If I say Puppy Chow, and you were born before 1990 you don’t have visions of cute puppies with wagging tails and lolling tongues dancing through your head. Now, it’s known as Chex Mix or Muddy Buddies or Muddy Buddy Snack Mix……
If you were born before 1990, you are immediately transported back to the peanut buttery, powdered sugary, crispy, crunchy snack mix that showed up at every class party, birthday party and after school event.
The other day I was debating what to put into our ‘You’ve Been Booed” buckets, and puppy chow came to mind. Sugary, savory, crispy, a hint salty – it’s kind of the definition of perfection in the snack world.
However my kids aren’t keen on peanut butter (I KNOW!) so I twisted and tweaked, and with the Halloween candy aisle as some inspiration…. I have a brand new Halloween inspired Puppy Chow/ Halloween Nutella Chex Mix that is chock full of Halloween Goodness and Nutella nomminess.
Halloween Candy Nutella Chex Mix
My kids and I like peanut butter, but aside from reese’s pieces, we don’t like peanut butter in our snacks .
The base ingredient of puppy chow is peanut butter.
I see your peanut butter and raise you Nutella.
BOOM.
Halloween Nutella Chex Mix
Not only did I replace the peanut butter with Nutella, I added another ingredient to give this Puppy Chow another layer of deliciousness. Chocolate cake mix..
It’s possible that I went a bit Halloween/Fall crazy in the ingredients.. I scoured the shelves of my local Target’s Halloween aisle (which took about 5 minutes) to find the Halloween M&M’s, the S’mores Candy Corn (WHAT?!), the Autumn Candy Corn Mix (DUDE – the pumpkins)
This is – if I may say so myself – one of the best puppy chows that I’ve ever had. It’s chocolate-y, crispy – nutty – sweet – savory, and pretty much just awesome-y 🙂
Halloween Puppy Chow
Ingredients
- 10 Cups Chex Cereal, I do 5 corn and 5 rice
- 2 Tbsp butter
- 1 1/2 C Nutella
- 3/4 C powdered Sugar
- 3/4 C chocolate cake or chocolate brownie mix
- 2 C halloween m&m's
- 2 C autumn candy corn mix
- 1/2 C s'mores candy corn mix, if you can find it
- 1 tsp. salt
Instructions
- Divide the chex cereal into 5 C each
- Place the powdered sugar into one large plastic zip close bag
- Place the brownie/cake mix into one large plastic zip close bag
- Place the butter and Nutella into a microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds. Stir. Microwave 30 seconds, stir. If necessary, microwave another 15 seconds. Stir until smooth and creamy.
- Pour the nutella/butter mixture over the chex cereal.
- Divide the mixture in half and place one half in the powdered sugar bag, and one half in the chocolate mix bag.
- SHAKE BOTH BAGS VIGOROUSLY UNTIL COATED.
- Pour the coated chex mix out onto paper towels to rest.
- Combine the candies and sugar coated chex mix and toss to mix.
- Sprinkle with salt and toss again.
- Portion at will and devour.
Nikki @ Tikkido says
Puppy chow and candy corns are too sweet for me, but holy cow, I LOVE that weathered teal serving tray! Prop envy!
Ali @ Inspiralized says
I LOVE puppy show!! what a great post, thanks for sharing 🙂
Carrian says
This looks like Halloween heaven!
Sheila says
LUverly!! just sayin…everything about it from the candy to the nutella, to the cake mix…seeeeriously! My sister would say that snack is cray-cray.
Sherry Carr-Smith says
I believe this is perfect for my baby shower in November!
Aimee | Greeblemonkey says
Oh dude – dying!
Gaby says
Puppy chow is so addictive and this is just perfect!!
Des says
I love puppy chow and I love this Halloween inspired version. So excited October is finally here!
Nessa says
So cute!
Stephanie says
Has anyone found the s’mores candy corn mix? If so, where?! Can’t wait to make this!:-)
Sarah says
Thank you for this recipe. I have a child who is allergic to peanuts and this is a great alternative. I’m a child of the 90’s and always loved puppy chow. Now I’m glad I still get to share it with my daughter, but in a different way 🙂
Stacy | Wicked Good Kitchen says
Awesome-o! (I like the word awesome-o better than awesome-y due to South Park influences, of course. Who can forget Cartman as a.w.e.s.o.m.-o 4000, the robot?) Love this combo of flavors, Rach…from the Nutella to the S’mores Candy Corn! Pinning to all family diy group boards at Pinterest! xo
cas navey (@casnavy) says
LOVED Awesome-o – and like to use that word for awesome too!
Lauren says
I’m making this recipe right now! I found the s’mores mix at Target.
Pencils says
That looks REALLY tasty, and I’m going to make it for my daughter’s Halloween party this weekend. I have to say though, I was born (long) before 1990, and I’ve never heard of Puppy Chow, other than the dog food, or Muddy Buddy. Neither has my husband. Is it a Southern thing? I know Chex mix, but the salty kind.
Karen says
I just made this and had a problem with the Nutella. You say to put it in the micro with the butter. The nutella seized up on me and I ended up having to add some water just to stir it. Then I read the jar of nutella and it says to not microwave. Did you put yours in the micro with the butter? If so, did you have problems with the nutella? Other than that, this is delish! Thanks for recipe, although it is messy to make.
Rachel says
Hey Karen! I always use butter (or coconut oil) when softening/melting my nutella for use in recipes. You have to watch it and snatch it out as soon as it starts to soften/melt. Glad you were able to temper it with water to make it work for you! Your microwave might be hotter than mine, which could be part of the problem.
heating nutella is NOT recommended on the jar, but I do it anyway.. I’m a rebel like that 😉
Bonny @ Clever Hen says
What a GREAT idea! I would have loved this recipe when my kids were growing up and having all the Halloween parties. I guess I will have to start on my darling little granddaughter’s little friends.
Kim says
Instead of using Nutella I used Skippy dark chocolate peanut butter
S Johnson says
There is, or was a dog food called puppy chow, hence the name we know, but I’m sure it’s trademarked, so, new name.
Sandy says
Hi! I love this idea and want to make it for camping next week. Any thoughts in how far ahead I can make it and storage suggestions?? Thanks!
Rachel says
Hi sandy!
Sealed really well, it will stay for about a week. I would put a paper towel in with it to help draw moisture. I can’t seem to make it last, nobody can resist it 🙂
I would make it as last minute as you can :)have a great camping trip!
Rachel
cas navey (@casnavy) says
I grew up in the 1970s and I ALWAYS knew this as Muddy Buddies!! That is what they were called first on the Chex Cereal Box recipe. I actually still have the recipe cut from the box and it was definitely from the early 1980s. It wasn’t until recently, on Pinterest, that I saw them called Puppy Chow.
cas navey (@casnavy) says
Actually “Muddy Buddy Snack Mix”
Rachel says
So crazy! I wonder if it’s regional? I don’t know that I ever paid attention to the actual cereal box, but growing up in the late 70’s and 80’s I only ever heard it called Puppy Chow 🙂 Thank you for taking the time to comment and let me know! Have a delicious day! – Rachel
MA says
Super sweet! I added some pretzels to give it some saltiness.
Rachel says
YUM! sounds like a delicious addition!