This Christmas Puppy Chow is sweet, salty, and absolutely delicious! This quick, easy recipe is a sure way to a holiday treat everyone will love.
Christmas puppy chow
This Christmas Puppy Chow is very similar to Chex Mix Puppy Chow, but has an additional holiday twist! Chex Mix Puppy Chow is a delicious treat that has been around for years. It is a recipe that coats Chex Mix cereal in chocolate, peanut butter, and powdered sugar. This Christmas Puppy Chow adds on the original Puppy Chow recipe by throwing in pretzels and m & m's! It takes about 15 minutes to make from start to finish, and it's SO delicious. It's one of those treats where you can't keep your hands out of the bowl!
Why is it called puppy chow?
Whether you call it "puppy chow" or "muddy buddies," you're thinking of the exact same delicious recipe. I grew up calling this recipe "puppy chow" which I have recently learned is because the look of this dish closely resembles dog food. I will say I have a memory of my mom making this for us kids, putt it on a bowl on the floor, and us acting like dogs to eat it.....
The Christmas part of this puppy chow comes from adding red and green m & m's to make the dish more festive for the holidays! This is the perfect dessert for a holiday party, family gathering, or any party.
Puppy chow or muddy buddies?
Needless to say, I'm a puppy chow gal. Muddy buddies is great, but it doesn't feel right to call it that!
What ingredients do I need?
The ingredients for this recipe will be the same as my original puppy chow, but with some Christmas additions. Here's what you'll need:
- Dark chocolate chips - I LOVE dark chocolate. Not only is it rich in antioxidants and nutrients, BUT it tastes delicious.
- Peanut butter - Almost as much as I love dark chocolate do I love peanut butter. It's creamy, tasty, and packed with protein and healthy fats. The peanut butter and chocolate will get melted and mixed together for the coating!
- Chex cereal - The Chex cereal is the star of the show. It's the crunchy squares that will be coated in the delicious peanut butter chocolate coating and powdered sugar.
- Powdered sugar - If you've seen a picture of puppy chow, you will immediately notice it's covered in white, which is the powdered sugar!
- Red and green m&m's - These festive m&m's are very easy to find in stores this time of year! They add so many Christmas vibes to this recipe.
- Pretzels - Adding a few pretzels will bring a salty and crunchy texture to the mix. It balances with the sweet chocolate & peanut butter coated Chex in a delicious way!
What substitutions can I make?
There are a few substitutions you can make for this recipe.
- Dark chocolate chips - I LOVE dark chocolate, but you can totally use milk chocolate (which is what the standard recipes use).
- Peanut butter - While most puppy chow recipes use peanut butter, you can use any kind of nut butter. Almond, cashew, or sunflower will work just fine.
- Chex cereal - The Chex cereal is the star of the Chex Mix Puppy Chow show. I would NOT substitute this ingredient.
- Powdered sugar - I would not make substitutions for this ingredient!
- M & m's - You can use any colored m & m's for this recipe, but the red and green ones are what makes it festive!
- Pretzels - You can use any kind of pretzels for the recipe, or leave them out.
What makes this a healthy puppy chow?
Let me start by saying this is a healthier puppy chow recipe. This recipe still uses the same four classic ingredients (Chex cereal, chocolate, peanut butter, and powdered sugar), however there are a few variations. I use less of each ingredient, substitute milk for dark chocolate, and don't use butter. I guarantee you this healthier puppy chow recipe tastes just as good, if not better, than the standard! This recipe adds in pretzels and m & m's as well.
How long does it take to make this recipe?
This recipe takes about 10 minutes to make. This is a one-bowl recipe so you’ll need to dump all of your ingredients into one large bowl and stir! The hardest part of this recipe will be stirring everything until it’s completely mixed. This recipe is also no-bake, so no oven required. The only “cooking” is the time when the chocolate and peanut butter are melted in the microwave. Trust me, this recipe is so quick and easy!
What is the process to make this recipe?
Alright, here's how easy it is to make Christmas Puppy Chow.
- Place the cereal in a large mixing bowl.
- Combine the peanut butter and chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl. Heat in the microwave, stirring every 30 second seconds until completely melted. Mix well.
- Pour the melted peanut butter and chocolate mixture over the cereal. Stir gently (careful not to crumble the cereal) until the cereal is coated.
- Place the powdered sugar in a gallon-sized bag.
- Add the coated cereal into the bag. Shake well until covered with powdered sugar.
- Dump the cereal into a bowl. Add pretzels and m&m’s. Mix well.
- Enjoy!
Looking for something similar?
If you are looking for some more dessert recipes that are great for a party, try these:
Can I have the recipe?
If you love this recipe as much as I do, please rate it and share it with your friends! ENJOY.
Christmas Puppy Chow
Equipment
- Mixing Bowl
- Mixing spoon
Ingredients
- ½ cup chocolate chips dark
- ¼ cup peanut butter
- 5 cups chex cereal
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 cup pretzels
- ½ cup m&m’s
Instructions
- Place the cereal in a large mixing bowl.
- Combine the peanut butter and chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl. Heat in the microwave, stirring every 30 second seconds until completely melted. Mix well.
- Pour the melted peanut butter and chocolate mixture over the cereal. Stir gently (careful not to crumble the cereal) until the cereal is coated.
- Place the powdered sugar in a gallon-sized bag.
- Add the coated cereal into the bag. Shake well until covered with powdered sugar.
- Dump the cereal into a bowl. Add pretzels and m&m’s. Mix well.
- Enjoy!
Sara says
Jordo’s done it again!! This recipe is the perfect mix of festive, fun & Peanut Butter Chocolatey goodness. Made this as a Sunday football game day snack and it’s getting devoured as we speak - so I know a second batch isn’t far in the future. Thanks for sharing such simple & delicious recipes!
Chelsea says
I personally go for equal parts chocolate + peanut butter, but that’s the beauty of these recipes! They are a perfect model to follow! The M+Ms and pretzels are the perfect addition to an already delicious treat!
Tami says
Warning: this is addicting! I made mine with goldfish pretzels and it was perfect for me and my kids! Thanks, Jordo!
Staci says
This mix was soo yummy and you could not tell that it was “healthier”! I have to pour some into a separate bowl or else I’ll eat the whole mix in one sitting ? enjoy!!
Joelle says
This is so easy and delicious. I like to make a double batch and give it away in little baggies for Christmas treats. Yum!
Allie says
Gifted this to neighbors and they raved about it! A nice twist on classic puppy chow with the salty sweet component and dark chocolate- yum! All of Jordos recipes are great but love this one for an easy thoughtful gift!
Collette says
My kids’ favorite recipe! I made this a family celebration and I couldn’t keep the kids out of it, even some adults kept snacking on it. So easy to make. It’s now my go to recipe when we have to bring a dish to a party.
Robyn Freeman says
Can you freeze this for later?
Jordan Smith says
Hi Robyn, I've never tried freezing so I'm not quite sure how that would turn out. Though I can't think of any reason you wouldn't be able to freeze!
Elizabeth says
Made 3 batches of this last year and have everything to do the same this year! Such a fun and festive treat! And so addicting!! I make little treat bags to hand out to friends!
Jordan Smith says
I love making this for gifts as well! I have to make sure to keep a bowl aside for myself too 🙂
Noemi says
Hi-is it okay to use stovetop to mix everything if no microwave? thank you
Jordan Smith says
Yes a stovetop will absolutely work for melting everything! I would suggest a really low temp so it doesn't burn on the bottom of the pot.