This Christmas Muddy Buddies recipe is the kind of sweet snack that disappears fast. This no-bake treat takes just 10 minutes to make with simple ingredients and makes a big batch, perfect for holiday parties, cookie platters, and, yes... sneaking a handful at midnight.
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Looking for more fun Christmas recipes? Make this Grinch Popcorn Recipe, Christmas White Chocolate Chex Mix, and Puppy Chow Cookies.
Made with Chex cereal, creamy peanut butter, chocolate chips, and holiday M&M candies, it's crunchy, chocolatey, and coated in a snowy layer of powdered sugar.
Whether you call it muddie buddies, puppy chow, or reindeer chow, one thing's for sure - kids and adults both love this sweet snack mix. And if you want to add even more festive fun to your holiday snack table, try these adorable Reindeer Candy Treats.
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Why You'll Love This Easy Recipe
- Simple ingredients: Everything is easy to find at the grocery store.
- Quick and easy: Ready in 10 minutes, no oven required.
- Festive and fun: Red and green M&Ms make it the perfect holiday treat.
- Great for gifting: Stash in the freezer for longer storage or bag it up for teachers and neighbors.
- Kid-approved: This is one holiday snack mix everyone loves.
Ingredients You'll Need
- Rice Chex. I used gluten-free Rice Chex, but you can use any Chex cereal, even gluten-free.
- Chocolate chips. I used semi-sweet chocolate chips, but you could use milk chocolate chips, dark chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, peanut butter chocolate chips, or a combination.
- Peanut butter. I used smooth peanut butter. I haven't tried it with crunchy peanut butter, but I bet it would be delicious!
- Christmas M&Ms or candies: Red and green M&Ms make it festive. You could also add sprinkles, mini Reese's cups, peanut butter cups, mini marshmallows, pretzels, or peanuts for extra fun.
- Powdered sugar: The finishing touch for that snowy coating.
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the printable recipe card below.
How to Make Christmas Muddy Buddies
Step 1
Pour the entire box of Rice Chex (about 9-10 cups) into a large mixing bowl. Set aside.
Step 2
In a microwavable bowl, melt semisweet chocolate chips, creamy peanut butter, and butter in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval until smooth. Stir in vanilla. (You can also melt this mixture in a saucepan or even the air fryer if you prefer.)
Step 3
Pour the mixture over the cereal. Use a rubber spatula or wooden spoon to gently toss, scooping from the bottom of the bowl to avoid breaking the cereal.
Step 4
Add ¾ cup powdered sugar to a large Ziploc bag. Add half of the chocolate-coated cereal and half the M&Ms (or candies). Seal and shake until coated. Repeat with the remaining mixture.
Step 5
Spread the muddy buddies onto a parchment-lined baking sheet to cool.
Step 6
Once set, transfer to an airtight container. Store at room temperature for 1 week, or refrigerate or freeze for longer storage.
Jeri's Top Tips
Melt slowly: Stir often to prevent scorching the chocolate.
Mix quickly: Toss the cereal while the chocolate is warm so it coats evenly.
Freeze for convenience: Keep a stash in the freezer for easy holiday snacking.
Customize it: Add sprinkles, pretzels, or mini peanut butter cups to make it your own.
Big batch friendly: Perfect for gifting or feeding a crowd at holiday parties.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! Spread in a single layer on a baking sheet, freeze for 1 hour, then transfer to a freezer bag or container. Store for up to 3 months.
Yes. Store at room temperature for up to 1 week, in the refrigerator for 2 weeks, or freeze for up to 3 months.
Definitely. This sweet snack mix holds up nicely - make it up to a week ahead.
Yes, they're just two names for the same classic snack mix. It's also sometimes called reindeer chow, monkey munch, or muddy munch.
Because it looks a bit like dog kibble (but tastes a whole lot better). It originated in the 1950s as a way to use up extra cereal.
More Christmas Baking Recipes You'll Love
- Old Fashioned Ginger Snap Cookies
- Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
- Air Fryer Sugar Cookies
- Christmas Crack
- 2 Ingredient Peanut Butter Fudge
- Easy Christmas Fudge
- Cinnamon Sugar Puff Pastry Christmas Trees
- Smoked Chex Mix
Want a Valentine's version? Swap the M&Ms for pink, red, and white candies to make Valentine's Puppy Chow.
Printable Recipe
Christmas Muddy Buddies
Ingredients
- 9-10 cups Rice Chex cereal (1 box)
- 1½ cups semisweet chocolate chips
- ¾ cup creamy peanut butter
- ¼ cup butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1½ cups powdered sugar
- ¾ cup mini Christmas M&Ms (red and green)
Instructions
- Prep the cereal. Pour the Rice Chex into a large mixing bowl. Set aside.
- Melt the chocolate mixture. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter in 30-second intervals, stirring each time until smooth. (You can also melt on the stove over low heat or in the air fryer on the reheat setting at 360°F for 3 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds.) Stir in vanilla.
- Pour and mix. Pour the chocolate mixture over the cereal. Working quickly, toss gently with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula until evenly coated. Scoop from the bottom of the bowl to prevent the cereal from breaking.
- Shake with sugar and candies. Add ¾ cup powdered sugar to a large Ziploc bag. Add half the coated cereal and half the M&Ms. Seal and shake until fully coated. Repeat with the remaining cereal, sugar, and candies.
- Cool. Spread muddy buddies on a parchment-lined baking sheet to cool and set.
- Store. Transfer to an airtight container. Store at room temperature for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 3 months.
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Notes
- Melt slowly: Stir often to prevent scorching the chocolate.
- Mix quickly: Toss while the chocolate is still warm to evenly coat the cereal.
- Longer storage: Keep muddy buddies in a Ziploc bag in the freezer for easy snacking.
- Add-ins: Mini peanut butter cups, sprinkles, or pretzels make fun additions.
Nutrition
The provided nutrition information is automatically calculated. Accuracy is not guaranteed.
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