Muddy Snowballs

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Muddy Snowballs are chewy rice krispie treat balls coated in rich chocolate and peanut butter, then rolled in powdered sugar for a no-bake dessert that tastes like a mashup of rice krispie treats and muddy buddies!

If you like rice krispie treats, or muddy buddies, you’ll love my Buckeye Rice Krispie Treats, Caramel Marshmallow Rice Krispie Balls, Puppy Chow Popcorn, S’mores Puppy Chow, and Funfetti Puppy Chow!

Why you’ll love this recipe:

Muddy Snowballs are a fun and irresistible no-bake dessert that combines two classic treats into one. They are rice krispie treat balls coated in melted chocolate and peanut butter, then rolled in powdered sugar for a sweet finish.

If you love rice krispie treats and puppy chow (muddy buddies), this recipe delivers the best of both worlds!

Muddy Snowballs are chewy on the inside with a slight crunch from the rice cereal. The chocolate and peanut butter coating adds richness, while the powdered sugar brings sweetness and balance. Every bite tastes like a softer, chewier version of muddy buddies!

Ingredients you’ll need:

• Butter- divided
• Mini marshmallows- divided 
• Rice Krispie cereal 
• Semi-sweet chocolate chips
• Creamy peanut butter 
• Powdered sugar

Muddy Snowballs start like classic rice krispie treats, with melted marshmallows mixed with crispy rice cereal. Instead of pressing the mixture into a pan, it’s rolled into small balls once slightly cooled. The balls are then tossed in melted chocolate and peanut butter. While still sticky, they’re rolled in powdered sugar until fully coated.

Muddy Snowballs are also completely no bake, which makes them ideal for busy schedules, or last-minute desserts. There’s no oven required and very little prep time involved. They’re also a great recipe to make with kids because rolling the balls and coating them in powdered sugar is simple and fun!

I’ll be honest, making Muddy Snowballs can get a little messy. The chocolate-peanut butter coating is sticky, and powdered sugar tends to get everywhere. But that mess is part of the fun! This is a great hands-on recipe, and the end result is absolutely worth the extra napkins. 😉

How to make the best Muddy Snowballs:

• In a large saucepan over medium-low heat, combine 6 tbsp butter and 6 cups of mini marshmallows. Stir continuously until melted and smooth. 
• Pour in the Rice Krispies and stir to combine, then add the remaining mini marshmallows and mix until evenly distributed.
• Lightly wet your hands and then scoop approximately 1/3 cup of the mixture and roll the Rice Krispies treats into a tight ball. You will need to rewet your hand every few Rice Krispie Treat balls to keep them from sticking to your hands.
• In a microwave safe bowl, combine the chocolate chips, peanut butter and the remaining 2 tbsp of butter, then microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring in between, until melted and smooth.
• Transfer the Rice Krispie balls into an extra large bowl and pour the chocolate peanut butter mixture on top. Stir to coat them in the chocolate peanut butter mixture.
• Once coated, roll each ball into powdered sugar before enjoying! If you want the chocolate coating to be more set, refrigerate for 15 minutes.

Muddy Snowballs are chewy, slightly crunchy, and incredibly rich. The rice cereal adds texture, while the chocolate and peanut butter bring deep, indulgent flavor. The powdered sugar coating adds sweetness without overpowering the dessert, making every bite balanced and satisfying.

These no-bake dessert balls are perfect for parties, holidays, bake sales, and gifting. They’re easy to transport, store well, and always disappear quickly! They’re also made with simple pantry ingredients, so you don’t need anything fancy to create a dessert that feels special.

Muddy Snowballs are the ultimate easy no-bake dessert. They combine the comfort of rice krispie treats with the bold flavor of muddy buddies into one unforgettable treat. If you’re looking for a fun, delicious, and shareable dessert, Muddy Snowballs deserve a spot on your must-make list.

My top tips:

• USE FRESH MARSHMALLOWS: Soft, fresh marshmallows melt smoothly and bind the cereal better. Old marshmallows create stiff, crumbly treats that can be hard to roll.
• DON’T OVERCOOK THE MASHMALLOW: You’ll want toheat only until melted and smooth. Overheating causes the treats to turn tough rather than chewy once cooled.
• WET YOUR HANDS: Lightly coat your hands with water, butter, neutral oil, or nonstick spray, and reapply often to prevent the Rice Krispie Treats from sticking to your hands while rolling them into balls.
• DON’T SQUEEZE: Roll and lightly compress the balls in your hands. Packing them too tightly can also contribute to them becoming hard instead of chewy.
• 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.
• COATING IN CHOCOLATE AND PEANUT BUTTER: To make this step faster and less messy, I recommendtransferring the Rice Krispie balls into an extra large bowl, pouring the chocolate peanut butter mixture on top, then stirring to coat, rather than coating one by one.
• ROLLING IN POWERED SUGAR: You’ll want to roll the chocolate and peanut butter coated balls in powdered sugar while the chocolate is still wet/tacky. If the coating is too set, the sugar won’t stick well. Slightly sticky is ideal.
• FINISH WITH A SHORT CHILL: If you want these treats to be a little less messy to eat, a final 15 minutes in the fridge helps the chocolate and peanut butter coating firm up without becoming too hard.
• STORING: Leftover Muddy Snowballs can be transferred into an airtight container and stored in a cool, dry place for up to 5 days. 

Looking for more no-bake desserts? Check these out!

• Dandy-Do Cookies 
• Chocolate Avalanche Cookies 
• Cool Whip Candy 
• Cookie Dough Rice Krispie Treats
• Butterfinger Popcorn
• Funfetti Cheesecake Bites
• Caramel Pecan Clusters
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Bugles
• Samoa Pretzel Bites
• Cookies and Cream Bark
• Chex Scotcheroos
• No Bake Peanut Butter Blossoms
• Rolo Ritz Cookies
• Turtle Dipped Marshmallows

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