Harvest Puppy Chow Recipe (2024)

Harvest Puppy Chow Recipe is packed with chocolate chips, peanut butter and more. Enjoy classic Puppy Chow with all the flavors of Fall that include a tasty Autumn Mix of candy.

Harvest Puppy Chow Recipe (1)

Harvest Puppy Chow Recipe

Whether you call it Puppy Chow or Muddy Buddies, this delicious blend of ingredients is a tasty treat. We enjoy it year round but wanted to make it extra special for Fall.

Everything you love about the traditional flavor is packed in this recipe. There is lots of chex mix cereal coated with peanut butter, powdered sugar and more.

However, we have added some extra special ingredients for Fall. This would also be great for Halloween.

The colors of Reese’s Pieces make the perfect mix in for this Autumn treat. Plus, the candy corn and pumpkins make it look even more festive.

Is Puppy Chow the same as Muddy Buddies?

Yes, both of these refer to the same great recipe. Puppy Chow is the original name for this recipe that started in the Midwest.

Later, Chex Cereal realized how much everyone loved the idea. They started putting the recipe on the back of the boxes of cereal. They called the recipe Muddy Buddies.

Since that time, this treat has commonly been referred to as either Puppy Chow or Muddy Buddies.

Harvest Puppy Chow Recipe (2)

Ingredients

  • Chocolate Chips
  • Peanut Butter
  • Butter
  • Vanilla Extract
  • Rice Chex Cereal
  • Powdered Sugar
  • Autumn Mix Candy (candy corn and candy pumpkins)
  • Pretzel Twists
  • Reese’s Pieces

How to make Harvest puppy Chow:

  • Microwave the chocolate and peanut butter. In a microwave safe bowl, combine the chocolate, peanut butter, butter and vanilla extract.
  • Melt in intervals. Place in the microwave and cook for 30 seconds.
  • Stir the mixture. Stir and microwave again for 30 seconds. Continue doing this until the chocolate is melted through and stir to thoroughly combine it with the peanut butter.
  • Coat the cereal. Place the gluten free rice or corn Chex cereal into a large bowl. Pour the melted chocolate combination over the Chex cereal.
  • Fold the cereal to combine. Use a spatula to fold the cereal to coat it completely in the chocolate.
Harvest Puppy Chow Recipe (3)
  • Place powdered sugar in a bag. Then pour the powdered sugar into a gallon ziplock bag.
  • Add the cereal to the bag. Pour the chocolate covered Chex cereal in the ziplock bag.
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  • Shake the cereal and mix. Seal the bag and shake to coat the Chex in the powdered sugar mixture.
  • Let the mixture cool. Spread the cereal on a baking sheet. Allow it to cool completely.
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  • Add the candy. Once cool, mix in the Autumn mix candy, Reese’s pieces and pretzel twists.

Jump to recipe below for complete instructions.

Does puppy chow need to be refrigerated?

No, this recipe can be stored at room temperature up to a week. Just make sure to store in an airtight container or bag so it stays fresh.

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Can I make Puppy Chow in advance?

Puppy Chow is an easy recipe to make in advance. We do this frequently for parties and it really helps with preparation.

This recipe can easily be made up to 5 days in advance. Just make sure to keep it stored inside an airtight container.

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Substitutions and Additions

  • Chex Cereal. We used Rice Chex but you can substitute Corn Chex, Crispix cereal, Chocolate Chex or Cinnamon Chex.
  • Seasonal. Simply change out the candy to make these work for other seasons. It is a great treat to enjoy all year long.
  • Assorted Candy. Instead of Reese’s Pieces, you can try using M&M’s, sprinkles, chopped cookies or anything small you like.
  • Gluten Free. If you need to make this snack mix without gluten, make sure the pretzels are gluten free. Also, do not use Wheat Chex cereal.
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Fall Puppy chow tips

  • Double the recipe. This treat is super easy to double if you plan to host a crowd or hand this out to friends. Just make sure you have a really large bowl.
  • Peanut Butter. It is best to skip the all natural peanut butter in this recipe. The processed variety works best. We prefer Peter Pan or Jiff.
  • Candy. If you are unable to locate the Autumn Mix, you can just buy the candy corn and pumpkins separately.
  • Allow to cool. Ensure the cereal mix has properly cooled before storing in containers.
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Print this Harvest Puppy Chow recipe below:

Review

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Harvest Puppy Chow

5 from 30 votes

Harvest Puppy Chow Recipe is packed with chocolate chips, peanut butter and more. Enjoy classic Puppy Chow with all the flavors of Fall that include a tasty Autumn Mix of candy.

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

Servings 12

Cuisine American

Course Dessert

Calories 609

Author Carrie Barnard

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a microwave safe bowl combine chocolate, peanut butter, butter and vanilla extract.

  • Place in the microwave and cook for 30 seconds.

  • Stir and microwave again for 30 seconds. Continue doing this until the chocolate is melted through and stir to thoroughly combine it with the peanut butter.

  • Place the Chex cereal in a larger bowl.

  • Pour the melted chocolate combination over the Chex cereal.

  • Use a spatula to fold the cereal to coat it completely in the chocolate.

  • Then pour the powdered sugar into a gallon ziplock bag.

  • Pour the chocolate covered Chex cereal in the ziplock bag.

  • Seal the bag and shake to coat the Chex in the powdered sugar mixture.

  • Allow to cool completely on a bake sheet.

  • Mix in the Autumn mix candy, Reese’s pieces and pretzel twists.

Recipe Video

Nutrition Facts

Calories 609kcal, Carbohydrates 109g, Protein 9g, Fat 19g, Saturated Fat 9g, Polyunsaturated Fat 2g, Monounsaturated Fat 6g, Trans Fat 0.2g, Cholesterol 12mg, Sodium 512mg, Potassium 292mg, Fiber 8g, Sugar 64g, Vitamin A 647IU, Vitamin C 6mg, Calcium 128mg, Iron 15mg

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Harvest Puppy Chow Recipe (11)

More easy puppy chow recipes:

  • Halloween Puppy Chow Recipe
  • Funfetti puppy chow recipe
  • Brownie Puppy Chow Recipe
  • Puppy Chow Recipe
  • St. Patrick’s Day Puppy Chow Recipe
Harvest Puppy Chow Recipe (12)

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About the Author

Harvest Puppy Chow Recipe (21)

Hi, I’m Carrie. Welcome to Desserts on a Dime!

I’m on a mission to help you create delicious desserts on a budget and do not require a ton of time. Together, we are going to make something sweet that the entire family will love!

About Carrie
Harvest Puppy Chow Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between puppy chow and muddy buddies? ›

There's sort of an ongoing debate about the name of this chocolate-covered cereal treat. Some people call it puppy chow, while others know it by different names: muddy munch, monkey munch, or muddy buddies. Muddy Buddies is actually the official name of the recipe marketed by General Mills, the maker of Chex cereal.

What is puppy chow made of? ›

What Is Puppy Chow? “Puppy chow” (a.k.a. muddy buddies) is the name for a homemade candy or snack that's made with cereal, chocolate, peanut butter, and powdered sugar. General Mills sells their own version of the popular treat, but it's easy to make at home with just a few ingredients.

Why is my puppy chow soggy? ›

Why Is My Puppy Chow Soggy? After coating the cereal mixture with powdered sugar, don't rush the process. Cool completely on a baking sheet until firm before packing into an airtight container. This step of cooling and drying is essential for puppy chow that will stay crisp, not soggy.

How many cups of rice Chex are in a 12 oz box? ›

One standard-size (12-ounce) box of Rice Chex cereal contains about 11 cups of cereal.

What came first puppy chow or Muddy Buddies? ›

In 2002 General Mills developed Muddy Buddies, the same recipe as Puppy Chow. But it can't be said that General Mills invented the recipe since Midwesterners recall seeing it and eating it long before the early 2000s.

What is the difference between puppy chow and puppy chow large breed? ›

Large breed puppy foods are different from “regular” puppy foods in that they are lower in fat and calories, contain slightly lower levels of calcium and phosphorus, and have a carefully balanced calcium-to-phosphorus ratio.

Why is it called puppy chow? ›

Its brown kibble-like appearance harkens back to the chow of the Purina company, and the name wasn't subtle, people called it Puppy Chow, knowing well that the dog food company manufactured that cereal. While party mix was a little more universally known for many decades, Puppy Chow was a neat quirk of the Midwest.

What's another name for puppy chow? ›

Puppy chow, also known as monkey munch, muddy buddies, muddy munch, reindeer chow, or doggy bag, is the name for a homemade candy made in the United States, primarily in the Midwestern States.

Does muddy buddies go bad? ›

Muddy buddies will stay fresh for up to 1 week stored in an air-tight container at room temperature or can be frozen for up to 2 months.

Why are my muddy buddies clumpy? ›

Chilling. Just a note that chilling the cereal/peanut butter/chocolate mixture before adding any powdered sugar is critical to making sure you have delicious clumpy, not overly sweet, puppy chow!

Why is my puppy chow clumpy? ›

Powdered sugar doesn't stick to hot Puppy Chow

If you were to make that fateful mistake, the powdered sugar would dissolve right into the warm chocolate and peanut butter, creating a clumpy mess instead of giving you the snowy aesthetic that makes puppy chow worth eating.

Do you add water to puppy chow? ›

It is recommended that puppy food is soaked from the age of 3-4 weeks up to 12 weeks. However there is no set rule for this, some puppies or even older dogs will always prefer to eat dry food when soaked and it is providing your puppy or dog with more water intake, so certainly nothing wrong with that!

Can you put powdered sugar in cereal? ›

Place ½ cup of the powdered sugar in a gallon-size zip-top bag, top with half of the cereal mixture, another ½ cup of the powdered sugar, the rest of the cereal mixture, then the remaining ½ cup of powdered sugar. Seal the bag, then shake it very well until all of the cereal is coated with powdered sugar.

Who invented chex mix? ›

With New Year's Eve celebrations around the corner, I'm turning to the party food of my childhood: Chex Mix. The recipe was created by the Ralston-Purina Company in the early 1950s to move boxes of its signature cereals Wheat Chex and Rice Chex.

Is Rice Chex a healthy cereal? ›

Rice Chex is low in fat, containing only 0.5 grams of fat per serving. It contains no saturated or trans fats, making it a heart-healthy choice.

Why are muddy buddies called puppy chow? ›

Its brown kibble-like appearance harkens back to the chow of the Purina company, and the name wasn't subtle, people called it Puppy Chow, knowing well that the dog food company manufactured that cereal. While party mix was a little more universally known for many decades, Puppy Chow was a neat quirk of the Midwest.

What is another name for puppy chow dessert? ›

Puppy chow (snack)
Alternative namesMonkey Munch, Muddy Buddies, Muddy Munch, Reindeer Chow, Doggy Bag
CourseCandy
Place of originUnited States
Main ingredientsChocolate, peanut butter, cereal, powdered sugar
Food energy (per serving)20 kcal (84 kJ)
1 more row

What is the difference between puppy chow and regular dog food? ›

Puppy food also has more amino acids, fat, and minerals than adult dog food. Some brands even add extra omega-3 fatty acids to puppy food to help with brain and eye development. On top of all of this, large-breed puppies have additional special needs.

Is puppy chow better than dog chow? ›

Puppy food does have slightly higher levels of calcium and phosphorous when compared to most adult dog foods. Puppy food also has a higher fat and protein content, meaning there are more calories per bite than the adult version of the same brand.

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