Nutella Puppy Chow, aka Muddy Buddies, is like homemade candy, requiring minimal ingredients and time. It’s made with rice Chex cereal, Nutella, chocolate chips, and powder sugar—so simple yet so delicious.
The original recipe from my childhood uses peanut butter, but this puppy chow recipe uses Nutella instead. It has a rich hazelnut creaminess like peanut butter but with a European flair. Ironically, it is a no-bake dessert named after dog food.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Double Chocolate Goodness
- Perfect Snack For Vacation
- Gluten Free and Low FODMAP
Featured Ingredients
- Nutella - A chocolate hazelnut spread. Buy the biggest container you can find. Once you try it, you will want to add it to everything - fruit, toast, cookies, marshmallows - you have been warned.
- Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips - Amplify that chocolate flavor.
- Butter - Salted butter is best. Room-temperature butter melts the easiest.
- Vanilla Extract - Just another flavor added to the melted chocolate.
- Rice Chex - If you are gluten free be sure to check the ingredients. Not all brands are gluten free.
- Powder Sugar - Covers the chocolate-coated cereal, not only to look pretty, but it keeps the chocolate off your hands!
See the recipe card for the exact measurements and complete instructions. Selected ingredients are based on guidance on current serving sizes measured by the Monash University Food App and FODMAP Friendly App at the time of publishing. As always, follow your gut and modify as needed.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Step 1: Find a microwave-safe large bowl. Add the Nutella, chocolate chips, and butter to the bowl. Microwave for 30-second intervals, stirring each time, until all the chocolate chips are melted. Once melted, stir to combine.
Add the vanilla extract.
Step 2: Next, add rice Chex cereal to the chocolate mixture. Gently stir the rice Chex into the chocolate. Some breakage will happen.
Step 3: Once the chocolate mixture has coated the rice Chex, add the powdered sugar to the bowl.
Add the cover, make sure it is tight, and shake the bowl. Shake for thirty seconds, and then remove the cover. If you get a powder sugar cloud, give the puppy chow a good stir again and shake it again. Keep doing this until the powder sugar completely coats the cereal.
Step 4: Allow puppy chow to cool on a parchment paper-covered baking sheet, and enjoy!
Tips and Tricks
No microwave? Melt the chocolate mixture in a double boiler.
Optional Add-Ins: Roasted Peanuts, Plain M&Ms, or Mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
This great recipe is the perfect after-school snack. Divide it into individual servings and put them in a zip-top bag for convenience. You can also grab it on the go for school lunches or work lunches - everyone loves puppy chow!
Need more snack options? Discover more ideas and snack recipes!
Ingredient Swaps
- Cereal Options - try corn Chex cereal.
- Extract Options - try almond extract or mint extract.
- Chocolate Chips - try dark chocolate chips or milk chocolate chips. Even white chocolate chips would be delicious.
Variations
Peanut Free Puppy Chow: Use sunflower seed butter in place of Nutella. Use an allergy friendly chocolate chips.
Dairy Free Puppy Chow: Use coconut oil instead of butter and a dairy free chocolate chips like the Enjoy brand.
Storing and Freezing
Store: Keep puppy chow in an airtight container on the countertop for up to a week.
Freeze: Puppy chow is great frozen! Place it in a freezer-friendly container and sneak bites whenever a craving hits!
FAQs
No, listed in the ingredients is malted barley, which is not gluten free.
If you enjoy its flavor, it will work in puppy chow too!
Meal Planning
Need a holiday treat and an inexpensive sweet snack to share at holiday parties? Next holiday season, create a Christmas puppy chow, otherwise known as reindeer chow. Add some red and green plain M&M’s. It is delicious, colorful, and a sweet treat everyone enjoys!
Additional Gluten Free Treats
Love This Recipe?
Leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating + comment. It helps so much, and we love hearing from everyone! Thank You -Venessa
Recipe
Nutella Puppy Chow (Muddy Buddies)
Ingredients
- 9 cups rice chex cereal
- 1 ¼ cups nutella chocolate hazelnut spread
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ¼ cup butter salted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups powder sugar
Instructions
- In a large microwave-safe bowl, add nutella, chocolate chips, and butter. Microwave the chocolate mixture for 30-second intervals, stirring each time, until all the chocolate chips are melted.
- Add the Rice chex cereal to the chocolate mixture.
- Gently stir the cereal into the chocolate. Move fast because once the chocolate mixture starts to cool, it is harder to stir into the cereal mixture. Once the chocolate is coating the Rice Chex, add the powdered sugar.
- Add the cover, make sure it is tight, and shake the bowl. Shake for a solid thirty seconds, and then remove the cover. If you get a powdered sugar cloud, give the puppy chow a good stir and shake it again. Keep doing this until the powder sugar is combined. If your bowl has no cover, use a large zip-top bag and break it into two batches.
- Allow puppy chow to cool on a parchment paper covered baking sheet.
- Store it in an airtight container on the countertop.
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