Strawberry muddy buddies (AKA puppy chow) is a sweet and crunchy treat that's perfect for Valentine's Day, party favor bags, and snacking. Chex cereal is coated in white chocolate and tossed in a strawberry sugar mixture.
If you're looking for a sweet and fruity treat, you're going to love this recipe for strawberry muddy buddies (AKA puppy chow). It's sweet, crunchy, and filled with real strawberry flavor.
This dessert snack mix is made with just four ingredients - chex cereal, white chocolate, freeze-dried strawberries, and confectioner's sugar. In just 15 minutes you'll have a sweet treat that's perfect for Valentine's Day, birthday parties, baby showers, or everyday snacking.
If you love puppy chow, muddy buddies, or sweet chex mix (it goes by many names!), you may also enjoy my Snickerdoodle Puppy Chow Snack Mix or Lemon Puppy Chow Snack Mix
What is puppy chow?
Despite the name, puppy chow is the perfect snack for humans - not dogs. So don't feed this snack to your four legged friends!
According to Wikipedia, "The snack's name is based upon its look and consistency, which can resemble the Dog Chow brand of dog food in its appearance."
This sweet snack also goes by the names muddy buddies, reindeer chow, monkey munch, or muddy munch. No matter what you call it - I think we can all agree, it is absolutely delicious and addictive!
Ingredients and substitutions
- Chex cereal - I recommend using rice chex (pictured) or corn chex. However, any type of plain chex works as a substitute - choose your favorite.
- White chocolate chips can be substituted with white chocolate melting wafers.
- Freeze-dried strawberries - These are a must, they add the strawberry flavor and pink color to your muddy buddies. Either use freeze-dried strawberries that are processed into a powder, or purchase freeze-dried strawberry powder.
- Confectioner's sugar - Coats your cereal mixture and clings to the white chocolate coating.
Freeze-dried strawberries
For this recipe, you'll need freeze dried strawberries as well as a food processor or spice/coffee grinder.
Crunchies brand of freeze-dried strawberries is the brand I like to use. It is available in a .8 ounce bag (the exact amount needed for this recipe).
Simply add your strawberries and grind until they resemble a fine powder - this took about 8-10 seconds with my food processor.
Mixing your muddy buddies
Your muddy buddies can be prepared in a gallon sized freezer bag (as shown), or in a large bowl.
I recommend using a large bowl with extra space to toss your ingredients and get them evenly coated.
Store any leftover snack mix in a sealed container at room temperature.
Make ahead and storage
Puppy chow/muddy buddies is best enjoyed within 3-4 days after preparing. If stored in a tightly sealed container, it will last for up to a week, but will begin to lose its crunch.
Puppy chow does not need to be refrigerated - it can be stored safely at room temperature.
If left in a hot car or outside on a hot day, the chocolate may begin to melt. It is best kept indoors or in the shade if serving outside.
Recommended
Strawberry Muddy Buddies (Puppy Chow)
Ingredients
- 4 cups chex cereal
- 1 cup white chocolate chips, or melting wafers
- .8 ounces freeze-dried strawberries
- ⅓ cup confectioner's sugar
Instructions
- In a large bowl, add cereal. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, microwave white chocolate chips for 30 seconds, stir. Microwave for additional 30 second increments until chips are melted and smooth. Pour chocolate over cereal and stir carefully to fully cover but not break the cereal. Pour cereal mixture into a large gallon size plastic bag.
- In a spice grinder or food processor, grind freeze dried strawberries into a powder.
- Pour ground strawberry powder and confectioner's sugar over cereal and seal bag. Shake to evenly coat cereal.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment or wax paper and pour cereal mixture into a single layer. Refrigerate for 10-15 minutes (or until chocolate has hardened). Store in an airtight container until ready to serve.
Equipment Recommendations
Notes
- Puppy chow will keep for up to a week in a tightly sealed container at room temperature, and will start to lose its crunch over time.
- Using a plastic bag is optional, you can toss your cereal to coat in the original bowl you were using, or in a paper bag.
- Optional mix-ins. Try adding 1 cup of mix-ins for every 4 cups of cereal used: pretzels, m&m's candies, or cookie pieces.
- For a large party, try doubling or tripling this recipe.
These are fantastic!! I substituted candy melts for the white chocolate but the strawberry flavor is what really shines here. I carefully researched and chose this recipe because it used real strawberries instead of cake mix or jello and my intuition was right. The strawberry flavor is authentic and amazing. Will make again and again!!
I tried this. 1/4c white chocolate, 1/4c mounded with peanut butter chocolate, roughly a 1/4c (No added sugar) skippy peanut butter, pinch of salt to taste. Then followed recipe. Came out pretty good. My take on PBJ muddy buddies.
Could do 3 batches of it and do 1 strawberry, 1 plain white and 1 blueberry. 4th of July celebration.
Hi Mary, what a fun idea! This could definitely work - the freeze dried strawberry powder could be substituted with other freeze dried fruits, like blueberries or bananas if you can find them. You can also omit the freeze dried powder to make a plain 'white chocolate' version. Or, add a few dots of food coloring to the melted chocolate to add color.
Can this be made ahead and stored? If so how long would it last?
Hi Ashley, puppy chow will last up to a week in a sealed container at room temperature, and will start to get less crunchy over time. It can easily be made a day or two ahead of an event.
I love sweets, but this was too much. Perhaps it was because I used Ghirardelli white chips, which aren't chocolate. I might mix it with plain corn Chex to cut back on the sweetness.
Hi Becky, I'd suggest cutting down the confectioner's sugar if you try it again. Maybe start with 1/4 cup or less and see if that coats the cereal before adding more.