I have a confession: I’ve lived 38 years and prior to this past weekend I had never tried puppy chow (also known as muddy buddies or monkey munch). I’m not sure exactly how this came to be — my relatively sheltered East Coast upbringing certainly can’t be to blame, since I’m clearly the only person on the planet who was unaware of this bizarre, inexpensive, and truly delectable snack.
Nevertheless, when I found out about puppy chow I was curious, so I gathered my team of three pint-sized recruits, borrowed some peanut butter from my neighbor (true story), and got to work on a serious puppy chow marathon. The results? Seven different types of chow and lots of empty cereal boxes.
If you’re wondering how to make puppy chow, or which puppy chow recipes were a hit with my little people, you’ve come to the right place. This is such a fun treat because there are so many variations to try, which makes it perfect for just about any season or holiday. Most of these variations build on the basic puppy chow recipe, which I’ve outlined below.
Puppy Chow Recipe
Ingredients:
- 9 cups Chex (or similar) cereal
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- ½ cup peanut butter
- ¼ cup butter
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
Serves:
It’ll be gone in five minutes.
Instructions:
- Pour cereal into a large bowl.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, combine chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter.
- Melt and pour over cereal, mixing to combine.
- Pour chocolate-covered cereal immediately into a Ziploc bag with powdered sugar and shake to coat.
Tip:
Add some red and green M&M's to this basic puppy chow recipe to make Christmas puppy chow, or add some eyeball candy for a spooky Halloween puppy chow! Don’t be afraid to get creative! You can use this basic recipe and add some fun extras for a whole host of occasions! If you want to take things to the next level though, check out some of these puppy chow recipe variations.
Puppy Chow Recipe Variations
Make holidays or game days a bit more festive with these fun variations on the puppy chow recipe.
Pumpkin Spice Puppy Chow
Perfect for Halloween, game day, or to celebrate the start of fall, pumpkin spice puppy chow uses white chocolate, pumpkin puree, and pumpkin pie spice. This is a yummy choice for anyone looking to make puppy chow without peanut butter. Recipe by Growing up Gabel.
Survey says: It’s decent. The pumpkin spice flavor is drawn out as the puppy chow cools. It’s different, and it wasn’t our favorite, but it wasn’t bad. Adults may enjoy this one more than kids!
Red Velvet Puppy Chow
Your Cup of Cake gets the credit for this unique take on puppy chow. Whip up this grown-up puppy chow recipe for any type of gathering, or mix it with pink and red M&M's for a special Valentine’s Day treat.
Survey says: Tastes a bit like the basic puppy chow recipe, but the cream cheese makes it much richer. Be sure to refrigerate this one because of the cream cheese. Not that there will be any left over…
Cake Batter Puppy Chow
This cake batter puppy chow is cute, colorful, and a perfect addition to a birthday party for a little one. Additionally, it’s absolutely delicious! Recipe from Life a Little Brighter.
Survey says: This is amazing! It tastes just like cake and is even more addictive than the original recipe. We’ll definitely be making this cake batter puppy chow again!
Cookies And Cream Puppy Chow
Here’s a fun puppy chow recipe for the Oreo lovers in your life. Try this simple variation brought to you by Mandy’s Recipe Box.
Survey says: This Oreo puppy chow is another winner. It's super yummy, and the Oreos add a special touch.
Lemon Puppy Chow
Here’s a sweet treat that will make an excellent addition to an Easter party, or even just for spring and summer. They’re sweet and just a bit sour, reminding us of those famous lemon Girl Scout cookies. Recipe from A Few Shortcuts.
Survey says: This lighter, zestier puppy chow is perfect for the warm months. We like it but it isn’t our favorite. We weren’t able to get rid of it quite as quickly as some of the other flavors.
Chocolate Churro Puppy Chow
If there’s anything better than puppy chow, it’s churros, so you can see where I’m going with this. A Dash of Sanity makes us question ours with these cinnamon-sweet, decadent chocolate churro muddy buddies.
Survey says: This is our favorite, hands down. We can't get enough of the chocolate and cinnamon flavor, and it really does taste just like a real churro!
If you’ve been inspired to try these fun, super-versatile treats, please SHARE this article with others so they can try them as well!
