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Patriotic Puppy Chow

Patriotic puppy chow (aka muddy buddies) is a no-bake Chex mix dessert with white chocolate coating, then a powdered sugar dusting for a snowy crunch. Tossed with red and blue M&Ms and star sprinkles, it’s a red white blue party snack that sets as it cools.
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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: 460
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Chex cereal coating
  • 9 cup Chex cereal Use rice or corn Chex.
  • 12 oz white chocolate chips or white melting wafers Choose chips or melting wafers.
  • 4 tbsp unsalted butter Use room temp or cut into small pieces for easier melting.
  • 2 cup powdered sugar For the snowy dusting.
  • 1 cup red M&Ms Adds red color throughout.
  • 1 cup blue M&Ms Adds blue color throughout.
  • 1 Red and blue star sprinkles For a patriotic finish.

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 using 30-second intervals, stirring each time until completely smooth.
  3. Pour the melted white chocolate over the Chex and stir gently until every piece is evenly coated, with a glossy white coating.
Dust and set
  1. Transfer the coated cereal into a large zip-lock bag, add the 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, looking dry and powdery rather than wet.
Finish with patriotic mix-ins
  1. Transfer the cooled mixture to a large bowl and toss with the red and blue M&Ms and star sprinkles so the colors are visible throughout.
  2. Serve the patriotic puppy chow in a big bowl or portion into individual bags for easy party snacking, showing a white sugar-dusted look with red and blue pieces.

Notes

Pro tip: Cool time helps the white chocolate coating firm up so the powdered sugar stays clinging to each piece. Refrigerate in an airtight container up to 3 days; freeze for up to 1 month, then thaw at room temperature before serving. Dietary swap: use dairy-free white chocolate chips for a dairy-free version while keeping the same method.