Peanut butter puppy chow gets a fun makeover with Captain Crunch cereal, peanut butter chips, and Reese’s pieces for an easy, crowd-pleasing dessert!

If you like my Captain Crunch Peanut Butter Puppy Chow, you have to try my Ritz Bits and Oreo Puppy Chow too! It’s sweet, crunchy, and completely addictive.

You’ll love this captain crunch peanut butter puppy chow!

Now the name of this treat can be controversial. I’m a Midwesterner (born and raised) so I call this treat “Puppy Chow.” It has other names too, like muddy buddies, monkey munch, etc., but no matter what you call it, it’s delicious.

The combo of Reese’s Pieces and peanut butter chips gives the classic snack mix a sweet, peanut-buttery twist. This snack mix is a staple for any gathering, including tailgates, grill outs and holidays!

Ingredients you’ll need:

Peanut butter Captain Crunch
Original Captain Crunch
Semi-sweet chocolate chips
Peanut butter chips
Creamy peanut butter
Butter
Powdered sugar
Reese’s pieces

Crunchy peanut butter cereal gets covered in melted chocolate and peanut butter, then coated in powdered sugar! Toss in a few extras like peanut butter chips and/or Reese’s pieces for an insanely satisfying, crunchy, and addictive treat!

Puppy chow is one of those treats that always gives great results without having to put in tons of effort. If you’re someone who thinks they can’t bake but has a huge sweet tooth, you’re going to want to give this recipe a try. As long as you can mix and use a microwave, you’re good to go!

How to make the best captain crunch peanut butter puppy chow:

In a large mixing bowl or Ziploc bag, combine both cereal varieties, then set aside.
In a microwave safe bowl, combine semi-sweet chocolate chips, ½ cup peanut butter chips, peanut butter, and butter. Microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring in-between, until melted and smooth.
Pour the melted chocolate and peanut butter mixture into the bowl of cereal, then toss to coat evenly.
Add the powdered sugar to the bowl of cereal, then mix again to coat each piece of cereal completely in powdered sugar.
Transfer the puppy chow to a serving bowl, then sprinkle remaining peanut butter chips and Reese’s pieces on top before enjoying!

Let’s talk mix-in’s:

If you want your mix-in’s to stick to the cereal, add them in before you coat everything in powdered sugar. If you want the mix-in’s to stand out and not stick to the cereal, you’ll add them after the cereal has been coated in powdered sugar.

I like reserving about 1/2 cup each of the peanut butter chips and Reese’s pieces so that I can throw them into the finished puppy chow as is! This just lets everyone know what they’re eating since you can’t really tell once it’s all covered in powdered sugar!

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 Captain Crunch gets fully coated in chocolate, peanut butter, and powdered sugar. I also recommend using a rubber spatula here to avoid crushing the cereal too much.
CEREAL VARIETIES: When buying your cereal, make sure to opt for the original and peanut butter Captain Crunch and avoid any of the berry-filled varieties. If you prefer, feel free to use just one type. If you can’t get your hands on Captain Crunch, Reese’s Puff cereal would be a great substitute 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 Captain Crunch 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!
FOR A CROWD: You can easily double or triple this recipe for a crowd. Just be sure you’re using a bowl or Ziploc bag large enough to accommodate all the puppy chow!

Peanut butter puppy chow made with Captain Crunch is a fun take on the original and the extra crunchy pieces of Captain Crunch cereal are my favorite! It’s still super quick and easy to make, and sure to be a hit at your next party!

The best thing about this salty-sweet snack is that you can easily prepare it in advance or make a big batch for yourself and keep it in an airtight container or Ziploc bag for up to 2 weeks.

Looking for more no bake recipes? Try these out!

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