If you're looking for a fun and festive treat to add to your Halloween party, look no further than Halloween Puppy Chow!
This easy recipe puts a spooky twist on the classic puppy chow (or muddy buddies) with crunchy Chex cereal coated in a delicious chocolate peanut butter mix, powdered sugar, and plenty of colorful Halloween candies. It's the perfect treat for your next Halloween party or a fun snack to enjoy with your family during spooky season.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Easy to Make: This Halloween Muddy Buddies recipe is super simple and comes together in just a few steps. Plus, it makes a huge batch, perfect for a crowd or for storing leftovers. Plus, it's a NO BAKE recipe!
- Festive and Fun: With Halloween M&M's, Reese's Pieces, candy corn, and even spooky Halloween sprinkles, this sweet cereal mix will look great on any Halloween snack table.
- Customizable: Whether you're a fan of peanut butter cups, pretzels, or candy eyeballs, you can mix and match your favorite Halloween candies to make this recipe your own!
- Crowd Favorite: Who can resist the combination of sweet chocolate chips, creamy peanut butter, and crunchy Chex? It's a crowd-pleasing snack that disappears fast.
Substitutions
- Sun Butter - Not a fan of peanut butter or have an allergy? You can easily substitute it with sunflower butter for a nut-free version that still has that creamy texture and flavor. I don't recommend using natural peanut butter for this recipe.
- Corn Chex Cereal - While I use Rice Chex here, Corn Chex or even a mix of both are great options to use. Just make sure you use about 8 cups of cereal.
- M&M's and Reese's Pieces - If you don't have Halloween M&M's or Reese's Pieces, feel free to use any leftover Halloween candy or seasonal candies you have on hand.
- Candy Pumpkins - Not everyone loves candy corn, so feel free to omit or swap it for candy pumpkins or extra chocolate pieces!
Variations
- White Chocolate Twist - For a different flavor, swap out the semi-sweet chocolate chips for white chocolate chips to make white chocolate Halloween Puppy Chow.
- Spooky Add-Ins - Add candy eyeballs or pretzel pieces for a spooky snack that's perfect for Halloween parties. Candy eyeballs give it a fun, ghoulish twist!
- Reindeer Chow for the Holidays - Love this recipe? You can make my holiday version for "Reindeer Chow," by swapping the Halloween candies for festive red and green M&M's and Christmas sprinkles.
- Smaller Portions - Package the Halloween snack mix in small baggies to hand out as individual portions at your party.
Ingredients
*For specific ingredient amounts, please scroll down to the printable recipe card.
Instructions
Step 1. Prepare Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add 8 cups of Rice Chex cereal. Set aside.
Step 2. Melt the Chocolate: In a microwave-safe bowl, combine 1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips, ½ cup of creamy peanut butter, and ¼ cup of unsalted butter. Microwave on high for 1 minute; Stir and microwave for another 30 seconds until the chocolate mixture is smooth.
Step 3. Mix with Chex: Add the Chex cereal to the melted chocolate mixture, stirring gently to coat the cereal evenly. I add it a little at a time to help make the mixing more manageable.
Step 4. Add Powdered Sugar: Pour the chex into a large ziploc bag, and add the powdered sugar. Then, seal the bag and shake until all the cereal is covered in powdered sugar.
Step 5. Add the Halloween Treats: Spread the coated cereal mix onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper to cool. Once at room temperature, mix in the Halloween M&M's, mini Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, candy corn, pretzel twists, and Halloween sprinkles.
Step 6. Serve: Enjoy this festive Halloween treat with your family, or package it into individual baggies for a fun Halloween party snack!
Storage and Freezing Instructions
- Storage: Store your Halloween Puppy Chow in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days. Keep it away from heat and moisture for best results to prevent the chocolate from melting or the cereal from going stale.
- Freezing: You can freeze leftover Halloween Puppy Chow! Just pack it into plastic freezer bags or airtight containers and store it in the freezer for up to 2 months. When you're ready to enjoy, let it thaw at room temperature before serving.
Natalie's Pro Tip
Add a handful of Halloween sprinkles and candy eyeballs on top right before serving for an extra festive treat. It adds the perfect spooky twist to the classic puppy chow recipe and looks great for Halloween parties!
To serve this at a party, you can put a little serving of the snack mix in clear cocktail cups or in Halloween baking liners. A local store that sells party supplies is a great place to look for these items. But, if you want to go the "no-fuss" route, it even looks festive in a big bowl.
Notes and FAQ
Yes! Corn Chex or even a mix of rice and corn Chex works just as well.
Not at all! Feel free to swap it out for candy pumpkins or leave it out if you prefer. This recipe is all about using your favorite seasonal candies!
I don't recommend it for this recipe. It will effect the overall texture of the mix.
Stick to around 8 cups of cereal to make sure the chocolate peanut butter mix coats everything evenly. Using too much cereal can result in dry, under-coated pieces.
Yes, this is a great recipe to make ahead! It stays fresh for up to 3-4 days when stored in an airtight container, making it a perfect Halloween treat to prepare in advance for parties.
Halloween Puppy Chow
Equipment
- Large Mixing Bowl
- gallon Ziploc bag
- Rimmed baking sheet
Ingredients
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- 8 cups Rice Chex cereal
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 10- ounce bag Halloween m&m's
- 1 cup mini Reese's peanut butter cups
- 2 cups pretzel twists
- 1 cup candy corn
- 2 Tablespoons Halloween sprinkles optional
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, add 8 cups of Rice Chex cereal. Set aside.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, combine semi-sweet chocolate chips, creamy peanut butter, and unsalted butter. Microwave on high for 1 minute; Stir and microwave for another 30 seconds until the chocolate mixture is smooth.
- Add the Chex cereal to the melted chocolate mixture, stirring gently to coat the cereal evenly. I add it a little at a time to help make the mixing more manageable.
- Pour the Chex into a large Ziploc bag, and add the powdered sugar. Then, seal the bag and shake until all the cereal is covered in powdered sugar.
- Spread the coated cereal mix onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper to cool. Once at room temperature, mix in the Halloween M&M's, mini Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, candy corn, pretzel twists, and Halloween sprinkles.
- Enjoy this festive Halloween treat with your family, or package it into individual baggies for a fun Halloween party snack!
Notes
Store your Halloween Puppy Chow in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days. Keep it away from heat and moisture for best results to prevent the chocolate from melting or the cereal from going stale. You can freeze leftover Halloween Puppy Chow! Just pack it into plastic freezer bags or airtight containers and store it in the freezer for up to 2 months. When you're ready to enjoy, let it thaw at room temperature before serving.
Charlotte says
We will definitely be making this for our upcoming Halloween party! It will be the perfect snack for the kids and adults to enjoy! Thanks for the great recipe and tutorial!