Go Back

Patriotic Puppy Chow

Patriotic puppy chow (muddy buddies) is a no-bake Chex mix dessert with white chocolate coating, powdered sugar dust, and red and blue M&Ms. After a quick microwave melt, the cereal cools into crunchy, glistening pieces ready for a 4th of July party snack.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
cooling 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 16 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Chex cereal (rice or corn)
  • 9 cup Chex cereal Use rice or corn Chex.
White chocolate coating
  • 12 oz white chocolate chips or white melting wafers
  • 4 tbsp unsalted butter
Powdered sugar coating
  • 2 cup powdered sugar
Patriotic mix-ins
  • 1 cup red M&Ms
  • 1 cup blue M&Ms
  • 1 red and blue star sprinkles Star sprinkles for a festive look.

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Coat the Chex
  1. Measure the Chex cereal into a very large bowl and set aside.
  2. Melt the white chocolate chips and butter together in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring until completely smooth.
  3. Pour the melted white chocolate over the Chex and stir gently until every piece is evenly coated.
Dust with powdered sugar
  1. Transfer the coated cereal into a large zip-lock bag, add powdered sugar, seal, and shake vigorously until all pieces are well coated.
  2. Spread the puppy chow onto a parchment-lined sheet pan and let cool for 30 minutes until set, so the coating firms up.
Add red, white, and blue toppings
  1. Transfer the cooled puppy chow to a large bowl and toss with the red M&Ms, then fold in the blue M&Ms.
  2. Add the red and blue star sprinkles and toss again, then serve in a big bowl or portion into individual bags.

Notes

Pro tip: for a clean, even coat, keep stirring during each 30-second microwave interval so the white chocolate stays smooth before combining with the Chex. Store covered at room temperature for up to 3 days; for best crunch, avoid refrigeration. Freezing isn’t recommended because the powdered sugar texture can change. Dietary swap: use dairy-free white chocolate chips to make it dairy-free while keeping the same method and toppings.