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This peppermint puppy chow is the snack that disappears first from my Christmas table every single year. Crisp rice Chex get a thick coat of melted white almond bark, then a good shake in a bag of powdered sugar and crushed candy canes, so every piece is sweet, minty and snowy white.
You might know it as peppermint muddy buddies. Either way, it takes fifteen minutes, four ingredients and one big bowl. Better yet, the kids can do the shaking, which is easily their favourite job in the kitchen all December.
In short, peppermint muddy buddies are rice Chex coated in melted white almond bark, then shaken in a bag of powdered sugar and crushed candy canes. It takes 15 minutes plus setting time, needs no stove or oven, makes 16 servings and works out at about 365 calories per serving.
Quick Breakdown
Why You’ll Love This Peppermint Puppy Chow
- Four ingredients. Cereal, almond bark, powdered sugar and candy canes. That’s it.
- No stove, no oven. The microwave melts the coating and a zip-top bag does the rest.
- Festive without food colouring. Little pink flecks of candy cane give it a natural holiday look.
- Naturally peanut free. Unlike the classic version, there’s no peanut butter, which makes it handy for school parties.
- Big batch. Eight cups of cereal fills a large bowl and serves around sixteen people.
Ingredient Notes
- Rice Chex cereal. Eight cups. The open lattice catches the coating beautifully. Corn Chex works too.
- White almond bark. Twenty-four ounces (680 g). It melts thin and sets firm, so the sugar clings instead of turning pasty. Keep every drop of water away from it; King Arthur Baking explains why a few drops make melted chocolate seize.
- Powdered sugar. Two cups (about 240 g). This is the snowy outer layer.
- Crushed candy canes or peppermints. Half a cup. Round peppermint candies crush just as well and are often cheaper.
Puppy Chow vs Muddy Buddies: What’s the Difference?
Honestly, there isn’t one; puppy chow and Muddy Buddies are two names for the same snack. Puppy chow is the name most people in the Midwest grew up with, because the finished snack looks a bit like a bowl of dog kibble. Muddy Buddies is the name printed on the Chex box. Both mean cereal coated in melted chocolate and tossed in powdered sugar.
The classic is made with chocolate chips and peanut butter. This version swaps both for white almond bark and adds crushed candy canes, so this peppermint puppy chow tastes like a bag of peppermint bark. It’s lighter in colour, a little crisper and very Christmassy.
How To Make Peppermint Puppy Chow
1. Add the cereal. First, tip the rice Chex into a very large bowl, so there’s room to stir without crushing it.
2. Melt the almond bark. Next, melt the almond bark in a microwave-safe bowl in 30 second bursts, stirring well between each one, until completely smooth.
3. Prepare the bag. Meanwhile, add the powdered sugar and crushed candy canes to a large zip-top bag.
4. Coat the cereal. Then pour the melted almond bark over the cereal and fold gently with a spatula until every piece is coated.
5. Into the bag. After that, drop the coated cereal into the bag. If your bag is small, work in two batches.
6. Shake. Once all the cereal is in, seal the bag and shake well until everything is covered in the sugar and candy cane mix.
7. Spread and set. Finally, line a large baking sheet with parchment, tip the coated cereal onto it in a single layer and let it set before serving.
If you make several batches every December, an electric chocolate melting pot keeps the almond bark smooth and fluid while you work, with no microwave bursts to keep an eye on.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Overheating the almond bark. White coatings scorch quickly and turn thick and lumpy. Short bursts, lots of stirring.
- Stirring too hard. Rough stirring breaks the cereal into crumbs. Fold gently from the bottom of the bowl.
- Bagging it too late. The sugar only sticks while the coating is wet, so shake straight away.
- Piling it up to set. A deep heap stays clumped together. Spread it out in one layer.
Tips for the Best Peppermint Puppy Chow
- Crush the candy canes finely. Big shards are hard on the teeth and don’t stick well.
- A blender or food processor makes quick work of crushing; a rolling pin and a freezer bag works too.
- Shake in two smaller bags if you have little helpers, so nobody is wrestling a heavy one.
- For extra minty flavour, add a few drops of peppermint extract to the melted almond bark. Make sure it’s oil based, not water based.
- Save a spoonful of crushed candy cane to scatter over the bowl just before serving.
Storage
Keep peppermint puppy chow in an airtight container or zip-top bag at room temperature for up to a week. Somewhere cool is best, because a warm kitchen softens the coating and the candy canes can turn sticky in humid weather.
It also freezes well for up to two months, and it’s lovely eaten cold straight from the freezer. If you’re gifting it, pack it in cellophane bags tied with ribbon, and add a little label with the ingredients. University of Illinois Extension has good advice on keeping homemade food gifts safe.
Variations and Substitutions
- Chocolate base. Use chocolate almond bark instead, then mix it with a batch of peppermint puppy chow for a two-tone bowl.
- Add-ins. Red and green candy-coated chocolates, mini marshmallows or mini pretzels after it sets.
- Cereal swap. Corn Chex or a mix of corn and rice both coat beautifully.
- Peppermint bark style. Drizzle a little melted dark chocolate over the tray before it sets, like my Christmas pretzel bark.
What to Serve With Peppermint Puppy Chow
On my holiday sweets board, it sits next to a plate of Butterfinger balls and a few slices of spiced gingerbread loaf, so there’s chocolate, spice and mint all in one place.
For a movie night, I serve it with a slow cooker batch of crock pot Christmas crack and mugs of hot chocolate. In fact, a handful sprinkled over the cream on top is a lovely treat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ingredients and Method
Can I use white chocolate chips instead of almond bark in puppy chow?
Yes, although white chocolate chips are thicker once melted. Stir a teaspoon of coconut oil into the melted chips so they coat the rice Chex evenly, and melt them in short 30 second bursts, because white coatings scorch quickly.
Is this puppy chow recipe peanut free?
Yes, this version contains no peanut butter, unlike classic puppy chow made with chocolate chips and peanut butter. If you’re cooking for allergies, always check the labels on your almond bark, cereal and candy canes for peanut warnings.
Is peppermint puppy chow gluten free?
It can be. Rice Chex is labelled gluten free in the US, so the ingredients to check are the almond bark and the candy canes; choose brands marked gluten free if you’re serving anyone with coeliac disease.
Storing and Gifting
How long does peppermint puppy chow last?
Up to a week in an airtight container or zip-top bag at room temperature, somewhere cool and dry. In the freezer it keeps for up to two months, and it can be eaten cold straight from the freezer.
Why did the sugar coating on my puppy chow turn wet?
Humidity or warmth is usually the cause; a warm kitchen softens the coating and the candy canes turn sticky in humid weather. Store it somewhere cool in an airtight container and toss in a spoonful of fresh powdered sugar before serving.
Can I make puppy chow ahead for Christmas?
Yes. Make it up to a week ahead and keep it airtight at room temperature, or freeze it for up to two months and thaw it at room temperature in its sealed bag.
How many people does this puppy chow recipe serve?
About 16. One batch uses 8 cups of rice Chex, 24 ounces (680 g) of white almond bark, 2 cups of powdered sugar and half a cup of crushed candy canes, and each serving is roughly 365 calories (an estimate).
Ingredients
- 8 cups rice Chex cereal
- 24 ounces almond bark white, 680 g
- 2 cups powdered sugar about 240 g
- 1/2 cup crushed candy canes or peppermints
Instructions
- Add the rice Chex to a large bowl.
- Melt the almond bark by microwaving in a microwave safe bowl for 30 second increments, stirring well in between, until melted.
- To a large zip-top bag, add the powdered sugar and crushed candy canes.
- Pour the almond bark over the cereal and stir well to coat the cereal.
- Drop the coated cereal into the bag.
- Once all of the cereal is added, shake well to coat the cereal with the powdered sugar and crushed candy canes.
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment and tip the coated cereal onto the parchment paper.
- Allow the puppy chow some time to set, then enjoy.
