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Patriotic Puppy Chow

Patriotic puppy chow (aka muddy buddies) is an easy no-bake Chex mix dessert with white chocolate coating, powdered sugar dust, and red and blue M&Ms. It sets on a parchment sheet for a crisp, snackable crunch perfect for a 4th of July puppy chow party.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
cooling 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 16 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 430
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

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

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Prep the Chex
  1. Measure Chex cereal into a very large bowl and set aside for coating.
  2. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper so the coated cereal can cool without sticking.
Melt the white chocolate coating
  1. Melt white chocolate chips and butter together in a microwave-safe bowl using 30-second intervals, stirring until completely smooth.
Coat and sugar-dust
  1. Pour the melted white chocolate over the Chex and stir gently until every piece is evenly coated and glossy.
  2. Transfer the coated cereal into a large zip-lock bag, add powdered sugar, seal, and shake vigorously until all pieces are coated and powdery.
Cool and set
  1. Spread the coated puppy chow onto the parchment-lined sheet pan and let cool for 30 minutes until set.
Add patriotic toppings and serve
  1. Transfer the cooled puppy chow to a large bowl and toss with red and blue M&Ms and star sprinkles so the colors are visible throughout.
  2. Serve in a big bowl or portion into individual bags for an easy party snack.

Notes

For best crunch, keep the coated cereal in a single layer on the sheet pan while it cools for the full 30 minutes. Store covered at room temperature for up to 3 days; freezing is not recommended because the powdered sugar can absorb moisture. For a lighter option, use sugar-free white chocolate chips or melting wafers and check that the M&Ms are sugar-reduced if available.