This Puppy Chow recipe is a classic sweet snack that nobody can resist. It’s 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.

This post contains affiliate links for products and ingredients I use and love. You can read my full disclosure here. Thank you for supporting What The Fork Food Blog so I can continue to provide you with free gluten free recipes ♥

Gluten Free Puppy Chow

If you’re trying to figure out what’s 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.

It’s Chex Cereal covered in melted chocolate/peanut butter/butter and then coated in powdered sugar. It’s 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&M’s, nuts, pretzels, or serve it as is.

Any way you eat it, it won’t 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!

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Puppy Chow Ingredients

Chex Cereal – I use a combination of Corn Chex and Rice Chex. To keep it gluten-free, make sure the Chex you’re using is gluten-free, AKA don’t use Wheat Chex in your mix.
Chocolate Chips – I prefer using semi-sweet chocolate but you can use milk chocolate for a sweeter snack or dark chocolate.
Peanut Butter – Natural peanut butter or nut butters will not work well in this recipe. They’re too soft and won’t firm up well once mixed with the chocolate and cereal.
Butter – Salted or Unsalted, your choice.
Powdered Sugar – You must use powdered sugar in this recipe, not granulated sugar or caster sugar. Powdered sugar coats the chocolate + peanut butter. Without it, this snack would be crazy messy.
Vanilla Extract – a little vanilla makes gives this snack mix a little depth of flavor. You can omit it if you have to.

Gluten Free Puppy Chow in a silver vintage loaf pan

Can I Make Vegan Muddy Buddies?

Yes! Just use a plant-based buttery stick in place of the butter. I recommend using Miyoko’s 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

Microwave-Safe Bowl – I use a 4-quart glass Pyrex bowl. That way, I can add my cereal to the melted chocolate and peanut butter without having to use another bowl.
Ziplock Bag – you’re going to want a big ziplock bag to shake that cereal up with the powdered sugar! See the “Tips” section for sizing recommendations.

How to Make Puppy Chow

Step 1. Add the chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter to a large microwave-safe bowl. Melt at 50% power in 30-second intervals until the chocolate is melted. Stir well after each interval. Do not overheat.

Step 2. Once melted, add the cereal to the bowl and stir to coat all of the cereal with the chocolate mixture. Set aside.

Step 3. Add half of the powdered sugar to a large ziplock bag. Add half of the cereal to the bag and seal it closed. Shake the bag to coat all of the cereal with the powdered sugar. Add extra sugar as necessary for an even coating.

Step 4. Transfer the puppy chow to a serving bowl or air-tight container and repeat the process with the remaining cereal.

Step 5. Store at room temperature in an air-tight container.

Super simple Gluten Free Puppy Chow - AKA Muddy Buddies is everyone’s favorite sweet snack. You only need a few ingredients to make it - Chex cereal, chocolate chips, butter, vanilla, peanut butter, and powdered sugar. You can even make vegan muddy buddies by using vegan butter and dairy free chocolate chips. This no bake recipe takes less than 15 minutes to make too! The recipe calls for semi-sweet chocolate but you can use milk chocolate or dark chocolate if you prefer.

Tips for Making Puppy Chow Snack

You can use one kind of cereal instead of a mix if you prefer.
It’s ok to use extra powdered sugar to coat your puppy chow. Extra sugar will give it a thicker coating.
Mix this up in a ziplock bag instead of a bowl. I used a gallon-sized bag and made it in 2 batches. You could use a 2-gallon bag and make it in one batch. A turkey brining bag would also be a great choice.
Make sure you store this in an air-tight container to keep it fresh for as long as possible!

Other Gluten-Free Snack Recipes To Try

Be sure to follow me on Instagram and hashtag #whattheforkfoodblog or tag @whattheforkfoodblog – I love seeing what you make!

If you love this gluten-free Puppy Chow recipe, be sure to follow me on social media so you never miss a post:

| Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | Youtube | Newsletter |

email subscription for What The Fork Food Blog

Gluten Free Puppy Chow Recipe (AKA Muddy Buddies)

4.56 from 34 ratings

Prep Time: 15

Total Time: 15

Servings: 10 Cups

By: Sharon Lachendro

Print Rate Pin

Ingredients

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter not natural
1/4 cup butter see notes for dairy-free
5 cups Corn Chex
4 cups Rice Chex
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Instructions

Add the chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter to a large microwave-safe bowl. Melt at 50% power in 30-second intervals until the chocolate is melted. Stir well after each interval. Do not overheat.
Once melted, add the cereal to the bowl and stir to coat all of the cereal with the chocolate mixture. Set aside.
Add half of the powdered sugar to a large ziplock bag. Add half of the cereal to the bag and seal it closed. Shake the bag to coat all of the cereal with the powdered sugar. Add extra sugar as necessary for an even coating.
Transfer the puppy chow to a serving bowl or air-tight container and repeat the process with the remaining cereal.
Store at room temperature in an air-tight container.

Notes

To make dairy free + vegan puppy chow, use plant-based vegan butter in place of the butter. For best results, use a vegan butter stick and not spread. Use dairy free chocolate chips.
You can use a 2-gallon bag or turkey brining bag to coat the cereal without having to do it in batches.