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    Home » Holidays

    Published: Sep 8, 2023 by Angela · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    Halloween Muddy Buddies (puppy chow)

    Jump to Recipe

    For a sweet treat that is festive & easy to make, shake up a batch of Halloween Muddy Buddies. The classic Chex cereal party mix is sweet, fun, colorful, & ready in just 15 minutes. How is that for a trick that's also a treat?

    A bowl of peanut butter coated Chex cereal to make muddy buddies with Halloween candies.

    We love muddy buddies, aka monkey munch, puppy chow, muddy munch, reindeer chow, or doggy bag, in our house. I try to make different ones for different holidays. This one is a combination of all our favorite Halloween candy flavors - chocolate, peanut butter, caramel, candy corn, and sour gummies! 

    So go ahead and throw a costume party of Halloween monster bash. Serve this homemade Halloween muddy buddies with Hocus Pocus punch & the kids will be on a sugar rush - haha!

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients for Halloween Muddy Buddies
    • How to Make Muddy Buddies for Halloween
    • Substitutions & Variations
    • Equipment
    • Storing Muddy Buddies
    • Top Tips
    • FAQ
    • More Halloween Recipes
    • Halloween Muddy Buddies (puppy chow)

    Ingredients for Halloween Muddy Buddies

    Like classic muddy buddies, Chex cereal is drenched in peanut butter & chocolate and then dusted with powdered sugar. These same ingredients are the star of this Halloween version.

    Throw in a ton of Halloween candies and this sweet, salty, crunchy, & chewy party mix is ready to munch on. Also a great snack or dessert for Thanksgiving.

    • Chex Cereal - the traditional cereal for puppy chow/muddy buddy recipes (use any grain; wheat, corn, rice, or a combo)
    • Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips - rich chocolate flavor to melt & cover the cereal
    • Peanut Butter - for the creamy mixture that coats the Chex & nutty taste
    • Salted Butter - to help melt the peanut butter & chocolate chips
    • Vanilla Extract - delicious paring to the peanut butter and chocolate
    • Powdered Sugar - for that sweet sugar dusting that muddy buddies are known for (also known as confectioner's sugar)
    • Salted Peanuts - crunchy salty
    • Gummy Pumpkins (we used sour! yeah) - something chewy & festive
    • Candy Corn and/or Autumn Mix - a Halloween candy classic
    • Kraft Caramel Candies - unwrap and cut into quarters
    • Reese's Pieces - the orange, yellow, & brown colors are perfect for Fall & Halloween
    • any Halloween candy favorites!

    See the recipe card for quantities.

    How to Make Muddy Buddies for Halloween

    This quick no-bake recipe is great for last-minute parties, dessert, or snack fun. The kids love to help pick out candies & shake the bag of puppy chow to coat. So grab the family and make a batch of muddy buddies.

    Here are the steps for making muddy buddies for Halloween.

    1. Melt the coating for the cereal.
    2. Shake the Chex
    3. Add the Halloween candies

    1 - Melt the Coating for the Cereal

    The mixing of the Chex & the peanut butter chocolate coating requires a large mixing bowl. It needs to be big enough so that all the cereal can be folded into the hot mixture.

    A large bowl with butter, peanut butter, and chocolate chips in it.

    Combine chocolate chips, butter, and peanut butter in a large microwave-safe bowl.

    Microwave for 30 seconds at a time, stirring in between.  My batch took 3 rounds of 30 seconds each to get a smooth fully melted mixture.

    To the bowl of chocolate PB sauce, add the vanilla and stir. Next, add the Chex cereal and fold gently. Make sure to cover all the cereal completely.

    2 - Shake the Chex

    Halloween Muddy Buddies (puppy chow) in the bag ready to shake with powdered sugar.

    In a gallon-sized Ziploc, add the powdered sugar. Pour chocolate-covered cereal into the Ziploc with powdered sugar.

    Seal the Ziploc and shake.  Continue shaking and flipping the bag around to ensure all the cereal pieces are covered in powdered sugar. 

    3 - Add the Halloween Candies

    Bowl of peanut butter chocolate muddy buddies and Halloween candies.

    Pour into a serving bowl and add the remaining ingredients - all the yummy candies & nuts. Stir gently to combine.  Enjoy!

    Substitutions & Variations

    Here are some great recipe variations & ingredient substitutions that can be made. Add, omit, or use one of these alternatives for other delicious recipe ideas for muddy buddies. These may help you enjoy this recipe even with dietary, health, or personal nutritional preferences. 

    Substitutions

    • Chex Cereal - use rice or corn Chex for a gluten-free recipe
    • Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips - use milk or dark chocolate if that is your preference

    Variations

    • Spicy - add ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper to the chocolate when melting - great for a Mexican hot chocolate flavor for Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos)
    • Extra Nutty - add almonds, chopped pecans, or any of your favorite nuts.

    For a nut-free puppy chow recipe, try Snickerdoodle Muddy Buddies.

    Equipment

    The right ingredients, supplies, & equipment help recipes taste amazing & turn out well.  Here are recommendations for products that are needed for making this recipe.  Shop this recipe & buy these top-rated items today. 

    The Short Order Cook participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.  If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission on the sale at no additional cost to you. This helps with the costs of running the blog. Thank you!  

    Storing Muddy Buddies

    Store in a container with an airtight lid. I love this inexpensive & top-rated set of containers by OXO. It will remain fresh for up to 3 days if stored in a cool dry place. Warning: This lasts less than 24 hours in our house!

    Top Tips

    All of these great tips are shared in the post. But these are so good and important they are worth mentioning again so you don't miss them.

    • Make sure the mixing bowl is large.
    • Fold the cereal carefully to keep it intact.
    • Cut larger candies, like the Kraft caramels.
    • Store in a container with a tight-fitting lid for up to 3 days.
    Bowl of chocolate muddy buddies with candy corn, caramels, gummy pumpkins, and peanuts for a Halloween sweet snack mix.

    FAQ

    Are muddy buddies and puppy chow the same?

    The cereal snack mix with sweet flavors can be called either Muddy Buddies or Puppy Chow. Both typically involve coated Chex cereal with other fun mixins such as candy, nuts, etc.

    Can I make a peanut-free version?

    If you want to make muddy buddies but someone has a peanut allergy, no worries. You can swap out the peanut butter for almond butter in equal amounts. Simply use candies that are also safe & are without peanuts.

    More Halloween Recipes

    Looking for other recipes to celebrate Halloween? Try these sweets, treats, & cocktails:

    • Halloween Popcorn Balls featured overhead closeup of the plate of 4 popcorn balls with part of one on the counter with a sprinkling of candies around
      Halloween Popcorn Balls
    • Nutter Butter Ghosts on a black background.
      Nutter Butter Ghosts
    • Bug & Spider Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookies.
      Bug & Spider Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookies
    • Candy Corn Martini ready to drink
      Candy Corn Martini
    • 3 tootsie roll shots ready to drink with tootsie roll candies around
      Tootsie Roll Shots
    • Pumpkin Pretzels Faces & pretzels ready to eat close up.
      Pumpkin Pretzels
    • Hocus Pocus Cocktail cocktails with dry ice fog.
      Hocus Pocus Cocktail
    • Homemade Snickers Bars featured 5 stack
      Homemade Snickers Bars
    Halloween Muddy Buddies (puppy chow) in a bowl.

    Halloween Muddy Buddies (puppy chow)

    Angela
    A sweet, crunchy, & candy-packed treat, Halloween Muddy Buddies (puppy chow). Ready in just 5 quick minutes. This no-bake Chex cereal snack or dessert is festive with orange, yellow & brown Fall/Autumn colors. The easy recipe with sour, gummy, chocolate, peanut butter, & candy corn flavors is the best. Make for costume parties, harvest festivals, Thanksgiving, & school fundraisers too - gluten-free & peanut-free options.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 4 minutes mins
    Cook Time 1 minute min
    Total Time 5 minutes mins
    Course Dessert, Snack
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8 cups

    Equipment

    • Large Ziploc Bag
    • large microwave-safe mixing bowl

    Ingredients
      

    • 6 cups Corn Chex cereal other Chex varieties work too
    • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
    • ½ cup creamy peanut
    • 2 tablespoons salted butter
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 2 cups powdered sugar
    • ¼ cup salted peanuts
    • ¼ cup gummy pumpkins sweet or sour
    • ½ cup candy corn
    • ½ cup Kraft caramel candies unwrapped & cut in half
    • ** use any combination of Halloween candies, nuts, and/or dried fruits you like that equal 1 ½ cups total

    Instructions
     

    • In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine chocolate chips, butter, and peanut butter. Microwave for 30 seconds at a time, stirring in between.  It is ready when everything is smooth & fully melted. (My batch took 3 rounds of 30 seconds each)
    • To the bowl of chocolate PB sauce, add the vanilla and stir. Next, add the Chex cereal and stir to cover completely.
    • In a gallon-sized Ziploc, add the powdered sugar. Pour chocolate-covered cereal into the Ziploc with powdered sugar. Seal the Ziploc and shake.  Continue shaking and flipping the bag around to ensure all the cereal pieces are covered in powdered sugar. 
    • Pour into a serving bowl and add the remaining ingredients; peanuts, caramels, candy corn, & gummy candies. Stir gently to combine.  

    Notes

    Store leftovers in an air-tight container placed in a cool & dry location like the pantry or cupboard. It will remain fresh for up to 3 days. (if it lasts that long!)
    Calories & nutritional information will vary based on candies used & what type of Chex cereal - this is not a low-fat, low-calorie, or low-carb food!! 
    Keyword cereal, easy, Halloween, holiday, kid favorite, no bake, quick, thanksgiving
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    Hi, I'm Angela I’m Angela, a petite mom that loves to cook, eat, drink, & explore all things food. As a former personal chef & caterer, I specialize in family recipes that taste great & are easy to make. I rely on my trusty stool every day to create & test recipes I know you will love.

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