Learn how to make a festive and delicious red, white, and blue Patriotic Puppy Chow mix without ever turning on your oven. This easy, no-bake recipe is perfect for 4th of July parties, election night parties, and other patriotic celebrations.
Of all of the many red, white, and blue recipes we’ve made over the years, I have to say that this Patriotic Puppy Chow may be my family’s current favorite.
It’s SO good! And the best part? It’s also super easy to make!
Puppy chow, also known as “Muddy Buddies,” is a beloved no-bake snack mix that has become a staple at parties, holidays, and casual gatherings around the United States. We’ve simply taken the original and jazzed it up with red, white, and blue for a patriotic puppy chow version.
This one is perfect for celebrating holidays like the Fourth of July, Memorial Day, or any event where you want to show off your patriotic spirit. We love to serve it at our election night party.
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❤️🤍💙 Why you’ll love this recipe
Once you make this patriotic puppy chow, you’ll love it as much as we do!
- Simple ingredients — The main ingredients are pantry staples, making it an accessible and affordable snack.
- Easy recipe – It really is so easy to make this puppy chow recipe. I’ve included step-by-step photos below to help you out.
- No-bake dessert – This is a no-bake snack mix with minimal prep time that you can make without turning on your oven.
- Super delicious – The flavors and textures of this snack mix are second to none! Every bite is full of yummy flavors and lots of crunch.
🛒 Ingredient notes
For the Patriotic Puppy Chow, you’ll need:
- Chocolate chips – white chocolate chips melt smoothly and provide a rich flavor.
- Peanut butter – Creamy peanut butter is ideal for coating the cereal evenly.
- Unsalted butter – Adds an extra layer of richness to the mix.
- Vanilla – Pure vanilla extract adds a lovely aroma and flavor to the snack mix.
- Chex cereal – Rice Chex works best, but you can also use corn or a combination of both.
- Powdered sugar – This gives the mix its classic white, sugary coating.
- Pretzels – You can use regular pretzels, pretzel sticks, white chocolate-covered pretzels, or yogurt covered pretzels.
- M&M candies: Adding red, white, and blue M&Ms enhances the patriotic theme! If you can’t find packages of the specialty red, white, and blue M & Ms (they’re usually available around the 4th of July), use red and blue M & Ms from regular M & M packages.
- Marshmallows – Mini marshmallows are optional, but add another layer of deliciousness to this sweet treat.
- Sprinkles – Finish off the patriotic theme with red, white, and blue sprinkles.
✅ Step-by-step instructions
This is an easy snack recipe! Here are some step-by-step photos to show you how to make it. Find the full list of ingredients and detailed instructions in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- In a large bowl, add the peanut butter, white chocolate chips and unsalted butter.
- Heat in 30 second intervals, whisking or stirring with a heatproof spatula in-between, just until fully melted, smooth, and creamy. Do not overheat!
- Whisk in the vanilla.
4. Add the rice Chex cereal to the bowl and gently fold in the cereal until fully coated with the melted white chocolate-peanut butter mixture.
5. Add the coated cereal to a large gallon ziplock bag.
6. Add the powdered sugar to the bag and gently shake to coat all of the cereal with the powered sugar.
7. Pour the cereal mix into a large bowl. Add the remaining ingredients and gently toss together to mix.
👩🏻🍳 Patriotic puppy chow FAQs
Despite the name, puppy chow is not for pets! The name “puppy chow” comes from the resemblance of this snack mix to dog kibble. The combination of cereal coated in a peanut butter-chocolate mixture and dusted with powdered sugar results in a treat that looks surprisingly similar to the food you’d pour into a dog’s bowl. In some regions, it’s also known as “Muddy Buddies,” a name trademarked by General Mills, which adds to its playful appeal.
Puppy chow has Midwestern roots, with its popularity spreading across the United States thanks to its simplicity and deliciousness. The original recipe is thought to have been inspired by a similar treat called “people chow” and made its way into American households as an easy, no-bake dessert that could be thrown together quickly.
Store puppy chow in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. You can also store in the refrigerator; just be sure to bring it to room temperature before serving.
I do NOT recommend freezing puppy chow. The texture of the Chex mix recipe will change when frozen and thawed. You’ll end up with a mushy mix instead of the delicious crispy crunchy snack mix it started out as.
🍽 Serving ideas
This puppy chow is perfect to serve along with other red, white, and blue foods.
Whether you’re celebrating Independence Day, Memorial Day weekend, election night, try serving it along with one of these tasty treats:
- Red, White, and Blue Fruit Pizza
- Mixed Berry Galette
- 4th of July Oreos
- Red, White, and Blue Snack Mix
- Patriotic Chocolate Bark
🍸🥂 Cocktail and wine pairings
Keep the red, white, and blue theme going by serving a Blue Wave Cocktail at your patriotic party!
If serving wine: given the sweetness and rich flavors of white chocolate and peanut butter, a light, slightly sweet wine like a Moscato or a Rosé would pair beautifully. These wines are refreshing and have just enough sweetness to complement the snack without overwhelming your palate.
🍳 Kitchen tools and equipment
To make this red, white, and blue puppy chow, you’ll need:
- Ziplock bags – Shake the cereal with powdered sugar in a large resealable plastic bag.
- Large mixing bowl – You’ll need a large bowl to mix and coat the cereal.
- Microwave-Safe Bowl: Melt the white chocolate, peanut butter, and unsalted butter in a large microwave-safe bowl.
- Spatula or Spoon: Use a silicone spatula or wooden spoon to stir the melted mixture and coat the cereal.
🇺🇸 More election day recipes
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to leave a 5-Star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card, and if you really loved it, please leave a comment further down on the page. Thank you!
Patriotic Puppy Chow
Ingredients
- 1 cup smooth peanut butter
- 1 cup white melting chocolate or white chocolate chips
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 box Chex rice cereal (12 ounce box)
- 1-2 cups powdered sugar
- ½ cup red, white, and blue M & M candies
- ½ cup lightly chopped white chocolate-covered pretzels
- 1 Tablespoon red, white, and blue sprinkles
Instructions
- In a large microwave-safe bowl, microwave the peanut butter, white chocolate, and unsalted butter in 30-second intervals until melted, mixing in-between intervals until smooth.
- Whisk in the vanilla extract.
- Stir in the Chex cereal and toss to cover and coat the cereal.
- Place coated cereal in a large ziplock bag. Add the powdered sugar, seal, and gently shake the bag around to coat the ingredients in the bag with the powdered sugar.
- Place the coated cereal mix into a separate large bowl and allow the mix to cool for 5-10 minutes.
- Add the M & M candies, chocolate-covered pretzels, and sprinkles. Gently toss together to mix the candies into the puppy chow. Serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
