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!
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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
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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.
Holly Lefevre
Oh more puppy chow...it is like I am being willed to make it!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Hooooollllyyyy....you must maaaakkkeee the choooowww!!! Yup, it's calling your name 🙂
Jenn
Must try this!! I've never heard the term Puppy Chow before - always Muddy buddies here. In either case, it looks DELICIOUS!!!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Isn't it funny how things have different names depending on where you are from? I had actually never heard of either until food blogging became big.
Brenda
YUM!! Pinning! 😉 Thanks for another incredibly yummy looking recipe!! 🙂
Chandra@The Plaid and Paisley Kitchen
Jocelyn that is hilarious! I have that same fear with most of my posts also! Everyone is so talented I always feel like I am step behind! This puppy chow really has some of my favorite flavors! Thanks for Linking up at Show Me Your Plaid Monday's!
Tanya Schroeder
Haha, loved that you had to share this before some one else did! Ah the life of a blogger! Wish I was at your party! Love those mini Reese cups all coated in sugar!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Yes, very much the life of a blogger. I have made too many things and not shared them, and then someone else posts the same thing within a week or two. I have learned if I am super excited for a recipe, I need to share it right away! The Reese's cups in this was the best part!!
Chelsea {whatcha makin' now?}
Oh my goodness! This would be so dangerous for me to make....the hubs and I would snack on it and then wonder where it all went. Amazing. Pinning to make!
Jocelyn Brubaker
hahaha! Yes, it is a very dangerous mix to have around. I have eaten way too much of it in the past day!!! Thanks for the pin!
Elaine @ Cooking to Perfection
Ahhh I love the Reese Puffs cereal and mini Reese cups!! I didn't think puppy chow could get any better, but it just did.
Jocelyn Brubaker
The extra Reese's goodness in this chow made it so dangerous to have around! I'm not sure I ever want to have the original again 🙂
Julie
You seriously just spoke straight to my heart with this version of Puppy Chow! Hats off to you 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Julie! I wish I had leftovers to share...
Becca @ Crumbs and Chaos
I'm absolutely wondering how people have never heard of puppy chow as a people treat...have they been living under a rock?! I love that you put Reese's puffs in this one - YUM!!
Jocelyn Brubaker
I have heard of it, but I had never made it until this week. It was so easy...and now I am addicted!!! Those Reese's puffs are my fav cereal!
Anna @ Crunchy Creamy Sweet
Oh my! This looks sinful! And I want some!
Jocelyn Brubaker
It was so addicting!!! You should definitely make some so you can have it!!!
Becky W
I've been wanting to make puppy chow for the first time ... but, wow, this one sounds even MORE amazing with all of the Reese's ingredients. Thanks!
Jocelyn Brubaker
This is the one that you should try first...puppy chow ramped up with Reese's. It doesn't get much better than that!!!
teresa
you have the best treats here, and your pictures are awesome! this looks sooo good!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thank you so much Teresa. You just made my day 🙂
Ashley @ Kitchen Meets Girl
Jocelyn! Reese's is my favorite--I can't believe you used four kinds in this puppy chow! I'm drooling just thinking about it!
Jocelyn Brubaker
It was seriously so easy, yet so delicious! Yup, I'm drooling too as I remember the goodness!!!
Leslie
This looks awesome! Taking typical puppy chow to the next level! This would be perfect for movie nights, too!!
Blessings,
Lslie
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust
OH. MY. GOD. *Mind exploding* I need this in my life. I swear I've seen so much puppy chow I am craving it LIKE MAD. Especially this one!
Jenn@eatcakefordinner
Looks yummy. I love that place mat!
Brand Hall
Wow! This looks so delicious! My hubbies mom makes puppy chow for Christmas but never with Reese's. That additional topping would make it unbelievable!
Regina @ SpecialtyCakeCreations
I just love(!) reese's pieces. This sounds soo yummy! Can't wait to make my first batch of puppy chow soon when I find the right cereal 🙂
Aimee @ ShugarySweets
Oh my word, are you kidding me? This looks insanely good. FOUR kinds of Reese's?? YES!!!!
Liz
This looks perfect for an afternoon snack! I have yet to make any kind of Puppy Chow, but this one sounds like a great start! Have a great time at the party Jocelyn 🙂