Puppy chow might be my favorite thing to make. I grew up making it every holiday season, and I loved it so much that when my college entrepreneurship class gave us $20 and told us to start a business, I made puppy chow. I sold bags of it all over campus and turned that $20 into way more than I expected. It’s that good.
It’s also one of the few recipes that needed zero adjusting once I was diagnosed with celiac. The most important thing is making sure you grab Rice Chex specifically, since it’s labeled gluten-free by General Mills. Not all Chex varieties are gluten-free, so it’s worth checking the box before you buy.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Ingredient Notes
- Rice Chex – One full standard box is 11 cups, which is exactly what this recipe uses. Make sure to grab Rice Chex specifically, not another Chex variety.
- Chocolate Chips – Semi-sweet chocolate chips melt well and give good flavor. Enjoy Life is a reliably gluten-free and dairy-free option if you need it.
- Peanut Butter – Creamy no-stir peanut butter like Jif or Skippy melts smoothly into the chocolate. Natural peanut butter with separated oil can make the coating greasy.
- Butter – Unsalted butter works well here. For a dairy-free version, use vegan butter like Earth Balance.
- Powdered Sugar – Start with 2½ cups and check before adding more. If you can still see chocolate showing through the coating, add the remaining half cup.
How to Make This Dairy-Free
Use dairy-free chocolate chips and vegan butter in place of the regular versions. Enjoy Life and Guittard both make dairy-free chocolate chips that melt well. For the butter, Earth Balance works great. Everything else in the recipe is already dairy-free.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, with one thing to watch. Rice Chex is labeled gluten-free by General Mills, but other Chex varieties are not, so make sure you’re grabbing the right box.
Yes. Almond butter and cashew butter both work as 1:1 substitutes. For a nut-free version, sunflower seed butter works well, though it will give the coating a slightly different flavor.
They’re the same thing. Puppy chow is the name most common in the Midwest (where I’m from), while muddy buddies is the name General Mills uses on the Chex box. Same recipe, different names.
Expert Tips
Storage Instructions
Room Temperature: Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container for up to two weeks. The chocolate firms up in the fridge and honestly that’s my favorite way to eat it.
Freezer: Freeze in a zip-top bag or airtight container for up to two months. You can eat it straight from the freezer or let it sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes first.
Serving Suggestions
Puppy chow is good on its own as a snack or set out in a bowl for a party. I like to put it out alongside my gluten-free chex mix when I want a bigger snack spread. If you want to take the puppy chow concept in a different direction, my puppy chow bars give you the same flavors in a sliceable, easier-to-serve format that’s great for dessert platters. For a no-bake dessert table, it also pairs well with my chocolate coconut balls or my no-bake peanut butter chocolate bars, both of which can be made ahead and stored in the fridge alongside this.
Gluten-Free Puppy Chow
Ingredients
- 11 cups (340 g) gluten-free Rice Chex cereal - 1 full box
- 2 cups (360 g) semi-sweet chocolate chips - I used Enjoy Life
- ¾ cup (194 g) creamy peanut butter
- ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter - I used Earth Balance
- 2½ cups (300 g) powdered sugar - plus more as needed up to an additional ½ cup
**Use the toggle button above to turn the instruction photos on and off!
Instructions
- Add 11 cups (340 g) gluten-free Rice Chex cereal to a large bowl and set aside.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, combine 2 cups (360 g) semi-sweet chocolate chips, ¾ cup (194 g) creamy peanut butter, and ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter. Microwave in 30-second increments, stirring between each, until fully melted and smooth, about 1 minute total.
- Pour the chocolate mixture over the cereal. Stir gently with a spatula until the cereal is evenly coated.
- Transfer the coated cereal to a large zip-top bag or an airtight container with a lid. Add 2½ cups (300 g) powdered sugar. Seal and shake until the cereal is fully coated. If chocolate is still showing through, add up to an additional ½ cup (60g) powdered sugar and shake again.
- Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.
Notes
- Gluten-Free: Make sure to use Rice Chex specifically, as it’s the variety General Mills labels as gluten-free. Other Chex varieties are not all gluten-free, so check the box before you buy.
- Dairy-Free: Use dairy-free chocolate chips and vegan butter like Earth Balance. Enjoy Life and Guittard both make dairy-free chocolate chips that work well here.
- Storage: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, or freeze for up to 2 months.
This looks so good! It is so nice that there are more companies coming out with versions of staples without the allergens!
Thanks for sharing! Does it keep long?
Yes! It keeps for 1-2 weeks in an airtight container. I like to store mine in the refrigerator so the chocolate stays hard and I find I love the taste when it’s cold!