Satisfy your sweet tooth with these delicious Muddy Buddy Bars! Made with Chex cereal, melted chocolate, creamy peanut butter, and powdered sugar, they’re a perfect treat that takes classic puppy chow to the next level!
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What is a Muddy Buddy Bar?
Also known as Puppy Chow Bars, this muddy buddy recipe is simply the dessert bar form of the favorite cereal coated snack mix! Rather than coat the cereal, let it set up, and enjoy it as several bites and pieces, these bars are easier to eat, can be cut into desired size pieces, and is a treat that can be enjoyed for any occasion! Crunchy Chex cereal, melted chocolate, and creamy peanut butter combined into bars and dusted with powdered sugar. What’s not to love about this fun twist?! Similar to a Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispy Treat, only with Chex!
Why You’ll Love this Muddy Buddy Bars Recipe
- Perfect for any occasion– being bars, these can be served at parties, gatherings, Holidays, birthdays, and more! No needing to deal with multiple hands going into a bowl and spreading germs.
- Mess Free– since you are enjoying a bar versus coated cereal pieces, these cereal bars tend to make less of a mess and be more kid-friendly.
- Customizable– change up the chocolate from semi sweet chocolate to milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or even white chocolate. You can use Rice Krispies in place of the Chex cereal, you can add in small candies, etc. So many great options!
- Can be made ahead of time– to save on time, make these the day before needed and simply slice and serve when needed! They taste just as delicious whether made fresh or ahead of time!
Ingredients Needed to make Chex Muddy Buddy Bars
Below is a brief overview of each ingredient needed. To see printable recipe card, scroll to the bottom of the post.
- Chex Cereal– I love using Corn Chex for these bars, however, Rice Chex Cereal works great too. Any brand desired and if you want to use Rice Krispies instead, that is a great alternative.
- Chocolate Chips– I use semi-sweet chocolate chips, but any flavor works.
- Peanut Butter– creamy peanut butter is best as it coats the bars perfectly. Chunky peanut butter is not ideal.
- Vanilla Extract– opt for pure vanilla versus imitation as it adds more flavor.
- Marshmallows– I use the large size, this is the ingredient that binds everything together and gives the bars their chewy texture. Make sure your marshmallows are fresh as stale won’t melt as easily.
- Powdered Sugar– this adds the perfect amount of sweetness and gets sprinkled on top.
How to make Puppy Chow Bars
- In a large bowl, pour cereal in. Set aside.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, mix chocolate chips, peanut butter, vanilla, and marshmallows Microwave in 45 second increments until chocolate mixture is smooth and melted.
- Pour chocolate peanut butter mixture over cereal and mix until coated.
- Spread cereal mixture into an 8-inch greased pan.
- Push mixture down firmly if you want it to be more of a “bar”, or you can leave it thick and “chunky” like I did. Make sure it’s an even layer.
- Sprinkle desired amount of powdered sugar on top of the bars.
- Either place in fridge to set up firm, or leave in an air tight container, room temperature, for a more soft bar.
Variations of Muddy Buddies
- Peanut Butter Chips- you can add 1 cup of Reese’s Peanut Butter Baking Chips to the cereal mixture before pressing into the pan. This adds more peanut butter flavor throughout.
- If you don’t like desserts to be very sweet, feel free to omit the powdered sugar topping.
- Add in small candies such as M & M’s, Reese mini peanut butter cups, Hershey Bar pieces, etc.
- To make these festive for any occasion, add in sprinkles or themed M & M’s.
- Cookie Butter or Biscoff can be used in place of peanut butter.
- Mini Marshmallows- stir in up to 1 cup before placing mixture into prepared pan.
Tips for Success
- Be sure to fully grease your baking dish with cooking spray. Although these bars don’t really stick due to the cereal coating, sometime the marshmallow can be sticky and make a mess on the sides. You can also use parchment paper as a liner.
- If you prefer using the stove top to melt the chocolate versus microwave, use low heat as to not burn the ingredients.
- Use a rubber spatula to coat the cereal with the peanut butter chocolate mixture. You don’t want to break the cereal up too much, so be careful when stirring.
- Allow the cereal bars to fully cool before cutting into small pieces as this allows them to fully set up and hold their shape.
Storing Puppy Chow Bars
- Although these are best enjoyed the same day they are made, they can be made up to one day in advance and covered until ready to serve. Store them at room temperature to keep their same crispness throughout the duration needed.
- If storing at room temperature covered, they should be good for about 4-5 days.
- If choosing to place in refrigerator, the bars will be good for up to 7 days in an airtight container. Allow them to get to room temperature before serving.
More Puppy Chow Recipes to try
- S’more Muddy Buddies
- Christmas Puppy Chow
- Valentine Puppy Chow
- Patriotic Puppy Chow
- Classic Muddy Buddies
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Puppy Chow Bars
Enjoy a delicious and easy no-bake treat with these Muddy Buddy Bars. Made with just a few simple ingredients, these bars are the perfect sweet snack for any occasion.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 5 cups Corn Chex cereal
- 2 cups chocolate chips *I use semi-sweet
- 1 cup peanut butter *creamy
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 5 marshmallows *large size
- Powdered sugar
Instructions
- In a large bowl, pour cereal in. Set aside.
- In a microwave safe bowl, mix chocolate chips, peanut butter, vanilla, and marshmallows Microwave in 45 second increments until chocolate mixture is smooth and melted.
- Pour chocolate over cereal and mix until coated.
- Pour into an 8×8 greased dish.
- Push mixture down firmly into prepared pan if you want it to be more of a “bar”, or you can leave it thick and “chunky” like I did.
- Sprinkle desired amount of powdered sugar on top.
- Either place in fridge to set up firm, or leave in an air tight container, room temperature, for a more soft bar.
Nutrition
Calories: 439kcalCarbohydrates: 49gProtein: 10gFat: 24gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 6mgSodium: 291mgPotassium: 220mgFiber: 4gSugar: 31gVitamin A: 645IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 114mgIron: 6mg
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