This Halloween Puppy Chow is the perfect snack to help your ghosts and ghouls get into the Halloween spirit! My Halloween snack mix would make a great idea to try for a party table or movie night.
What is Puppy Chow Mix?
This puppy chow recipe is made with Chex cereal (or crunchy rice cereal), and is coated in a blend of chocolate chips, peanut butter, and other sweet and crispy treats. The cherry on the top of this Halloween Puppy Chow Chex Mix is the fudgy brownie mix that binds all the other ingredients together and gives it a more chocolatey flavour.
Why Do They Call It Puppy Chow?
For something so tasty, why would anyone refer to this Chex Mix puppy chow recipe as “puppy chow”? The answer is that it’s all about its looks. When all the ingredients are mixed, it can resemble dog food or kibble, but a much tastier version that we would want to wolf down by the handful.
Puppy Chow versus Muddy Buddies: What is the difference?
Is there a difference between puppy chow and muddy buddies? Not at all! Puppy chow is believed to have been created in the midwestern United States in the 1960’s. General Mills, the owner and producer of Chex cereal since the late 1990’s, saw how popular this recipe had become. They created their own version of this recipe, renaming it Muddy Buddies.
Puppy Chow Recipe Variations
It is easy to make this puppy chow recipe all your own! Some people use powdered sugar to coat this snack instead of a brownie mix. Other recipes go ‘wild’ by using animal crackers instead of the Chex mix version. You could even try making this easy puppy chow recipe seasonal! You can use mini marshmallows and peanut butter cups for a S’mores-themed recipe. Some crushed candy canes and red and green mini chocolate candies could lend itself to a Christmas-themed puppy chow recipe. The variations this puppy chow snack can take are endless!
Halloween Puppy Chow
Since Halloween is coming soon, I thought it would be fun to put together this Halloween-themed puppy chow.
Puppy chow ingredients
- 6 cups Rice Chex Cereal
- ¾ cup milk chocolate chips
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- ½ box of fudge brownie mix
- 1 cup candy corn
- 1 cup pumpkin candies
- 1 cup mini pretzel twists
- 1 cup mini–Reese’s Cups
- 1 cup M&M’s
Equipment:
- 1 large microwave safe mixing bowl
- 1 medium size bowl
- 1 large baking cookie sheet
How to make puppy chow for Halloween
Step 1: Add the Chex cereal and brownie mix to a large bowl. Toss until the cereal is well coated.
Step 2: In a microwave safe bowl, add the chocolate chips and peanut butter. Melt in 30 second intervals, stirring after each until completely melted and smooth.
Step 3: Add the chocolate/peanut butter mixture to the cereal and using a spatula or wooden spoon, gently mix until the cereal is well coated.
Step 4: Spread the mixture to the baking cookie sheet until it completely cools. Add it back to the large bowl.
Steps 5: Add the candy corn, pumpkin candies, mini pretzel twists, mini–Reese’s Cups and M&M’s to the bowl. With a spoon, toss until the candies are well incorporated.
Step 6: Serve the Halloween Puppy Chow Chex mix or store it in an airtight container to serve on Halloween.
I hope this recipe for Halloween Puppy Chow adds to the fun of your Halloween season! Make sure you check out the blog for more fun and spooky Halloween snacks.
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Halloween Puppy Chow
Equipment
- 1 large microwave safe mixing bowl
- 1 medium size bowl
- 1 large baking cookie sheet
Ingredients
- 6 cups Rice Chex Cereal
- ¾ cup milk chocolate chips
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- ½ box of fudge brownie mix
- 1 cup candy corn
- 1 cup pumpkin candies
- 1 cup mini pretzel twists
- 1 cup mini–Reese’s Cups
- 1 cup M&M’s
Instructions
- Add the Chex cereal and brownie mix to a large bowl. Toss until the cereal is well coated.
- In a microwave safe bowl, add the chocolate chips and peanut butter. Melt in 30 second intervals, stirring after each until completely melted and smooth.
- Add the chocolate/peanut butter mixture to the cereal and using a spatula or wooden spoon, gently mix until the cereal is well coated.
- Spread the mixture to the baking cookie sheet until it completely cools. Add it back to the large bowl.
- Add the candy corn, pumpkin candies, mini pretzel twists, mini–Reese’s Cups and M&M’s to the bowl. With a spoon, toss until the candies are well incorporated.
- Serve the Halloween Puppy Chow Chex mix or store it in an airtight container to serve on Halloween.
A fun snack for Halloween. Thank you for sharing your recipe.
Puppy Chow is awesome and this Halloween Puppy Chow looks even better!
I would love to make this treat with the kids It looks easy and a lot of fun to make and to enjoy
Perfect to make with kids! It’s delicious and the kids love to measure and pour . . . and snack!
I would love to make this with my granddaughter who loves to help with mixing ingredients for recipes.
This would be a great recipe to make with my oldest granddaughter. She’s been really interested in cooking lately, so she would enjoy making some yummy puppy chow!