Why Youll Love This Recipe
- This Vegan Puppy Chow requires only 6 easy ingredients.
- This no bake treat takes just a few minutes to make.
- These are great for holidays, Christmas, birthdays, and rainy days.
- This Vegan Chex mix puppy chow is chocolaty, crunchy, and addicting!
- Everyone who has tried this recipe loves it.
- Check out this Healthy Puppy Chow for another fun idea!
- This recipe is Vegan, gluten free, and dairy free.
Gluten Free Puppy Chow Recipe
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This Puppy Chow recipe is a classic sweet snack that nobody can resist. Its made gluten-free with Rice and Corn Chex and can also be made dairy-free and vegan making it a great allergy-friendly snack for any occasion.
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Key Ingredients & Optional Add
Ingredients, directions and nutritional information in the printable recipe card at the end of the post.
- Crispy Rice Cereal | I used Rice Chex and Chocolate Chex, but you can use any combo or other similar cereal, like Crispix. I dont recommend using the wheat Chex though, their texture is a bit different.
- Chocolate chips | Semi-sweet chocolate chips are my go to. You can also try milk chocolate, dark chocolate, peanut butter chips, butterscotch chips or any chocolate chip mixture.
- Peanut butter| Creamy is a must. Or use the creamy version of almond butter, sun butter or your favorite nut butter for muddy buddies without peanut butter. I used a natural peanut butter, just make sure its really well stirred!
- Cookie butter | For an even sweeter treat use all cookie butter YUM! Just try not to eat it out of the jar! This ingredient is optional, just increase your peanut butter if not using.
- Vanilla | When I run out of my own vanilla extract, I love using Rodelle Vanilla, so rich and delicious!
- Powdered sugar | Adds a delicious velvety coating to the mixture, giving it that traditional puppy chow look.
- Holiday M& Ms | Pick up a couple of bags of those holiday m& m as soon as you see them on the shelves. These go fast during the Christmas season! In fact, I had to sort through a large bag of regular m& ms for red and green m& m pieces! My husband with sorting, red, green in the bowl, every other color in his mouth!
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Recommended Items For Gift Bag Package Decorating
- Bakers twine is my favorite of course at Christmas one of my favorites is the classic red and white, this trio of three is perfect.
- Nothing wrong with soft and off white classic bakers twine, plus you can tie up your turkey with it too!
- Jute is fun too! Rustic and farmhouse feeling, I love this sampler pack of 12 jute colors of twine.
- Dont forget a totally different look, like this vine garland, make mini wreaths to go onto your packages.
- Accent pieces are great, be creative, clip some evergreen from your yard , berries, a cinnamon stick, rustic or classic jingle bells, be creative, I bet you have little ornaments you could use too!
This easy treat goes by many names like Christmas Puppy Chow recipe, Reindeer Chow Muddy Buddies, Christmas Reindeer Chex Mix recipe, Reindeer munch, and of course Christmas Muddy Buddy Recipe. Whatever you call it, you will love this tasty treat, perfect for gifting at Christmas time!
Is This Puppy Chow Vegan
Yes and no. I used Enjoy Life Dark Chocolate Chips and Earth Balance Buttery Spread to make this recipe dairy-free. However, youll want to make sure that the chocolate chips that you are using are also vegan.
The other consideration to make for vegan puppy chow is to make sure that your sugar is vegan, too. Yes, I said sugar. Most powdered sugars are refined with bone char to get that super white color, making it not vegan.
If youd like to make this puppy chow vegan, use an organic powdered sugar, like Wholesome Organic Powdered Confectioners Sugar.
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Christmas Muddy Buddies Recipe
This Christmas Muddy Buddies Recipe is the perfect quick and easy treat for the holidays. Always a classic favorite, naturally gluten-free, and ready in minutes!
This is an incredibly easy snack to make for Christmas parties, to give as a holiday food gift, or simply when youre craving snacky, sweet, and salty food.
Much like my 5 Minute Christmas Crack, this snack mix is perfect to have on hand all through the season.
And just to top it off and make it super Christmasy hot chocolate is always a good thing.
Gluten Free Puppy Chow
If youre trying to figure out whats the difference between this puppy chow recipe and a muddy buddy recipe, you can stop trying to figure out.
Puppy Chow and Muddy Buddies are the same exact thing.
Its Chex Cereal covered in melted chocolate/peanut butter/butter and then coated in powdered sugar. Its a super popular party snack, perfect for holidays, potlucks, and parties at any time of the year. You can mix it with fun add-ins like M& Ms, nuts, pretzels, or serve it as is.
Any way you eat it, it wont be a disappointment. Every single bite is pure chocolate + peanut butter joy.
TELL ME what do you call this? Puppy Chow or Muddy Buddies? OR, something else?? Comment below and let me know!
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Puppy Chow Ingredients
Can I Make Vegan Muddy Buddies?
Yes! Just use a plant-based buttery stick in place of the butter. I recommend using Miyokos European Style Cultured Vegan Butter. Another great option is Country Crock Plant Butter Sticks with Avocado Oil. I use both these products for baking and cooking and I recommend them over using a buttery-spread.
You also want to make sure you use dairy-free chocolate chips. Enjoy Life Foods Mini Chips work great and melt really well.
Can I Make this Peanut-Free?
You can make peanut-free puppy chow by using Sunbutter in place of the peanut butter.
Equipment Needed to Make Chex Mix Puppy Chow
How to Make Puppy Chow
Step 5. Store at room temperature in an air-tight container.
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How To Make Dairy
Start by melting your chocolate, non-dairy butter and peanut butter in a microwave safe bowl. I like to do this in 30-second increments with a stir after each microwave session to make sure nothing burns.
Once melted and smooth, pour the chocolate peanut butter mixture over the gluten-free rice chex cereal in a large bowl. Make sure the bowl is large enough that you can easily mix the cereal and chocolate mixture together without it escaping the bowl. Stir until the cereal is coated well.
Place the chocolate covered cereal in an extra large tupperware with a lid or a large gallon-sized Ziploc bag. Cover the cereal with powdered sugar, close the container or bag and shake, shake, shake until the cereal is completely covered with powdered sugar.
I like to place my puppy chow in the refrigerator for at least an hour so that it gets cold. I think it tastes better when the chocolate is hardened, but to each their own. If you dont wait, youll just have a messier, gooey experience but still tasty!
Store your puppy chow in a sealed container either in the fridge or at room temperature. Mine never lasts this long, but it should be good for up to a week.
What Is A Muddy Buddy
Whether you call this snack Muddy Buddies or puppy chow , this treat is the BEST! Muddy Buddies are a sweet, crunchy cereal snack mix made with Chex® cereal, peanut butter, chocolate, butter, vanilla, salt, and powdered sugar. And to make it even better, there is no baking required!
This treat is frequently called puppy chow because of the close resemblance to dog food. So, while theyre not the most attractive-looking treat, youll be hooked from the first bite! Just make sure you dont actually feed your dog this snack. Pets and chocolate do not mix.
Now that were well-versed in the term, lets talk about making this delicious snack mix!
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Can I Make Puppy Chow Without Peanut Butter
This is the number one question I get asked about puppy chow. Yes, you can make puppy chow with other nut butters besides peanut butter if you have an allergy or simply dont have peanut butter on hand. Other nut butters like almond butter and cashew butter work well in this puppy chow recipe.
If you are steering clear of all nuts in addition to peanuts, then try Sunbutter, which is made from sunflower seeds!
Changing the nut butter in this recipe to a different variety will change the consistency and taste, but the result will still be delicious!
Gluten Free Chex Muddy Buddies
This classic chocolate, peanut butter and powdered sugar Chex Mix recipe has been a beloved part of families kitchens for years. Transform Chex cereal into a delicious treat in just 15 minutes. We call it Muddy Buddies, but you may know it as Puppy Chow.
- 9 cups Rice Chex, Corn Chex or Chocolate Chex cereal
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 1/4 cup butter or margarine
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- Healthy: Always read labels to make sure each recipe ingredient is gluten free. Products and ingredient sources can change.
- Substitution: Peanut butter and chocolate are a favorite flavor combo, but peanut butter lovers can substitute peanut butter chips for the chocolate chips to intensify that flavor.
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More Christmas Quick And Easy Recipes
Prep Time: Total Time:
This Christmas Muddy Buddies Recipe is the perfect quick and easy treat for the holidays. Always a classic favorite, naturally gluten-free, and ready in minutes!
- 7 cups Chex Cereal
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup Christmas M& Ms
Why Are Muddy Buddies Called Puppy Chow
Muddy buddies are also known as puppy chow. Why? Because the small Chex pieces mixed in melted chocolate and peanut butter look a bit like dog food at least before you add the powdered sugar coating! This sweet snack originated in the midwest in the United States. Some folks remember making it back in the 1960s, but General Mills officially developed the recipe in 2002.
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Sunbutter Or Nut Butter
Sunbutter tastes great in this recipe, but you can also use other mild tasting nut butters if you can have tree nuts, such as almond butter or cashew butter.
Cashew butter would also taste great in this recipe since its mild tasting, just make sure that if youre using cashew butter, use one that is creamy, well blended, and isnt very runny or separated or you may have wet/oily cereal and have to add extra powdered sugar.
Check out our other gluten free pumpkin spice recipes!
Ways To Serve Reindeer Chex Mix Recipe
Serve in a large festive bowl at your holiday parties, its the perfect holiday treat!
Place in a pretty ice bucket or a and dont forget the scoop, provide some some cups for people to serve themselves this would be great at a holiday Favorite Things Party!
Package the Christmas Muddy Buddies mix into cellophane bags or cute Christmas containers, tie with your favorite ribbon and affix a gift tag, or put in cute cupcake liners.
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Is Puppy Chow For Humans Or Dogs
Puppy chow is for humans, not dogs. Though Im sure our canine friends would love to get their paws into this stuff, it should NOT be served to dogs at all.
Chocolate is extremely bad for dogs so be extra careful when mixing up a bowl of this puppy chow if you have furry friends around. It does tend to be a tad bit messy when stirring so just keep a watchful eye! I know my dog was ready for any stray pieces of peanut butter to drop down.
Okay, if its not for dogs, then why is it called puppy chow? Puppy chow got its name from how it looks well a bit like dog food! But I swear, its a tasty treat!
Free Printable Christmas Reindeer Chex Mix Recipe Gift Tags
Simply click on the button below. A window will open where you pop in your email address and Ill send you the link to the free, printable gift tags in an email, shazaam!
Each of the labels are formatted for a 2×3 rectangle. You can either purchase some , hand cut them, or purchase a 2×3 inch tag punch.
You will receive both designs, print one style or print them both! There is one design on each sheet that will print 8 tags. I suggest printing on nicer paper, glossy paper, or cardstock that will work in your printer.
I love food gifts and this would be a great snack food to give to volunteers, teachers, kids or neighbors. Either put your own name in the box, or individually write names of your recipients.
Or you might also like these gift tags that are a bit more generic! Christmas gifts from the kitchen gift tags.
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Special Ingredients For Gluten
- Start with Gluten-Free Rice Chex Cereal. You could also combine a few other flavors of Chex Cereal in this recipe like Peanut Butter Chex or Chocolate Chex.
- Semi-sweet morsels: Enjoy Life and Nestles Allergen Free Morsels are both gluten-free and dairy-free.
- Peanut butter: Make sure that its labeled gluten-free. I use Jif Natural Creamy. Almond butter or SunButter could be substituted for the peanut butter.
- Buttery spread: Use Smart Balance or Earth Balance for a gluten-free and dairy-free butter replacement.
How To Make Puppy Chow Gluten
Step 1: Pour the 9 cups of cereal onto a large baking pan or a large bowl. Set aside.
Step 2: Place the chocolate chips, peanut butter, and buttery spread into a small saucepan and heat on low on your stovetop, stirring while it melts. Once it melts and is smooth, remove it from the heat and stir in the vanilla.
Step 3: Drizzle the chocolate mixture over the cereal.
Step 4: Use a large spatula or spoon in both hands and stir the cereal mixture until its completely covered with the chocolate mixture.
Step 5: Next, add 3/4 cup of powdered sugar to each of the gallon-sized resealable plastic bags. Add half of the cereal mixture to each bag, seal, and shake till the powdered sugar covers all of the cereal.
Step 6: Pour into a large serving bowl and enjoy!
An optional way to serve: A fun way to serve these and to make sure that they dont get cross-contaminated with any gluten at a party is to place them in small treat bags.
I like to have this type of bag on hand to bag up gluten-free cookies or other gluten-free treats to help keep them safe. Plus, theyre just cute!
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Dairy Free White Chocolate
Our first batch I made with the rest of our Great Value allergy friendly white chocolate chips, then the second batches I made with the Enjoy Life mini white chocolate chips. Both brands worked perfectly in this recipe!
I really like the Great Value allergy friendly white chocolate chips, but for some reason our local Walmart stopped carrying this item recently, so I have to order the Enjoy Life allergy friendly white chocolate online since no one has it in stores in my smallish town.
You can check out our post on replacing dairy in cooking and baking for recommendations for other white chocolate brands!
Tips & Tricks For Making The Best Chocolate Peppermint Puppy Chow
- Have all your ingredients “mise en place”. Meaning, have everything measured, set up, and ready to go.
- Crush your candy canes ahead of time using a food processor or a hammer and plastic bag.
- Melt your chocolate chips in a wide bowl, slowly in the microwave. Use increments of 20 to 30 seconds and only mix when you start to see the chips melt. If you have trouble melting your chocolate chips, you can add a touch of coconut oil or oil-based vegan butter . You can also use a double boiler on the stove if you have the setup.
- If you opt for using plain rice Chex instead of chocolate Chex for the dark chocolate portion, reduce the powdered sugar needed by ¼ and replace it with the cocoa powder.
- Have your Chex cereal ready to go in a plastic gallon-size Ziplock bag, add the melted chocolate, mix everything a bit first, before adding in the powdered sugar, peppermint extract, and crushed candy canes.
- You can then pour the puppy chow out into a colander to remove and excess broken Chex and extra sugar.
- Let your puppy chow dry and cool on a cookie sheet before storing!
- You can add extra chocolate chips and peppermint pieces to the finished mix or even add some broken up homemade peppermint bark!
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