Brownie Batter Puppy Chow (aka muddy buddies) is a munchable, crunchable, sweet, and savory snack mix. An easy-to-make muddy buddy recipe filled with rich chocolate and peanut butter flavor tastes like brownies that you don’t have to bake!
Brownie Puppy Chow
Our quick and easy Brownie Batter Puppy Chow recipe combines the rich flavors of brownie mix, chocolate, peanut butter, and Rice Chex cereal to create a sweet and crunchy counterpart to my Hot Chocolate Muddy Buddies.
This no-bake chocolate brownie muddy buddies recipe is prepared like traditional Puppy Chow treat with a double chocolate twist; it starts with the same melted chocolate peanut butter mixture but is tossed in dry brownie mix instead of powdered sugar.
I love making brownie Chex mix recipes because each batch can be customized with your favorite sweet and salty snacks. Craving more chocolate? Mix more in! Care for more color or crunch? Add candy, sprinkles, mini marshmallows, pretzels, or crushed chocolate chip cookies. It couldn’t be any easier to make each mouthful your best munch.
What Is Puppy Chow
Wondering what this crazy concoction is? Simply put, it’s puppy chow for people! Muddy Buddies and Puppy Chow refer to cereal coated in chocolate and then some sort of powder. Most of the time, there is peanut butter involved, but over the years, cooks have created all sorts of different flavors.
This chocolate-flavored puppy chow has the same crunchy texture as my Halloween Puppy Chow Chex Mix, Hot Chocolate Muddy Buddies, Pumpkin Spice Snack Mix, and Halloween Harvest Chex Mix, but it’s been revised as a puppy chow recipe with a rich double chocolatey taste.
Why We Love Brownie Batter Muddy Buddies
- Quick and easy to make in minutes.
- Uses a handful of simple ingredients.
- Addictive puppy chow chocolate Chex mix makes it hard to resist the next handful.
- Tastes like a bite of brownie with a satisfying crunch.
- Fun activity to create with kids and let them toss in their favorite treats.
- Perfect for parties, holiday celebrations, gift-giving, portable snacks, or after dinner desserts.
Brownie Batter Puppy Chow Ingredients
- Brownie mix: I used a Great Value brownie mix, but any brand will work just as well. You can substitute a homemade brownie mix if you have one; just be sure to heat-treat anything with flour before using it.
- Dark chocolate chips
- Creamy peanut butter
- Salted butter: Substitute unsalted butter and a pinch or two of salt if needed.
- Vanilla
- Rice Chex cereal
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Substitutions and Additions
- Change The Chex: For this recipe, I use Rice Chex, but you can use Corn Chex, Wheat Chex, Chocolate Chex, mixed Chex, or even Crispix cereal in your mix. Keep in mind the overall flavor will be slightly different.
- Choose Your Chocolate: I used dark chocolate in this recipe, but milk chocolate chips or semi sweet chocolate chips will also work.
- Customize Your Crunch: If you are making this peanut butter brownie puppy chow for the holidays, you can toss in some colored M&M’s, holiday sprinkles, or crushed peppermint for an extra festive touch. Feel free stir in Reese’s Pieces, crushed candy, cookie pieces, or chopped nuts for extra crunch.
- Go Gluten Free: You can easily make this recipe gluten-free. Make sure you do not use Wheat Chex in your puppy chow snack mix, use gluten free brownie mix, and check the labels on any other other mix-ins.
How to Make Brownie Batter Puppy Chow
- Heat Treat The Mix: Microwave the brownie mix in 30-second increments, stirring well between each heating, for 3-5 minutes or until the mixture reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit with a digital thermometer. Set aside.
- Melt: Microwave the chocolate chips, peanut butter, and salted butter for 60 seconds, stir, and continue heating in 15-second increments until it mixes smooth and completely melted. Add in the vanilla and stir well.
- Coat And Cover: Gently fold the Chex into the melted mixture until completely coated. Add ½ of the Chex mixture to a plastic bag with ⅓ of the brownie mix. Pour in the remaining cereal and brownie mix and seal the bag. Shake the bag well until the Chex mixture is completely coated with brownie mix.
- Cool And Serve: Spread the coated Chex mixture on a lined baking sheet to cool before serving.
Tips For Making The Best Brownie Batter Puppy Chow
- For crunchier muddy buddies, you can use crunchy peanut butter; however, the mixture will be smoother with creamy peanut butter.
- You are only using the dry brownie mix for this recipe and will not be baking the brownies according to the directions on the box.
- It is important to heat-treat the brownie mix in order to kill bacteria and pathogens that can find their home in the raw flour.
- Processed peanut butter, like Jiff or Skippy, works best in this recipe. All-natural nut butters may not set well at room temperature. If you have a peanut allergy, sunflower seed butter should work too.
- I like to spread the coated cereal on a cookie sheet and allow the chocolate to cool and set up for 15-30 minutes. I find it helps keep the cereal from sticking together.
How to Store Brownie Batter Puppy Chow
- To Store: Store your puppy chow in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week or in the refrigerator for a few weeks.
- To Freeze: You can freeze your puppy chow in a freezer-safe bag or container for 2-3 months.
More Easy Snack Recipes
If you tried this Brownie Batter Puppy Chow Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!!!
Brownie Batter Puppy Chow
Ingredients
- 2 cups brownie mix
- 1¼ cup dark chocolate chips
- ⅓ cup creamy peanut butter
- 3 tablespoons salted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 7 cups Rice Chex cereal
Instructions
- Place the brownie mix in a microwave-safe bowl and heat in 30-second increments, stirring well between each heating, for 3-5 minutes or until the mixture reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit with a digital thermometer.2 cups brownie mix
- Set the heat-treated brownie mix to the side.
- In a second, large microwave-safe bowl, combine the chocolate chips, peanut butter, and salted butter and heat for 60 seconds.1¼ cup dark chocolate chips, ⅓ cup creamy peanut butter, 3 tablespoons salted butter
- Stir the mixture well and continue heating in 15-second increments, if needed, until it mixes smooth and completely melted.
- Add in the vanilla and stir well.1 teaspoon vanilla
- Gently fold in the Rice Chex, careful not to crush them, until completely coated with chocolate.7 cups Rice Chex cereal
- Place ⅓ of the brownie mix in a large, sealable plastic bag, then put ½ of the Chex mixture.
- Repeat step 7; pour the remaining brownie mix on top of the mixture and seal the bag.
- Shake the bag well until the Chex mixture is completely coated with brownie mix.
- Spread the coated Chex mixture on a large aluminum foil or parchment paper sheet and let the puppy chow cool entirely before serving.
Jenn’s Notes
- To Store: Store your puppy chow in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week or in the refrigerator for a few weeks.
- To Freeze: You can freeze your puppy chow in a freezer safe bag or container for 2-3 months.
- For crunchier muddy buddies, you can use crunchy peanut butter, however, the mixture will be smoother with creamy peanut butter.
- You are only using the dry brownie mix for this recipe and will not be baking the brownies according to the directions on the box.
- It is important to heat-treat the brownie mix in order to kill bacteria and pathogens that can find their home in the raw flour.
- Processed peanut butter, like Jiff or Skippy, works best in this recipe. All-natural nut butters may not set well at room temperature. If you have a peanut allergy, sunflower seed butter should work too.
- I like to spread the coated cereal on a cookie sheet and allow the chocolate to cool and set up for 15-30 minutes. I find it helps keep the cereal from sticking together.
Can I use unsalted butter for this? Thank you!