Take your snack time to the next level with our peanut butter puppy chow! Made with Reese's candies, this is a sweet and salty treat that you won't be able to resist. One bite and you'll be hooked!
Jump to:
We love making puppy chow when it is too hot to turn on the oven. This sweet Chex mix is easy to make and ready in minutes. And despite the name, this treat IS for humans NOT for dogs.
I love finding ways to change up snack mixes with different flavors. A few of our favorites are this strawberry chex mix and this brownie muddy buddies.
What is Puppy Chow
Puppy chow is a sweet and salty snack mix. It is cereal covered in peanut butter, chocolate, and powdered sugar, all mixed together. Different versions also have candies added to them.
This easy snack mix goes by different names depending on what part of the country you live in. Muddy buddies, puppy chow, and Chex snack mix are the most common terms.
Why You Will Love Peanut Butter Puppy Chow
The combo of Reese's Pieces and peanut butter cups gives the classic snack mix a sweet, peanut-buttery twist. It's the perfect treat to satisfy your sweet tooth.
- Easy to make. This treat is pretty simple and doesn't take a lot of time. You only need a few ingredients, and it's a great snack to make at home or bring to a party.
- Sweet taste. The combination of chocolate, peanut butter, and cereal coated in powdered sugar makes this treat amazing.
- Loaded with Reese's. We gave the classic treat a twist by using Reese's Puffs, mini Reese's peanut butter cups, and Reese's Pieces. It's the perfect treat for the chocolate and peanut butter lover.
- Crowd favorite. Puppy chow will always be a hit when you share it at family get-togethers, school events, or holiday parties.
Puppy Chow Ingredients
To make this sweet peanut butter cup puppy chow, you only need a few ingredients and some Reese's candies.
- Chex Cereal - You can use vanilla, rice, corn, or chocolate in this mix.
- Reese's Puffs - The small chocolate peanut butter ball cereal adds a fun element.
- White Chocolate - I prefer to use Ghirardelli melting wafers because it tastes so good. You can also use white chocolate chips if that's what you have.
- Peanut Butter - Adds a smooth and delicious flavor to the white chocolate. Creamy or crunchy will work.
- Powdered Sugar - Gives the finished snack mix a white powdery coating that keeps people coming back for more.
- Mix-Ins - Reese's pieces and peanut butter cups are our favorite. You could also add peanut butter chips for even more peanut butter goodness.
BruCrew Tip: Love Reese's treats? Buy an extra bag of the Reese's candies and make Reese's peanut butter pudding cookies for dessert.
How to Make Reese's Snack Mix
This sweet puppy chow recipe is ready in minutes because you use a microwave. No baking or special tools required! Just combine all the ingredients together in one big bowl for an easy snack that everyone will love!
- Combine the cereal. Stir together both kinds of cereal in a large bowl.
- Stir in chocolate. Melt the white chocolate in the microwave; stir in peanut butter until creamy. Pour the melted chocolate over the cereal and gently stir until everything is well coated.
- Cover in powdered sugar. Sprinkle a third of the powdered sugar on the mixture. Put a lid or saran wrap on the bowl and shake very gently. Repeat two more times.
- Add Reese's. Pour the puppy chow onto a large baking sheet and sprinkle with the candies. Let chill for a few minutes.
Storage Recommendations
Puppy chow really is best served right away. You can make it ahead of time and store it for a few days. The cereal will just start to soften after a few days.
On the Counter: Keep the Reese's snack mix in an airtight container or bag at room temperature for 3-4 days.
In the Refrigerator or Freezer: Store it in an airtight bag in the refrigerator for up to a week. You can also keep it in the freezer for up to a month.
Tips and Tricks
- Melt the chocolate at 50% power. Over heating the chocolate can ruin it.
- Stir gently. To avoid breaking the cereal into pieces, make sure you stir the chocolate into the cereal very gently.
- Use a Ziplock bag. If you don't have a bowl with a lid, you can use a big bag instead. Put the chocolate covered cereal in the bag and add sugar. Tightly seal the bag and shake until everything is coated in sugary goodness.
- Remove extra sugar. If you end up with too much powdered sugar, dump the snack mix into a strainer. Tap it gently to remove the excess sugar.
- Add more peanut butter. Peanuts, peanut butter baking chips, and peanut butter pretzels are all great choices to add to the snack mix.
FAQs
Yes, you can use white chocolate chips instead of the melting chocolate. Just be sure to buy a good quality chocolate and melt it slowly in the microwave at 50% power.
Yes you can. I would recommend finding a natural peanut butter that does not separate or your muddy buddies will become too oily.
Yes, this sweet snack mix goes by many different names.
More Easy Snack Mixes
- Chocolate Chip Muddy Buddies
- Animal Cookie Muddy Buddies
- Sweet and Salty Popcorn Snack Mix
- S'mores Popcorn
- Sweet and Salty Trail Mix
Do you love a recipe you tried from Inside BruCrew Life?
Please leave a 5-star ⭐️ rating and a review in the comments section below.
Recipe
Peanut Butter Puppy Chow
Take your snack time to the next level with our peanut butter puppy chow! Made with Reese's candies, this is a sweet and salty treat that you won't be able to resist. One bite and you'll be hooked!
Ingredients
- 6 cups Chex cereal
- 2 cups Reese's Puffs cereal
- 1 - 10 ounce bag white chocolate melting wafers
- ½ cup peanut butter
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 - 8 ounce bag Reese's mini peanut butter cups
- ½ cup mini Reese's pieces
Instructions
- Combine the cereal in a large bowl that has a lid and set aside. Set out a large baking sheet.
- Melt the candy melting wafers according to the package directions. Add the peanut butter and stir until creamy.
- Pour the melted chocolate over the cereal and stir gently until all the cereal is coated.
- Sprinkle half the powdered sugar on top of the cereal. Put the lid on the bowl and shake very gently.
- Open and add the rest of the powdered sugar and shake again. You can also use a large Ziplock bag to do this as well.
- Pour the mixture out on the cookie sheet. Cut the peanut butter cups in half. Sprinkle the snack mix with the Reese's peanut butter cups and pieces. Store in a tightly sealed container for a few days.
Notes
- Melt the chocolate at 50% power. Over heating the chocolate can ruin it.
- Stir gently. To avoid breaking the cereal into pieces, make sure you stir the chocolate into the cereal very gently.
- Use a Ziplock bag. If you don't have a bowl with a lid, you can use a big bag instead. Put the chocolate covered cereal in the bag and add sugar. Tightly seal the bag and shake until everything is coated in sugary goodness.
- Remove extra sugar. If you end up with too much powdered sugar, dump the snack mix into a strainer. Tap it gently to remove the excess sugar.
- Add more peanut butter. Peanuts, peanut butter baking chips, and peanut butter pretzels are all great choices to add to the snack mix.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 18 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 451Total Fat: 23gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 6mgSodium: 267mgCarbohydrates: 57gFiber: 3gSugar: 44gProtein: 8g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.
*This post was first written January 2013. The photos were updated January 2018 and it was republished July 2023.
Wendy
This looks too perfect! Is there anything that could be subbed for the melting chocolate? I can't get any here.
Jocelyn
You can use 2 cups white chocolate chips if you are able to get those instead.
Candy
Just made it, turned out great! Thanks for sharing!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Awesome to hear that! Thank you for sharing...now go enjoy that puppy chow 🙂
Grandmother2
I was also confused with the "vanilla melting chocolate" item..This should be corrected in the recipe immediately..If I had not read the comments I would not have known it was an error.
Jocelyn Brubaker
I'm sorry you were confused. It is all over the post and in the recipe that I used CandiQuik as the melting chocolate. I'm not sure how else to make it any more clear.
Rachel Gordon
The only candiquick I can find is vanilla or chocolate. I can't find the white chocolate kind. Any good substitution??
Jocelyn Brubaker
Oh, the vanilla is the one I meant. Sorry about that...I will make sure to edit the recipe.
Belinda
I know you questioned why this candy was named Puppy Chow. I can answer this for you. More than 30 years ago...Purina Puppy Chow was a square type puppy food covered with a white powdered milk coating. This is when this candy recipe was first developed. It was first named People Puppy Chow...to distinguis it from the dog food. So in the words of Paul Harvey "Now you have the rest of the story". This is my all time favorite snacking candy recipe! I can't wait to try your version.
Jocelyn Brubaker
I never knew that....thank you for sharing. It totally makes sense now!!!
Erin
This is so delicious but both times I made it, I got a sticky, clumpy mess. Any thoughts on making it more evenly coated so I don't get the big clumpy balls all melted together?
Jocelyn Brubaker
Hhhhmmmm you have me really curious because I have made a few times without it sticking together. Are you shaking on the powdered sugar right away while the chocolate is still wet? I had to work really quickly so the chocolate didn't set up before the powder had time to coat it. If you have a big enough plastic bag, put the whole mixture in there with half the powder in the bottom and then half the powder on the top! You will have to shake it really good to move the powder around. I hope that helps!!!
Erin
Its the mini pb cups...they are melting and making sticky clumps.
Erin
Maybe I should put them in the fridge for a day before I make it?
Jocelyn Brubaker
Ok, I never thought to ask how hot your chocolate is. If it is really hot, it will melt those peanut butter cups for sure. I would definitely either refrigerate or freeze them for a few hours before making the snack mix. My chocolate wasn't super hot, just melted. I did have to work really fast so it didn't set up before the powdered sugar was shaken on.
crystal
I need this in my life asap! I love all the Reese's in it. 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker
Oh girl, the all the Reese's in this was so good! You do need this!!!
Kathie
Show and Tell Saturday is LIVE at Sassy Little Lady! I’d love to have you come join the party!
Kathie
kristi@ishouldbemoppingthefloor
I just adore that it's not just the addition of the peanut butter cups, but also the cereal AND the pieces, too!! Sounds so incredible, Jocelyn!! YUM.
katie goldsworthy
This looks so good! Sharing on Twitter!
Kimmi@fivelittlechefs@gmail.com
I made a puppy chow for the first time a few months ago and LOVED it. We love reeses pieces so much. This match would be perfect for us. I am going to try this soon.
Erika @ The Hopeless Housewife
This looks like a fabulous flavor combination and you have to love puppy chow!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thank you! I am now completely smitten with puppy chow!!!
Jessica@AKitchenAddiction
Oh my. I already have a problem with limiting my consumption of puppy chow and then you go and add Reese's to it!!
Jocelyn Brubaker
If you thought you had problems before, just wait until you have this! You won't be able to stop! It's the bomb!
emily
ooooo totally drooling right now!!! I LOVE puppy chow and it looks great with those peanut butter things. Thanks for sharing at Tasteful Tuesdays this week!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thank you Emily. Sorry I don't sew so well so I am of no help to you there!!
Ginger@gingersnapcrafts.com
I must try this! Looks soooooo yummy...plus I really LOVE Reeses! 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker
If you love Reese's, you will adore this puppy chow! But I'm warning you...you won't be able to stop!!!
sally @ sallys baking addiction
Jocelyn, you will never believe this but I made a peanut butter only puppy chow recently !! and with white chocolate!! that is too funny. 🙂 I love the addition of reese's puffs and reese's pieces too girl! this is so darn creative and I obviously would NOT be able to stop munching on it!
Jocelyn Brubaker
I just had a feeling either you or Nikki would be posting something so similar 🙂 This puppy chow was the most addictive one I have ever had...I think it is all the Reese's!!!
Desi
I've seen the light! I love that you made these ultra special by adding Reese's Puffs and PB cups!!
Jocelyn Brubaker
haha! I love that you saw the "light"! Reese's lights always make things better!!!