Christmas Muddy Buddies
Christmas muddy buddies? Peppermint puppy chow? We may not be able to agree on a name but I am confident that we will all agree that this easy holiday dessert will be a crowd favorite!
I won’t lie to you, my heart skips a beat when the stores start to set out their holiday items. Christmas trees. Peppermint bark. Scented pinecones. Yes, it may still be October, but this means the holiday season is right around the corner and that always makes me so happy!
One thing I don’t love about the holidays though is the constant hamster wheel of trying to find potluck friendly side-dishes or the perfect Christmas dessert. If you’re on the same page as I am, you’re in luck because these Christmas Muddy Buddies are full of peppermint flavor and are an easy sweet treat to have in your holiday lineup!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Personally, I was raised calling this recipe “puppy chow” but apparently more people know them as “muddy buddies”… so, peppermint puppy chow lost the name battle. Never the less, these Peppermint Muddy Buddys are perfect for the holiday season and here’s why:
Uses only 6 ingredients and two bowls so it is easy to make with minimal mess.
Can be made into a gluten free Christmas dessert recipe.
Perfect for potlucks because it can sit out at room temperature.
Can be prepped ahead of time or thrown together an hour before you need to serve it!
It is a delicious peppermint christmas dessert but you can also omit the peppermint if you want to make a classic puppy chow recipe.
Recipe Modifications:
I love this recipe as it’s written but you can also modify it to:
Make it year round: puppy chow (or muddy buddies) are a year-round sweet treat and if you want to make this less seasonal, simply omit the crushed peppermint.
Make it gluten-free: Looking for a gluten-free holiday dessert? Choose corn chex mix as your gluten-free base.
Add extra chocolate: Want to up the flavor profile? I would mix in some chocolate or peanut butter M&M’s to enhance the flavor and add some fun colors to your bowl.
Make a thicker chocolate peanut butter coating: The written recipe uses the entire box of Chex cereal but if you prefer a thicker coating of chocolate and peanut butter, I recommend using 7 cups of Chex cereal instead of the entire box.
Ingredients:
This peppermint Christmas dessert is full of festive flavors and has just 6 easy ingredients!
Chex cereal: you can use rice or corn chex cereal for this recipe
Peppermint: I recommend using mini peppermint candy canes for this recipe because they crush into a powder much easier! If you cannot find mini peppermint candy canes, peppermint mints work just as well but are harder to smash (I put them in a ziplock and ran them over with my car.)
Peanut Butter: creamy peanut butter works best.
Chocolate chips: milk chocolate or dark chocolate chips.
Powdered sugar: for the signature coating and appearance.
Butter: because everything is better with a little butter
Recipe FAQs:
What peppermint should I use?
I highly recommend using peppermint sticks or mini peppermint canes for this recipe since they will be easier to crush and also have a slightly softer bite. In non-holiday seasons, you can also use the circular peppermint mints, they will also taste delicious but slightly harder to crush.
How should I store these muddy buddies?
I recommend storing these in the refrigerator or in an air-tight container at room temperature.
Can I make this gluten-free?
To make this a gluten-free Christmas recipe, you will want to use corn chex cereal which is naturally gluten-free. Of course, double-check the other ingredients to ensure they will work for you as well.
Christmas Muddy Buddys
Ingredients
Instructions
- Unwrap all your peppermint sticks and place them in two Ziploc bags. Crush with a hammer or potato smasher until finely crushed. The finer you can crush them, the better they will stick to your puppy chow.
- Combine your chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave until fully melted, stirring frequently.
- Add your box of cereal to a large bowl and pour on your melted chocolate mixture. Gently mix (or cover with the lid and shake the bowl) to coat the cereal pieces in chocolate.
- Add your powdered sugar and crushed peppermints to the chocolate covered cereal. Cover the bowl with the lid and gently, but thoroughly, shake until the sugar is well distributed.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour. Serve and enjoy!
Hey! I’m Lauren
I’m a Registered Dietitian and busy toddler mom committed to bringing you delicious, nutritious, and easy-to-make recipes!