Sprinkle a little joy into your holiday season with a simple but mouthwatering treat that is sure to become a new tradition. Our Christmas Puppy Chow, also known as Muddy Buddies, is not just easy to whip up for any occasion, but it’s an absolutely delightful way to spread some cheer. I grew up loving puppy chow (the snack mix for humans, not dogs!) but my husband had never even heard of it until we started dating. It also goes by another name, Muddy Buddies, which is actually the more popular name for it on the West Coast as compared to the Midwest, where I grew up. I’ve posted a classic puppy chow recipe and even a small batch muddy buddies recipe before, but it’s so easy and fun to dress up for different holidays and makes a great Christmas treat to gift to neighbors during the holiday season. Making Puppy Chow is a simple process, and this easy recipe is a crowd-pleaser, perfect for all ages. Whether you’re making treats for cookie exchanges, movie nights, or just looking for the perfect recipe for Christmas parties, this sweet snack mix hits all the right notes. Check out my Christmas Crack Saltine Cracker Toffee, Peppermint Marshmallows, Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Bark, Homemade Turtles Candy, and this Christmas Crockpot Candy for more of our favorite Christmas treat recipes!
Why We Love This Recipe
Whether you’re catering to a large crowd at a holiday party or just making a small batch for a cozy movie night at home, you can adjust the quantities easily. Using super simple ingredients, Christmas Muddy Buddies are perfect for last-minute edible gift-giving! Just wrap up a big portion in a cute gifting bag or festive tin for a heartwarming, thoughtful present that’s perfect for teachers, neighbors, and friends. The kids will love choosing their favorite festive add-ins, and then it’s a simple process of mixing and shaking everything together!
What You’ll Need
Scroll down to the recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
Chex Cereal – Plain Rice Chex cereal is the classic choice for the base of puppy chow, providing a crunchy texture that holds up well to the coating. Chocolate Chips – I use melted semi-sweet chocolate chips to create a rich, chocolatey coating for the cereal. Peanut Butter – Chunky peanut butter is my go-to for this recipe. It adds a creamy but also crunchy element that pairs perfectly with chocolate. Salted Butter – Helps to thin out the chocolate and peanut butter mixture while adding a bit of richness. Kosher Salt – To enhance the flavors of the mix. Vanilla Extract – A splash of vanilla adds depth to the chocolate mixture. Powdered Sugar – To coat the Chex cereal, giving it the classic puppy chow look and a sweet finish. M&Ms – Christmas M&Ms add a festive touch and a slight crunch, but any holiday-themed candy will do if M&Ms aren’t your favorite. Candy Canes – This is optional but brings a great peppermint twist to the treat, enhancing the Christmas vibe.
How to Make Holiday Puppy Chow Mix
Tips for Success
Use chunky peanut butter and have a higher chocolate-to-cereal ratio than the original recipe called for. Use lots of powdered sugar to make sure every last bit of the puppy chow is coated in a sweet dusting of sugar. Make sure all of the cereal pieces are evenly coated with the chocolate mixture. To do this, pour the chocolate mixture on top of the Chex mix slowly, mixing it in slowly. Use a spatula or large spoon to gently fold the cereal until it’s completely covered. Aggressive mixing will result in a lot of crushed cereal! Make sure your chocolate-coated cereal is cool to the touch before adding the M&Ms to prevent the colors from the candy from bleeding onto the cereal and powdered sugar.
Substitutions and Variations
For those with a peanut allergy, this recipe can be easily modified to be allergy-friendly. Swap out the peanut butter for sunflower seed butter, and you’ve got a treat that’s just as delicious and inclusive. I have also used biscoff cookie butter in place of peanut butter before with good results. You can use white chocolate, milk chocolate, or dark chocolate chips if you prefer. Baking chips are also a good choice if you want to change the color of the snack. Use your favorite kind of festive candy for this treat. Try using crushed toffee bits, peppermint patties, or another kind of crushed candy. Reese’s Pieces, Mini M&M’s, or crushed Werther’s Originals could also be great options.
More Easy Christmas Dessert Recipes
Christmas Crack Saltine Cracker Toffee Easy Buckeye Candy Gingerbread Truffles Grandma Nash’s English Toffee Churro Popcorn Easy Christmas Crockpot Candy 35+ of The Best Christmas Cookies 25+ Easy Homemade Christmas Candy Recipes
When planning your holiday party or family gathering, consider serving it alongside savory snacks to balance the sweetness. Try my Homemade Soft Pretzels, Christmas Pretzel Hugs, Chocolate Covered Pretzel Rods or Kitchen Sink Cookies for a variety of sweet and salty flavors. This Chex Mix would also be a great addition to my S’mores Dessert Board or a Valentine’s Day Dessert Board, using different colored M&Ms and candies.
Candy Coated Crispix Mix
Santa Hat Brownie Bites
Rolo Pretzels
Let me know what you thought with a comment and rating below. You can also take a picture and tag me on Instagram @houseofnasheats or share it on the Pinterest pin so I can see.
