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Hot chocolate muddy buddies is an easy snack mix made with Chex cereal, hot cocoa mix and marshmallow fluff and without peanut butter. Enjoy the taste of hot chocolate without a mug!
This hot chocolate muddy buddies recipe aka puppy chow is a delicious snack perfect for the holiday season or all winter long. We make this muddy buddy recipe without peanut butter to let the chocolate flavor shine through. And it does!
My family loves munching on this chocolaty snack mix during movie nights or game night. You can even pair hot chocolate puppy chow with your favorite homemade hot chocolate or this delicious dip!
Why you’ll love this family favorite recipe!
Hot cocoa muddy buddies has the flavor of hot chocolate in snackable form.
It’s made without peanut butter, so it’s ideal if you’re looking for a puppy chow recipe without peanut butter.
It’s easy to make and makes a great gift for friends, neighbors and teachers!
What You Need to Make it
Here’s an overview of the ingredients for this easy recipe. Full amounts are in the printable recipe card below.
- Rice Chex — or generic rice cereal. You can use other flavors, like corn or wheat, but it will taste a little different
- Marshmallow Fluff — aka marshmallow creme
- Chocolate chips — We used semi-sweet chocolate chips to offset the sweetness of the cocoa mix, but milk chocolate will work
- Butter — to melt with the chocolate
- Hot cocoa — Use your favorite brand. We did find that using a dark chocolate cocoa mix had a more pronounced flavor than milk chocolate, but both are equally good.
- Powdered sugar
- Mini marshmallows — optional, but they make a fun topping. You can also add seasonal sprinkles or Snow Caps for extra flavor
How to Make Hot Chocolate Muddy Buddies
First, melt the chocolate chips and butter in a large microwave safe bowl. Then, stir in the marshmallow creme and hot cocoa packets. Add the cereal, and mix well. Pour the cereal mixture into a large gallon ziploc bag, add powdered sugar and more cocoa mix, and shake until well coated. Spoon the mixture into a serving bowl, and top with miniature marshmallows.
Quick Tips
Make sure to melt the chocolate in short intervals and stir after each interval.
The mixture is very thick — don’t be afraid to mix it with your hands instead of a spatula if needed.
Storage
Store the hot cocoa puppy chow in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week. You can keep it in the fridge if you want, but the cereal tends to get soft.
More Sweet Holiday Snack Mix Recipes
Try my peppermint puppy chow or white chocolate puppy chow or this fun Christmas popcorn mix next! I also have recipes for Valentine’s Day, patriotic holidays and Halloween!
Hot Chocolate Muddy Buddies
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups semi sweet chocolate chips
- 5 tablespoons butter
- 7 oz marshmallow fluff
- 4 packets hot cocoa divided
- 9 cups Rice Chex cereal
- 2 ¼ cups powdered sugar
- mini marshmallows
Instructions
- Melt the semi sweet chocolate chips and butter together in a large mixing bowl in the microwave for 30 seconds. Stir, then melt in 15 second increments, stirring after each increment, until completely melted
- Stir in marshmallow fluff and 3 packets of hot cocoa
- Add in Rice Chex cereal and mix with a rubber spatula until cereal is evenly coated in the chocolate mixture
- Place half of the powdered sugar in a large ziplock freezer bag. Add the cereal mixture and top with remaining powdered sugar and final hot cocoa packet. Seal bag and shake until the cereal is evenly covered in powdered sugar
- Transfer the cereal into a serving bowl and top with mini marshmallows
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Love the flavors in this mix. Simple to make hard to keep around. Eat it by the handful.
These tasted just like hot chocolate! Wow! Definitely will be making this again!
Thanks, Ann! I’m glad you liked the muddy buddies!
Tastes delicious and smells just like hot chocolate! I love getting a piece with a lot of marshmallow fluff, very fun to eat 🙂
So glad you liked the recipe!