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Your favorite Chex Mix got a Christmas makeover–this easy Mint Chocolate Christmas Puppy Chow recipe (or muddy buddies!) has the peppermint chocolate combo that the holidays are made of! Only 10 minutes to prep and full of red and green M&M’s to really get festive!
Do you call it “puppy chow” or “muddy buddies”?
Does it even matter?!
This Dark Chocolate Peppermint Christmas Puppy Chow (reindeer chow, muddy buddies, whatever you call it) is the perfect Christmas recipe for a movie night in over the holidays, packaged up in a jar for a simple edible gift for the cookie exchange, or as the star of the dessert table at the party!
Mint and chocolate are my holiday love language. Try this Mint Chocolate Pretzel Bark, No Bake Peppermint Oreo Cheesecake, Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies, and No Bake Mint Brownies too!
Why We Love this Mint Chocolate Christmas Puppy Chow
It is so simple to make. This is such an easy no-bake dessert recipe to make !Melt the chocolate and butter, add to the Chex cereal, cool, toss with powdered sugar and add the red and green candy. That is it!
Requires no baking. No bake recipes around the holiday allow for the oven to have a break it needs too! (Try these Christmas Oreo Truffles or Pretzel Toffee for other no-bake options!)
Tastes like the holidays with that perfect mint chocolate flavor. This Christmas puppy chow is a fun twist on traditional puppy chow. The mint chocolate combination tastes like December to me.
With red and green mint M&Ms it is perfectly festive! You could use regular red and green M&M candies, but I prefer the holiday mint version. More minty flavor. The red and green candy makes for the easiest way to add holiday color to your treat!
If you show up to the party with a giant bowl, well then you will certainly be the life of the party. It’s a guarantee.
Ingredient Notes
- chex cereal: doesn’t have to be the name brand, rice squares of your choice! We use the classic rice chex cereal flavor versus the other variations.
- dark chocolate chips: or chunks, you choose. I loved the look of adding the chunks that were not melted into the bowl, but the chips are just fine. No dark chocolate? White chocolate chips will be great as well. Really any kind of chocolate that will melt should do the trick–semisweet chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips, etc.
- peppermint extract: a little goes a loooooong way, trust me. I used 1/2 tsp and found it to be the perfect amount. If you really like your mint then add a bit more.
- powdered sugar: the confectioner’s sugar (as it also known) adds that snowy white color and sweetness everyone loves about this holiday treat.
- Holiday Mint M&Ms: I love the mint M&Ms and stalk the stores for them the second Halloween is over. You can use another flavor or the classic candy if preferred.
How to make this Christmas Puppy Chow
Step 1: Melt the chocolate in 20-25 second increments in the microwave in a microwave-safe bowl. Stir after every cycle in the microwave. You don’t want to scald the chocolate–there is no return if it is overcooked. When the chocolate is mostly smooth, but with a few lumps from chips, just stir to melt the rest of the way. Don’t add anything else into the chocolate until melted. Stir in the peppermint, vanilla–or just peppermint is fine!
Step 2: Add Chex to a large bowl and Pour the chocolate mixture over the cereal and stir gently to combine. I like to chill the chocolate coated cereal for about 5-10 minutes, but it is not necessary.
Step 3: Stir gently to combine. I like to chill the chocolate coated cereal for about 5-10 minutes, but it is not necessary.
Step 4: Transfer the cereal mixture to a large ziplock bag and add the powdered sugar on top.
Step 5: Shake to fully coat all of the cereal.
Step 6: Transfer to a bowl and add in the mint M&Ms and extra chocolate chips if desired. Allow to cool completely and then dig in!
Recipe Tips
Do not over heat the chocolate. If using a microwave, heat at about 25 second increments. When the chocolate is almost fully melted, just stir the rest of the way to get the last bits of chocolate fully melted. If the chocolate over heats, it will seize up and become very thick and stiff and it’s not usable at that point. Trust me, I have been there.
You can use a double boiler method to melt the chocolate for this Christmas puppy chow if you prefer instead of using the microwave.
If you prefer, you can use just the peppermint extract and omit the vanilla in this holiday puppy chow. I like the combination of the two.
This recipe can certainly be a great option for St. Patrick’s Day as well--Just add green and white M&Ms instead! Or if there isn’t a special holiday around the corner, regular M&Ms are great as well!
Optional Add-Ins
You can add other fun ingredients to this Christmas puppy chow to vary it and add some extra fun flavors to your sweet snack mix. The following are a few ideas:
- pretzels for a sweet and salty flavor
- mini peanut butter cups (I suggest leaving out the peppermint if doing so)
- crushed Oreos or mint Oreos. I suggest adding these before the powdered sugar but it will still work if you toss in big chunks after.
- festive sprinkles, or whatever color you are going for!
- mini marshmallows
- broken pieces of candy canes
Storage
Store this Christmas puppy chow recipe at room temperature in an airtight container for up to about 2 weeks–however this easy treat never lasts that long in our house!
Other Christmas Recipes
Christmas Recipes
Christmas Golden Oreo Balls
Christmas Recipes
Christmas Shortbread Cookies
Christmas Recipes
Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookies
Christmas Recipes
White Chocolate Dipped Nutella Ritz Crackers Cookies
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Dark Chocolate Peppermint Christmas Puppy Chow
Ingredients
- 8 c Rice Chex cereal
- 2 c dark chocolate chips
- ½ tsp vanilla extract, optional
- ½ tsp peppermint extract
- 1 c mint M&Ms
- 1 ½ c powdered sugar
Instructions
- In a medium sized bowl, add rice chex and set aside.
- Melt chocolate chips in microwave in 25 second increments stirring well between heating. You will not want to overheat it. When it looks like most of the chips are melted, just keep stirring instead of heating more. Stir in the vanilla and peppermint.
- Pour mixture over Chex and stir to combine and evenly coat cereal. Chill in the refrigerator for about 5.
- Transfer the chocolate Chex mixture to a large ziploc bag and add powdered sugar. Shake well to coat.
- Transfer back to bowl and allow to continue to cool until ready to serve.
- Toss in the M&M's and extra chocolate chips if desired.
- Store in an air tight container at room temperature for up to a week.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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We tried it with the Andries cream de mints and it was amazing Didn’t use the peppermint extract
You are what I call a GENIUS. Thank you for this amazing idea!