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Patriotic Puppy Chow

Patriotic puppy chow (aka muddy buddies) is a no-bake Chex mix dessert with glistening white chocolate coating and powdered sugar-dusted crunch. It’s tossed with red and blue M&Ms and star sprinkles for an easy 4th of July party snack.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
cooling 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 16 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Patriotic puppy chow mix
  • 9 cup Chex cereal Use rice or corn Chex cereal.
  • 12 oz white chocolate chips or white melting wafers Either works; melt until smooth.
  • 4 tbsp unsalted butter Adds richness to the white chocolate coating.
  • 2 cup powdered sugar Used to dust and create the classic muddy-buddies look.
  • 1 cup red M&Ms Tossed in after the coating sets.
  • 1 cup blue M&Ms Tossed in after the coating sets.
  • red and blue star sprinkles Sprinkles for the red-white-blue patriotic finish.

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Coat the Chex
  1. Measure the Chex cereal into a very large bowl and set aside.
  2. Melt the white chocolate chips and butter together in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring until completely smooth.
  3. Pour the melted white chocolate over the Chex and stir gently until every piece is evenly coated.
Dust with powdered sugar
  1. Transfer the coated cereal into a large zip-lock bag, add the powdered sugar, seal, and shake vigorously until all pieces are well coated.
  2. Spread the coated cereal onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and let cool for 30 minutes until set, with the surface looking matte and no longer glossy.
Finish and serve
  1. Transfer the cereal into a large bowl and toss with the red and blue M&Ms and star sprinkles.
  2. Serve in a big bowl or portion into individual bags so the mix stays crisp.

Notes

Pro tip: If the white chocolate looks too thick while stirring, microwave in additional 10–15 second bursts until silky, so it coats every Chex piece. Store covered at room temperature for up to 2 days; for best texture, avoid refrigeration. Freezing is not recommended because the powdered-sugar dust can soften after thawing. Dietary swap: use dairy-free white chocolate chips to make it dairy-free.