This is a large batch recipe for Puppy Chow for a crowd (aka: muddy buddy recipe in big batches) and is one of my favorite party snack recipes. One of the problems with double batches or triple puppy chow is that it often gets clumped, gloppy, or soggy, and the powdered sugar doesn’t coat the cereal well.
Here are my recipe tips for making a big batch of Chex Mix puppy chow and fixing those issues!
Best Recipe for Puppy Chow For A Crowd
I adapted the original sweet treat recipe because we make this for holiday parties for Thanksgiving sweets and Christmas desserts, but to also have enough to give for homemade food gifts (along with the traditional Chex Mix recipe) and to use for Christmas bake sales in Mason Jars with cute holiday ribbons.
But, this snack mix is also great for summer party snack or birthday party ideas too if you want an easy dessert all year.
This sweet and salty snack is a favorite holiday recipe at our house and is an easy finger food for the holiday dessert table.
Ingredients For Puppy Chow:
- Chex Cereal variety
- Peanut butter
- Chocolate chips
- Butter (real butter, not margarine!)
- Powdered sugar
See my recipe hacks for making this for a large group before the free printable recipe card below.
BE SURE TO READ THROUGH MY TESTED RECIPE HACKS TO AVOID WASTING INGREDIENTS & TO MAKE SURE YOUR RECIPE TURNS OUT!
What is the Puppy Chow sugar?
The sugar on muddy buddies puppy chow is just regular plain confectioners’ sugar that you get in the baking aisle.
We like a lot of extra powdered sugar on our Puppy Chow recipe.
And by A LOT, I mean, we don’t like to see the cereal or chocolate.
If you like lightly covered puppy chow muddy buddies, then slowly mix in the powdered confectioners sugar a little at a time until your Puppy Chow cereal is covered to your liking.
You may not need all the sugar listed in this recipe, but you’ll want to have extra to do the puppy chow in stages like I explain below.
But, why isn’t your puppy chow turning out? I’ve spent years making this recipe in double batches, and here are the issues I’ve figured out when trying to make it.
RECIPE HACKS: About Making Puppy Chow Recipes In Large Batches
Puppy Chow Recipe Problem #1: Not Giving Enough Room To Coat The Chocolate Covered Cereal with Sugar (Tips for Coating The Puppy Chow Muddy Buddy Cereal In Large Servings)
One of the biggest problems when doubling or tripling a puppy show recipe is not having enough room to move the cereal or a a big enough bag to shake it to evenly coat it with the white confectioner’s sugar.
RECIPE HACK: I use a large roasting pan to make this recipe and it works very well. Being able to spread out the cereal with chocolate mixture is one of the ways to keep the puppy chow from clumping.
This large recipe for puppy chow makes about 18 cups, so you will need a large roasting pan (which is what I use) or several of these kinds of resealable bags for making this recipe.
If you’re using regular sealable plastic bags, you’re going to have to make this in many smaller batches in order to get the chocolate and powder sugar coating to cover the cereal completely and it’s really hard to work between that many bags before the chocolate hardens.
If you want to use the puppy chow shake method, use those large 2-gallon ziploc bags.
Personally, I think it’s really hard to get this puppy chow in large batches evenly coated with the chocolate mixture and powder sugar in bags.
I recommend making large batches of puppy chow in an oversized roasting pan like this. (I use the pan I make a turkey in).
When tossing the cereal, chocolate, and sugar in the roasting pan, I use a rubber spatula or a large, flat rubber spoon and carefully turn the cereal over and over. It works great and helps get rid of those coated cereal clumps.
Puppy Chow Recipe Problem #2: Not Enough Sugar or Powdered Sugar Doesn’t Coat The Cereal
Another issue with making puppy chow is that the sugar to cereal ratio is off or that you can’t get the
RECIPE TIP: For oversized puppy chow recipes like this, I add the powdered sugar a little at time, toss, and add more powdered sugar until coated.
I add 1/2 cup to 1 cup sugar to the chocolate peanut butter covered cereal, and then a little more, as needed, in between gently tossing with a rubber spatula.
I continue this process, gently tossing the party mix, adding more powdered sugar, stirring again, until the cereal mixture is completely covered with sugar.
One last note: I use an oversized glass measuring cup like this for melting chocolate, peanut butter, and butter.
This is how I’ve been making huge batches of Puppy Chow for YEARS for the holidays or for party food snacks!
Puppy Chow Recipe Problem #3: Puppy Chow Is Soggy
If your puppy chow muddy buddies are soggy, it may be because you used too much chocolate and not enough powdered sugar. (This is one reason I like to coat my puppy chow cereal mix completely with sugar.)
Also, you need to spread it out so that it can dry and set.
I leave mine spread out in the big roasting pan and it’s always crunchy.
Free Printable Recipe Card for Puppy Chow for a Large Group
RECIPE NOTE: The traditional puppy chow recipe calls for vanilla extract. I don’t add it to my puppy chow because we have found we like it without it.
If you like it with vanilla, stir in 2 teaspoons to the melted peanut butter and chocolate before pouring it onto the cereal.
MORE EASY DESSERT RECIPES TO TRY:
HELPFUL RECIPE TIP: A 12-ounce box of Chex Mix cereal usually has around 8 cups in it.
▶ Before making the recipe, be sure to scroll up and read the recipe tips so you don’t waste your ingredients!
Puppy Chow For A Crowd
Equipment
- Large roasting pan or extra large casserole dish
Ingredients
- 18 cups Chex Mix Cereal combination of Rice Chex, Corn Chex, and Chocolate Chex
- 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup peanut butter smooth (not chunky)
- 1/2 cup butter
- 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar (confectioners' sugar)
Instructions
- In a large roasting pan or casserole dish, pour in the 18 cups of Chex Cereal varieties. Gently stir with a rubber spatula to mix the cereal. Set aside.
- In a large, microwavable glass bowl or large glass measuring cup, add the chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter. Microwave for 45 seconds. Carefully remove from microwave and stir. Continue microwaving in 30 second increments until melted and easily stirred.
- When melted, remove from microwave and stir to combine the chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter into a smooth mixture.
- Working quickly in batches, pour some of the peanut butter chocolate mixture over the cereal and gently stir with a rubber spatula, taking care not to crush the cereal. Continue this process until all the peanut butter chocolate mixture is used and the cereal is covered.
- Sprinkle one cup of powdered sugar over the coated cereal and gently stir. Add another cup of powder sugar and gently stir again. Continue this process until all of the cereal is completely coated with powdered sugar. (You may not use all of the powdered sugar.)
- Allow to cool before serving, adding to favor bags, or putting gift jars for gifting.
Notes
Nutrition Note
Nutrition calculations are approximate. If you're following a special diet, please calculate your own nutrition values.
Want a savory, salty Chex Mix? Make Dill Pickle Party Mix for Unique Party Snacks!
I hope you enjoy this Puppy Chow for a crowd recipe!
