can be made in bulk and makes great gifts because it keeps well and everyone LOVES it!
Puppy Chow … for Christmas!
If you’re not familiar with puppy chow (aka Muddy Buddies, muddy munch, or monkey munch), classically speaking, it’s Chex cereal tossed in a mixture of melted chocolate and peanut butter, and then tossed in powdered sugar.
It’s called puppy chow because it looks almost identical to dog food. A very glamorous reason, I know! A sweet snack mix, it’s easy to make and perfect for Christmas parties and gifting.
- For my Christmas puppy chow recipe, I upped the ante to the classic with the various add-ins I used, like the M&M’s and peanut butter cups, and I also used Honey Nut Cheerios, too.
- All those different textures and flavors help to make this a truly loaded snack. Best of all, puppy chow is no-bake, no-fuss, fast and easy, and makes great gifts.
Love puppy chow?
Try my white chocolate vanilla peanut butter puppy chow and reindeer chow, too!
Ingredients in Christmas Puppy Chow
For a peanut buttery Christmas snack mix that everyone is going to adore, you’ll need to following common and easy to find fridge and pantry ingredients:
- Chex cereal (Corn, wheat, rice, or a combo)
- Cheerios (Honey Nut is preferred, but Regular Cheerios are fine)
- Creamy peanut butter – If you have a peanut allergy in your family or simply ran out of peanut butter, you’re welcome to use another nut or seed butter, such as almond butter. If possible, I recommend using a traditional, no-stir nut butter. Likewise, use a creamy nut butter rather than a chunky one. Using another nut butter will result in a different flavor, but do what you’ve got to do
- Butter (use salted if you like a more salty-sweet taste)
- Chocolate chips or melting wafers – I like to use Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Melting Wafers for this holiday treat. However, you can use semisweet chocolate chips, milk chocolate, or even white chocolate chips, too. Melting wafers are great because they do melt so smoothly, effortlessly, and it’s difficult to scorch them in a microwave, which can happen more easily with chocolate chips. Although, when chocolate chips are melted in the presence of peanut butter and butter, that’s less likely to happen. Just keep an eye on it and stop to check and stir if you’re unsure
- Confectioners’ sugar
- Unsweetened natural cocoa powder
- Red and Green M&M’s
- Mini peanut butter cups
- Mini pretzels (I used twists, although rods are fine)
Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.
How to Make Christmas Puppy Chow
When you’re busy and rushing here, there, and everywhere during the holiday season, I know that quick and easy no-bake Christmas recipes are just the ticket. Here’s an overview of how to make the Christmas muddy buddies:
- Add the cereal to a large mixing bowl.
- Add the peanut butter, butter, and chocolate chips or wafers to a microwave-safe bowl and heat until melted. Pour the chocolate peanut butter mixture over the cereal mixture, and stir. Work in batches, if needed, if you’re making a large batch.
- Add the confectioners’ sugar and cocoa powder to a large zip-top bag.
- Add the coated cereal to the bag, seal, and shake to coat evenly.
- Spread in a single layer on a large cookie sheet lined with parchment paper to cool at room temperature (no need to chill in the refrigerator) before stirring in the M&M’s, peanut butter cups, and pretzels.
Christmas Puppy Chow Recipe Variations to Try
There are so many ways to get creative with your Christmas puppy chow! For example:
- Incorporate Cornflakes as one of the cereals
- Add popcorn or caramel corn
- Use salted or honey-roasted peanuts
- Mini versions of other candies are great, like Snickers, Milky Way, Rolos, or your favorites
- Rather than melting semi-sweet chocolate, use white chocolate instead
- Toss in unmelted milk, semi-sweet white, milk, butterscotch, or peanut butter chips
- Add red and green or holiday-themed sprinkles (check out my Reindeer Chow)
How to Package Puppy Chow for Gifting
If you’re looking for an easy hostess gift, or a little parting gift to send with your guests after a Christmas party you host, Christmas muddy buddies are perfect.
Also for teachers, coaches, coworkers, friends and family, they will appreciate the homemade touch.
Pack it up in cute little cellophane or festive holiday bags, tie it off with ribbons, and it makes for an adorable presentation.
Recipe Video Tutorial
Christmas Puppy Chow
Equipment
- 1 Medium Microwave-Safe Bowl
- 1 Bakign Sheet
Ingredients
- 3 cups Corn Chex*, See Notes
- 3 cups Rice Chex*, See Notes
- 2 cups Honey Nut Cheerios, Honey Nut is preferred but Regular Cheerios are fine
- ¾ cup smooth peanut butter**, See Notes
- ¼ cup butter, use salted if you like a more salty-sweet taste
- 1 ⅓ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips or Ghirardelli melting wafers
- 1 ¼ cup confectioners’ sugar
- 2 tablespoon unsweetened natural cocoa powder, such as Hershey’s
- 10- ounce bag Red and Green M&Ms or similar
- 2 cups mini peanut butter cups
- 2 cups mini pretzels, I used twists, rods are fine
Instructions
- To a large bowl add all the Chex, Cheerios, and stir to combine; set aside.
- To a medium, microwave-safe bowl, add the peanut butter, butter, chocolate chips or chocolate melting wafers, and heat for 30 seconds. Stop to check and stir until smooth. If needed, heat in 10-second bursts until mixture can be stirred smooth.
- Pour the melted chocolate mixture over the cereal and stir to combine; set aside.
- To a gallon-sized ziptop bag, add the confectioners’ sugar, cocoa powder, and stir to combine.
- Add the coated cereal to the bag, seal, and shake well to combine.
- Transfer cereal to a large baking sheet in a flat layer and allow it to cool and set up. Tip – Make sure it cools well and completely before moving on, at least 30 minutes, or the add-ins in the next step will melt.
- Add the M&Ms, peanut butter cups, pretzels, and stir to combine.
- Serve in a festive Christmas serving bowl and store airtight at room temp for at least 2 weeks or in the freezer for up to 4 months.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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More No-Bake Christmas Treats:
12 Easy No-Bake Holiday Desserts – No time to bake? Here are 12 FAST and EASY no-bake recipes! Whether you want chocolate, peanut butter, cheesecake, bark, or truffles, these recipes have you covered!
Chocolate Peanut Butter Stacks – Easy, no-bake treats that are a holiday favorite! They have it all: Salty, sweet, crunchy, and gooey with chocolate and peanut butter! Great for cookie exchanges or impromptu parties!
Melt in Your Mouth Homemade Toffee — Irresistible, buttery, ADDICTIVE, and just melts in your mouth! EASY and perfect for holiday parties, gift-giving, or cookie exchanges!
Loaded Christmas Bark – This easy, no-bake chocolate bark is loaded with goodies! Oreos, M&M’s, peanuts, pretzels, and sprinkles! Great for holiday parties and cookie exchanges! Salty, sweet, and addictively good!
The Easiest Foolproof Fudge Recipe — Look no further than this recipe for the EASIEST and most FOOLPROOF fudge that takes less than 3 minutes to make! Customize it with your favorite add-ins like cranberries and walnuts! Great for gifts and cookie exchanges!!
Buckeye Fudge – Easy, no-cook, no-fuss, foolproof fudge that’s ready in 1 hour! Dense, chewy, and full of rich peanut butter flavor with a smooth, fudgy chocolate topping! It’s irresistible!
Reindeer Chow — A holiday twist on classic Muddy Buddies that’s EASY, ready in 15 minutes, and perfect for hostess gifts or cookie exchanges! Chex, chocolate, peanut butter, pretzels, M&M’s, and sprinkles make this dessert snack mix totally IRRESISTIBLE!
Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge – Rich and decadent chocolate fudge adorned with peanut butter swirls! Made in the microwave with just SIX ingredients, there’s no boiling or candy thermometers involved in this FAST and EASY recipe for PERFECT fudge every time!
I made this, before x-mas to see if my family was going to like it, added, more cereal mix and they loved it
I made this, before x-mas to see if my family was going to like it, added, more cereal mix and they loved it
Thanks for the 5 star review and I am glad you planned way ahead and that this was a winner with your family!
How much does this make, want to give as gifts and your reccipe states 15 servings?
Well you’re dealing with 8 cups of cereal and the add-ins bulk it up. Not sure how big of portions you will make, but for me, approx 15 seems about right but use your judgment.
great