Hanukkah Puppy Chow (Muddy Buddies!)

This Hanukkah Puppy Chow is the perfect holiday snack! It is festive, fun to make and eat and bursting with crunchy white chocolate, peanut butter goodness!

I am going to assume most of us know what puppy chow or muddy buddies are or also known as reindeer chow around the holidays. But just incase – this is a popular dish from the midwest since 1960s. It features peanut butter and chocolate covered rice cereal tossed in powdered sugar. And it is absolutely delicious and addicting to eat. Something I have been snacking on since high school and it’s such a fan favorite.

This snack is a go-to for many and you can make it custom to you and what you have on hand or are craving. The key parts of this puppy chow recipe being powdered sugar and rice chex cereal. But you can add in any mix-in’s, use almond butter instead of peanut butter or any chocolate you want too. And this recipe is also naturally gluten-free too.

What ingredients you need to make Hanukkah Puppy Chow (or Muddy Buddies!):

• Rice chex cereal – I like using the traditional rice chex cereal but you can use the corn one or even the chocolate flavored one too!
• Gluten-free pretzel sticks – you can really use any pretzels you want and any shape as long as it is small enough to fit into the mix well
• White chocolate chips – or you can use any chocolate you want!
• Creamy peanut butter – creamier the better so it melts in with the chocolate
• Festive sprinkles – you can use any you want. I did blue and white to make it Hanukkah-themed
• Mini peanut butter cups – I love adding these in for extra chocolate peanut butter flavor!
• Powdered sugar – I have used coconut sugar for this in the past like the one in my cookbook but for this classic version, I prefer powdered sugar!

How to make Hanukkah Muddy Buddy mix:

1. In a large bowl add in the cereal and pretzels
2. Next melt the peanut butter and chocolate together in microwave or over stovetop until fully melted
3. Coat on top of cereal mixture and mix carefully but not too slowly or it will get soggy!
4. Add to fridge for about 30 minutes then toss in the powdered sugar and mix well (I like to then spread on a baking sheet but it’s optional)
5. Add in the peanut butter cups and sprinkles and next add back to fridge to set for 15-30 minutes then enjoy!

Tips for success:

• To avoid soggy muddy buddies, move quick! After you add the melted chocolate and peanut butter, stir carefully but if you stir too slowly it will cause the cereal to be soggy
• You can easily customize this recipe for any holiday! Make it red and green for Christmas, pink and purple and red for Valentine’s Day, orange for Halloween and so on. Even red, white and blue for MDW, July 4th and LDW!
• This recipe is super quick and doesn’t require any baking or cooking! I do like to chill it in the fridge for a bit so the chocolate and peanut butter sets better
• You can also make this with milk chocolate or dark chocolate if white chocolate isn’t a favorite. But I do think white chocolate in this mix is SO good with the salty crunch of cereal and pretzels!
• Make this as a festive gift for friends or family! I made bags of this and dropped it off for neighbors and friends – it was a hit!
• Rice chex cereal is naturally gluten-free and to keep things gf just use gluten-free pretzels too
• You can store this in airtight container for up to a week – no refrigeration is required but if you prefer it cold, go for it!

A few other delicious holiday recipes to make:

Easy Snowman Bark!

The Best Sprinkle Sugar Cookies (gluten-free)

Soft Baked M&M Cookies (gluten-free)

Chocolate Brownie Pie (gluten-free)