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My Christmas puppy chow has a lot more going on than plain puppy chow, with pretzels, M&M’s and mini Reese’s in every handful. It’s sweet, salty, chocolatey, peanut buttery and crunchy all at once. Set out a big bowl and watch people keep reaching back in.
Christmas puppy chow shows up at my holiday parties, get-togethers and family movie nights. With three boys, I’ve always appreciated recipes I can throw together fast, and this one takes about 10 minutes of hands-on work before it sets.
Instead of stirring everything in at once, I wait until the cereal is coated in powdered sugar before I add the candy. That keeps the red and green bright instead of buried under a layer of white, and everything in the bowl keeps its own texture.
I start this the same way as my classic Chex puppy chow, and you’ll also see it called Christmas muddy buddies or holiday puppy chow. It’s a treat for people and never the dog, because chocolate isn’t safe for dogs.
HOLIDAY FAVORITE
Why I Set Out Puppy Chow Next to the Cookie Tray
I like having something on the Christmas table that isn’t another cookie or another square of Christmas fudge, and the red and green candy makes this look festive without any decorating.
Unlike a dessert that needs to be sliced and served, people can grab a handful whenever they want. There’s something in the bowl for everyone, so it never sits there for long.
What Goes Into the Bowl and Why
- Rice Chex: I use Rice Chex because it’s light and crispy and holds the chocolate coating really well. Corn Chex or Crispix work too if that’s what you have in the pantry.
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips: Semi-sweet chips are what I use for the coating. Milk chocolate or white chocolate chips work too if that’s what your family likes better.
- Creamy peanut butter: I use a regular creamy peanut butter, because natural peanut butters can stay too soft and the coating needs to set. For a peanut allergy, sunflower seed butter works in the coating. Skip the mini Reese’s and check the label on your M&M’s too.
- Powdered sugar: I usually start with 1½ cups and add a little more if needed. At Christmas I like a nice white coating so the cereal looks almost snowy, but you don’t need so much that it collects at the bottom of the bowl.
- Extra-small pretzels: I go for the extra-tiny pretzels because they’re about the same size as the cereal and candy, so everything mixes together evenly. To make the whole bowl gluten-free, use gluten-free pretzels and check the labels on your cereal and candy.
- The candy and sprinkles: If you add sprinkles, go with the larger ones, because tiny sprinkles fall straight to the bottom of the bowl. This Christmas puppy chow recipe is a forgiving one, so it’s easy to throw in other things you like. Crushed peppermint is fun at Christmas, and my peppermint bark puppy chow goes all in on it. For more bowls like this one, I keep all of my Chex mix recipes in one place.
The full list of Christmas puppy chow ingredients and amounts is in the recipe card below.
How to Make Christmas Puppy Chow
Step 1: Melt the Chocolate Coating Melt the chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter together in the microwave until completely smooth.
Step 2: Coat the Cereal Pour the chocolate over the Rice Chex in a large bowl and stir gently until every piece is covered.
Step 3: Toss It in Powdered Sugar Toss the coated cereal with the powdered sugar in a big bowl with a lid or a large resealable bag. It spreads the sugar evenly without crushing the cereal, and the mess stays inside.
Step 4: Let It Set, Then Add the Candy Spread the puppy chow on a parchment-lined baking sheet and let it set for 20 minutes. Then move it to a clean bowl and toss in the pretzels, M&M’s, Reese’s, marshmallows and sprinkles.
Keeping It Fresh on the Counter or in the Freezer
I keep Christmas puppy chow in an airtight container or a resealable bag at room temperature for up to 5 days. It doesn’t need to go in the fridge.
To make it further ahead, freeze the coated cereal before you add the pretzels, candy and marshmallows, in a freezer bag or container for up to 2 months. Let it thaw on the counter, toss it in a little more powdered sugar if it feels sticky, then stir in the mix-ins.
More Christmas Snacks and Treats
Christmas Puppy Chow
Ingredients
- 8 cups Rice Chex cereal
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1½ to 2 cups confectioners sugar
- 1 cup extra-small mini pretzels
- 1 cup red and green M&M's
- 1 cup mini marshmallows
- 1 cup mini Reese's peanut butter cups
- Sprinkles optional
Instructions
- Place the Rice Chex in a large bowl and set it aside.8 cups Rice Chex cereal
- In a small microwave-safe bowl, microwave the chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter in 15-second intervals, stirring after each one, until smooth.1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, ½ cup creamy peanut butter, 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- Pour the chocolate mixture over the cereal and stir gently until every piece is evenly coated.
- Toss the coated cereal in the powdered sugar until all of the chocolate is covered. A large bowl with a lid or a large resealable bag works best for this step.1½ to 2 cups confectioners sugar
- Spread the coated cereal on a parchment-lined baking sheet and let it set for 20 minutes.
- Transfer to a clean bowl, add the pretzels, M&M's, Reese's, marshmallows and sprinkles, and toss until well mixed.1 cup extra-small mini pretzels, 1 cup red and green M&M's, 1 cup mini marshmallows, 1 cup mini Reese's peanut butter cups, Sprinkles
Jenn’s Notes
- I melt the chocolate in 15-second bursts and keep stirring for about a minute after the last one, so the heat from the bowl melts the last few chips without scorching them.
- I start with 1½ cups of powdered sugar and add more if I want a whiter, snowier coating.
- I add the candy after the powdered sugar so the red and green stay bright. Larger sprinkles work best, since tiny ones fall to the bottom.
how do you make fun funding chow. It’s so good