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Your favorite Chex Mix got a Christmas makeover–this easy Christmas Puppy Chow recipe 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!
This recipe was originally published December 2017 and republished November 2020 to update photos and copy.
Do you call it “puppy chow” or “muddy buddies”?
Quite honestly, it doesn’t really matter, right? The chocolate and powdered sugar covered Chex are gonna get gobbled up this holiday season no matter what we call them!
This Dark Chocolate Peppermint Christmas Puppy Chow (reindeer chow, muddy buddies, whatever you call it) is the perfect 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 and No Bake Mint Brownies too!
Why You Will Love This Mint Chocolate Christmas Puppy Chow:
- Is so simple to make. This is such an easy 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 for another no bake option!)
- 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!
And 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.
Recipe Ingredients:
- 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.
- butter: unsalted butter is our preference but salted can work as well
- 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:
- 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 and butter (if using).(step 1)
- Add Chex to a large bowl and Pour the chocolate mixture over the cereal and stir gently to combine. Chill the chocolate coated cereal for about 5-10 minutes. For quicker cooling, you can spread the cereal on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet before chilling. (steps 2-3)
- Transfer the cereal mixture to a large ziplock bag and add the powdered sugar on top. Shake to fully coat all of the cereal. (steps 4-5)
- Add in the mint M&Ms and extra chocolate chips if desired. Transfer to a bowl and enjoy right away or store in an airtight container until ready to serve. (step 6)
Recipe Notes and Tips:
- 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.
- These holiday muddy buddies are a great gift to have in holiday jars or mason jars with a big bow on top!
- 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 Instructions:
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 Holiday Treats:
- NUTELLA STUFFED RITZ CRACKER COOKIES WITH PEPPERMINT WHITE CHOCOLATE
- MAPLE VANILLA SPICED PECANS
- ONE BOWL SMALL BATCH CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
- SNICKERDOODLE CHEESECAKE STUFFED CRESCENT WREATH
- NUTELLA CRUMBLE BARS
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Dark Chocolate Peppermint Christmas Puppy Chow
Ingredients
- 8 c Rice Chex cereal
- 2 c dark chocolate chips
- 2 T butter, softened
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 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 as well as the butter (if desired).
- Pour mixture over Chex and stir to combine and evenly coat cereal. Chill in the refrigerator for about 5-10 minutes.
- 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
- You can use a double boiler method to melt the chocolate if you prefer instead of using the microwave.
- If you prefer, you can use just the peppermint extract and omit the vanilla in this Christmas Chex Mix. I like the combination of the two.
- This makes for a great gift to have in holiday jars or mason jars with a big bow on top!
- 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!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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You know the way to my heart. I love Puppy Chow!
Always, always always!
My dream dessert! I can’t wait to make this again this Christmas!
Enjoy! We live on this stuff!!!
Love this pepperminty twist!
Thanks! It’s a standard holiday goodie here
I bet the coconut oil adds an extra level of amazing flavor!
so so so good, that’s all you need to know.
This recipe screams holidays! The whole family enjoyed this sweet treat and requested I make more ASAP!!!
We are on our second batch over here!
Made this last year and can’t wait to make it again this year!
Oh yes, it’s a new tradition here as well. Enjoy!!
I actually have some dairy-free M&M-like candies, so I might be able to make this – just need to pick up Rice Chex!
Oh yes!!! Where did you get them?
We LOVE puppy chow! I had never had it until I met my husband. But now it’s a family favorite. 🙂
Yes, you will never go back!
Such a fun and festive treat for the holidays! So easy to make and great for food gifts!
So true!
This has to be thee best twist on a family favorite! Love that the peppermint adds just a little extra touch of festive-ness 🙂
We’ve been through two batches in two weeks. And that was with me trying to ration somewhat. Haaaa!!! It’s sooo good!