Looking for an easy Christmas snack to share this holiday season? This Christmas Puppy Chow, also known as Muddy Buddies, combines crunchy Chex cereal with a sweet peanut butter coating, powdered sugar, red and green M&Ms, and festive Christmas sprinkles.

It’s simple to make with a handful of ingredients and perfect for Christmas parties, family movie nights, or a festive snack board. You can even make it ahead of time, leaving you with one less thing to prepare when the celebrations begin.

If you’re planning a festive spread, you might also like my Chocolate Nut Clusters, Reindeer Sugar Cookies, and Christmas Tree Krispies Treats.

Just the recipe
Ingredients
Step by step
Serving Suggestions
Storage
Tips & FAQs

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Easy to Make: This recipe is quick to prepare, with minimal ingredients and just a few simple steps, perfect for busy holiday schedules.
Perfect for Christmas: Red and green M&Ms and Christmas sprinkles give this sweet snack a festive finish.
Fun for kids: Little helpers can add the M&Ms and sprinkles once the coated cereal has cooled.
Great for sharing: Serve in a big bowl at a Christmas party, portion into snack cups, or add to a holiday dessert board.
Make-ahead friendly: Prepare it before your gathering and store it in an airtight container until you’re ready to serve.

More Christmas Treat Recipes

Snowman Cookies

Grinch Rice Krispie Treats

Reindeer Pretzels

Ingredients

You’ll need the following ingredients to make Christmas Puppy Chow:

Rice Chex cereal: The crunchy base.
Red candy melts: For the festive coating.
Creamy peanut butter: Adds flavor and helps create the coating.
Butter: Helps the coating melt and combine smoothly.
Powdered sugar: Gives the puppy chow its familiar sweet, powdery finish.
Red and green M&Ms: Add color and a little chocolatey crunch.
Christmas sprinkles: For a festive finishing touch.

Substitutions & Additions

One of the best things about puppy chow is how easy it is to adapt. Try these ideas to make it your own:

Change the colors: Use different M&M colors and sprinkles for birthdays, Valentine’s Day, Easter, or other celebrations.
Add extra crunch: Stir in peanuts or another favorite crunchy addition, as long as it suits your guests’ dietary needs.
Make it extra sweet: Add mini marshmallows or chocolate chips after the coated cereal has cooled.
Try crunchy peanut butter: Swap smooth peanut butter for crunchy if you prefer a little more texture.

Add any mix-ins after the coating has cooled enough that they won’t melt or become messy.

How to Make Christmas Puppy Chow

Melt the coating. Melt the red candy melts with the peanut butter and butter, following the recipe card instructions. Stir until smooth.
Coat the cereal. Place the Chex cereal in a large, gallon-size zip-top bag. Pour in the melted mixture, seal the bag, and gently toss until the cereal is evenly coated.
Add the powdered sugar. Add the powdered sugar to the bag, seal it, and toss again until the cereal is covered.
Spread it out. Transfer the coated cereal to a parchment-lined baking sheet and spread it into an even layer.
Add the festive toppings. Sprinkle over the red and green M&Ms and Christmas sprinkles.
Let it set and serve. Allow the coating to cool and set before transferring the puppy chow to a serving bowl.

How to Serve the Christmas Puppy Chow

Serve this Christmas Puppy Chow in a big bowl for everyone to share at a Christmas party or family movie night. You can also add it to a festive dessert board alongside Christmas cookies, pretzels, and other sweet treats, or portion it into individual cups for an easy party snack.

How to Store Christmas Puppy Chow

At room temperature: Once the puppy chow has completely cooled and the coating has set, store it in an airtight container or zip-top bag at room temperature for up to five days.

In the freezer: Place it in a freezer-safe, airtight bag or container and freeze for up to three months. Thaw it before serving.

Keep it away from heat and moisture to help maintain its texture.

Recipe Tips & FAQs

Use a large bag: A gallon-size zip-top bag gives you enough room to coat the cereal without crushing it.
Toss gently: Mix carefully to keep the cereal as intact as possible.
Spread it into a single layer: This helps the coating cool and set without everything sticking together in one big clump.
Wait before adding extra mix-ins: Allow the coated cereal to cool before adding chocolate chips or other ingredients that could melt.
Check for allergies: Peanut butter and other mix-ins may not suit everyone, so check ingredients before serving to a group.

Puppy Chow and Muddy Buddies are two names for the same sweet snack made with cereal, a coating, and powdered sugar. Christmas Puppy Chow gets its festive look from red and green M&Ms and Christmas sprinkles.

Yes! It’s a great make-ahead treat for Christmas parties and family gatherings. Prepare it in advance, allow the coating to cool and set completely, then store it in an airtight container until you’re ready to serve.

Stored in an airtight container at room temperature, Christmas Puppy Chow can last up to five days, as long as the ingredients and storage conditions are right. Keep it somewhere cool and dry to help it stay crunchy.

Yes, you can freeze it in a freezer-safe, airtight container for up to three months. Allow it to thaw before serving. The powdered sugar coating and candy decorations may change slightly after freezing.

This can happen if the coating hasn’t cooled and set properly, or if you store the cereal before it’s completely cool. Spread the coated cereal on a parchment-lined baking sheet and let it cool before adding the final toppings and storing it.