Halloween Muddy Buddies
This Halloween Muddy Buddies Mix is a sure-to-be loved treat to bring to any Halloween party. Sweet and chocolatey with cozy notes of peanut butter, browned butter, and vanilla take this Halloween Puppy Chow to the next level.
This Halloween Muddy Buddies mix (aka puppy chow!) is a festive take on the classic sweet snack! I’ve upgraded the traditional flavors though, with the additions of vanilla extract and by browning the butter first. You can skip, if you want, but it adds just another little extra layer of flavor!
Then add some festive flair with some Reese’s pieces and Halloween sprinkles to make this Halloween puppy chow super cute.
Why You’ll Love This Halloween Muddy Buddies Recipe:
- Simple to make
- Is made in about 15 minutes
- So easy, your kids can help!
- Perfect for Halloween parties and treats!
- It can be frozen (and is SO dang good straight from the freezer)
- You can beat it – it’s just so delicious!
Ingredients Needed
For a full ingredient list with quantities, please check out the recipe card at the bottom of this post!
- Crispy Rice Squares Cereal: You’re going to need Rice Chex, or a generic version, for the base of this treat.
- Butter: You could just melt the butter, but why melt it when you can brown it? Then you get a little extra nuttiness and flavor! Plus little tops the cozy scent of browning butter!
- Vanilla: Adds another little pop of flavor.
- Chocolate Chips: I prefer semi-sweet, but you can use dark, milk, white, or a mixture of any you prefer.
- Peanut Butter: PB is the classic choice, but you can sub cashew butter, almond butter, or even sunflower seed butter for a nut-free option.
- Powdered Sugar: A key ingredient to coat this yummy treat in!
- Mix-Ins: I loved using Reese’s pieces and Halloween Sprinkles for a Halloween vibe, but you can also use mini peanut butter cups and Halloween M&Ms.
Step-by-Step Directions
For complete instructions, please check out the recipe card at the bottom of this post!
- Brown the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Butter is browned when it’s fully melted and you see little brown bits on the bottom of the pan. Turn off the burner, remove from heat, then add vanilla and peanut butter, then stir in chocolate chips.
- Add cereal to the melted chocolate mixture and carefully toss.
- Make sure every piece is coated in chocolate!
- Fill a gallon-sized bag with powdered sugar.
- Carefully transfer chocolate-coated cereal to the powdered sugar bag.
- Seal shut and toss and shake to coat in powdered sugar.
- Spread coated puppy chow on a sheet pan to make sure everything is evenly coated and to avoid large clumps.
- Add mix-ins on top and toss to combine.
Alternatively, if you prefer your mix-ins to be more stuck to the puppy chow pieces, add them to the bag with the chocolate-coated candy and powdered sugar and toss everything together (you’ll likely not notice decorative color variations as much/ may have some melting).
Expert Tips
- You MUST take the browned butter off the heat as soon as it’s browned – you could even transfer it to another bowl to be safe! But if you leave the heat on while you’re adding the peanut butter and chocolate, the chocolate could burn and seize.
- Microwave it and skip browning the butter for an even simpler option. You’ll miss the brown butter flavor, but it’ll still be delicious. Just microwave the butter in a microwave-safe container in 30-second increments until melted. Then mix everything in a very large bowl.
- Change the Cereal. Add some variety by using a flavored Chex cereal, like Cinnamon Sugar for a fall flavor, or Chocolate Chex for an extra chocolatey version.
- Sweet & Salty: If you’re someone who loves that sweet and salty mix, substitute part of the cereal for mini pretzel twists and/ or salted peanuts.
- Enjoy it Cold! Okay, this may not be a popular opinion, but cold puppy chow makes for some elite snacking.
- Change up Mix-Ins: Like I said, I love the look of Reese’s pieces and Halloween sprinkles. But there are SO many different Halloween themes you can go with – stick with black and orange sprinkles or drizzle with melted black and orange candy melts once spread out of the sheet pan. You can go the green/ purple/ orange Halloween vibe with Halloween M&Ms. Or even use up some leftover Halloween candy by chopping it up and adding it to the puppy chow!
- Dairy-Free/ Vegan: Use your favorite dairy-free chocolate, and for vegan, ensure that your powdered sugar and mix-ins are vegan, as well.
- Nut-Free: Use sunflower seed butter instead of peanut butter and ensure all other ingredients, like the cereal, chocolate, and mix-ins, are nut-free as well.
- Gluten-Free: Rice Chex is already gluten-free, so be sure that any mix-ins are as well, and you’ll have a gluten-free Halloween sweet treat.
Storage & Freezing
Puppy chow generally tastes better the sooner you eat it, but it can be stored in an airtight container on the counter at room temperature for one week.
Alternatively, you can keep your Halloween muddy buddies in the fridge for up to two weeks or freezer for up to 3 months. I mean, realistically, it won’t last that long though – especially because it’s SO good straight from the freezer!
FAQs
What is puppy chow?
Puppy chow is a sweet, chocolatey, peanut buttery snack mix that’s dubbed “puppy chow” because it looks a bit like puppy food. 🙂
Is puppy chow the same thing as muddy buddies?
Sure is! Puppy chow and muddy buddies are one and the same. Which name do you use?
Does puppy chow have to be refrigerated?
It does not, but if you’re going to keep it more than a few days, I prefer it refrigerated.
Can you freeze puppy chow?
You can freeze puppy chow and it’s in fact absolutely delicious eaten straight from the freezer!
How long does puppy chow last?
Puppy chow lasts up to one week at room temperature, two weeks in the fridge, and three months in the freezer.
Can dogs eat puppy chow?
Absolutely not! Despite the name, puppy chow is not safe for dog consumption.
Supplies You’ll Need
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Halloween Muddy Buddies
Equipment
Ingredients
- ¼ cup salted butter
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 8 cups crispy rice squares cereal
- 1 cup confectioners' sugar
- ½ cup Reese's pieces
- ¼ cup Halloween sprinkles
Instructions
- Place the large pot over medium heat then brown your butter. The butter will be browned after it's melted, once you see brown bits on the bottom of the pan (this adds a rich, nutty flavor).1/4 cup salted butter
- Take the browned butter off the heat or transfer to a large bowl.
- Add peanut butter and chocolate chips and stir until melted. Stir in vanilla.1/2 cup creamy peanut butter, 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Add rice squares cereal to the melted chocolate and carefully toss to evenly coat the cereal with the chocolate mixture. Let this mixture cool for a few minutes — you can spread it out on a sheet pan for faster cooling if you'd like.8 cups crispy rice squares cereal
- Place the confectioners sugar in a gallon-sized bag. Add chocolate-coated cereal pieces to the bag, seal tightly, then gently toss and shake to evenly coat everything in the powdered sugar.1 cup confectioners' sugar
- You can add your mix-ins straight to the bag, but they'll also get a little coated in the powdered sugar. Alternatively, you can spread the powdered sugar-coated puppy chow on a sheet pan, add toppings, then gently toss to combine.1/2 cup Reese's pieces, 1/4 cup Halloween sprinkles
- Serve immediately, or store in an airtight container.
