Name: Hot Chocolate Puppy Chow
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 10 cups rice Chex cereal (1 (12 oz) box); 1 (12 oz) bag semi-sweet chocolate chips (roughly 2 cups); 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter; 1/2 cup butter; 1 (7 oz) jar marshmallow fluff; 4 cups powdered sugar; 1/3 cup hot cocoa mix (3 packets ); 3 cups mini marshmallows (divided); 2 (3.1 oz) box snow caps (divided)

Jump to Recipe

Hot chocolate puppy chow is a no bake snack mix made with marshmallow fluff and hot cocoa mix before being tossed with mini marshmallows and snowcaps!

Just like with my captain crunch peanut butter puppy chow, I like to make big batches of puppy chow. This way you use the whole box of cereal, have enough to snack on, and some to give away to friends and neighbors!

Why you’ll love this recipe:

If you live in the midwest, you know two things really well: cold weather and puppy chow! This fun, no bake puppy chow recipe uses mini marshmallows and hot chocolate mix to capture the classic cozy flavors of hot cocoa perfectly.

There’s no better way to transform the comforting feeling from a sip of hot cocoa into a crunchy and sweet treat! This easy recipe is a simple combination of peanut butter, powdered sugar, chocolate, marshmallow and Chex cereal and the easiest way to savor a mug of chocolate, served as an addictive snack!

Ingredients you’ll need:

Rice Chex cereal
Semi-sweet chocolate chips
Creamy peanut butter
Butter
Marshmallow fluff
Powdered sugar
Hot cocoa mix
Mini marshmallows
Snow caps candy

There’s no special science behind puppy chow (or muddy buddies, as they’re called in some places depending on where you live or how you were raised)! In fact, the no-fuss, no-bake aspect of this snack makes it the perfect last-second treat for nearly any occasion! Whether you call it muddy buddies or puppy chow, this classic snack mix is always guaranteed to be a crowd favorite!

Traditionally, Chex cereal is coated with a combination of melted chocolate and peanut butter, then tossed in powdered sugar for the ultimate sweet treat. Basically, it’s one of the most addicting snacks you’ll ever make. The fact that it can be thrown together in just 15 minutes is both wonderful and dangerous!

How to make the best hot chocolate puppy chow:

Pour the Chex cereal into a large mixing bowl (preferably one with a lid) and set aside.
In a microwave safe bowl, combine semi-sweet chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter. Microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring in-between, until melted and smooth.
Stir in the marshmallow fluff, then pour the chocolate marshmallow mixture into the bowl of Chex cereal and gently mix to evenly coat the cereal.
In a medium mixing bowl, combine powdered sugar and hot cocoa mix. Add the powdered sugar mix into the bowl of coated cereal, then mix (or shake if you have a lid) to coat the cereal evenly.
Transfer the puppy chow onto a baking sheet, spread it into an even layer, then sprinkle 2 cups of marshmallows and ½ cup of snow caps on top. Let cool completely.
Once cooled, transfer the mix to a serving bowl and top with remaining marshmallows and snow caps before serving!

Hot chocolate puppy chow is the perfect treat for parties, movie nights, game day, or snacking on for a snow day! It also makes a great homemade gift during the holidays. Put it in a cute jar or bag and share with your family and friends. It’s an easy recipe that everyone loves!

My top tips:

BOWL SIZE: Use the biggest bowl you can find for tossing the cereal! A big bowl makes it so much easier to ensure the puppy chow gets fully coated in chocolate marshmallow mixture as well as the powdered sugar. I also recommend using a rubber spatula here to avoid crushing the cereal too much.
CEREAL VARIETIES: Chex cereal is sold in a variety of flavors but the best one for this recipe is the original rice Chex. If you’re going to use another flavor, I’d only recommend using chocolate or corn Chex. Sticking to basic flavor options for the cereal will let the hot chocolate flavor shine here!
MICROWAVING: I recommend microwaving the chocolate, peanut butter, and butter in 30 second intervals, then stirring in-between. This ensures everything melts evenly and becomes perfectly smooth.
COAT EVENLY: Be sure you fully coat the Chex cereal in the chocolate mixture. This is what the powdered sugar will stick to.
COOLING: It’s important to let the puppy chow cool completely before storing. If you store it while still warm, the powdered sugar will dissolve, and we don’t want that!
STORING: You can store the puppy chow in an airtight container on the counter for up to 2 days, but I doubt it will last that long! If you want this to last longer, wait to mix in the mini marshmallows until you’re closer to enjoying.
FOR A CROWD: You can easily double or triple this recipe for a crowd. Just be sure you’re using a bowl large enough to accommodate all the puppy chow!

Looking for more no bake treats? Try these out!

Print Recipe