Healthy Puppy Chow

Learn how to make this healthy puppy chow recipe for the perfect guilt-free snack or sweet treat. Loaded with crispy chex cereal and coated in sunflower seed butter and rich chocolate, it’s seriously addictive! 

My family loves it when I break out the puppy chow. It’s one of our foolproof and addictive sweet treats (like lemon bars and granola bars) that’s great for sharing and works for every occasion. 

As much as we love traditional puppy chow, I’m always looking for ways to make our favorite desserts healthier. Que this healthy version made without added sugar but with all the flavor.

Table of Contents

1. What is puppy chow?
2. Ingredients needed
3. How to make healthy puppy chow
4. Recipe tips and variations
5. Storage instructions
6. Frequently asked questions
7. More homemade candy recipes to try
8. Healthy Puppy Chow (Recipe Card)

What is puppy chow?

Puppy chow, also known as monkey crunch or muddy buddies, is a snack that became popular in the midwest U.S. It’s made up of cereal (usually chex) coated in melted chocolate and peanut butter, then dusted with powdered sugar.

To make a healthier version of this treat, we’re swapping the peanut butter for a nut-free alternative and using sugar-free chocolate and powdered sugar. Here are some reasons why this recipe has quickly become a staple in our house:

• Ready in minutes. All you do is coat the cereal in sunflower butter and chocolate, let it chill in the fridge, then toss the pieces in powdered sugar. It’s that simple!
• Fun for the whole family. In our household, we’re always looking for easy, no-bake recipes to get the kids involved, and these muddy buddies fit the bill.
• Healthy candy?! I know it’s hard to believe, but this puppy chow recipe is healthy because it’s vegan, dairy-free, and made with wholesome ingredients (like chickpea cookie dough). 

Ingredients needed

As I mentioned, I made a healthier puppy chow recipe by using sugar-free alternatives. This is what you’ll need:

• Chex cereal. Chex is notoriously the crunchiest of all the cereals. I used chex rice cereal, but you can use any type of chex you prefer. Keep in mind the only one that isn’t gluten-free is wheat chex. 
• Sunflower seed butter. I used sunflower seed butter to keep this recipe nut-free, but you could certainly use peanut butter, cashew butter, or any nut butter you prefer.
• Sugar-free chocolate chips. I used homemade sugar-free chips. 
• Sugar-free powdered sugar. Of course, no puppy chow recipe would be complete without the powdered sugar! I make my own because it’s surprisingly easy, and all you need is a sugar-free sweetener and a food processor. 

Find the printable recipe with measurements below.

How to make healthy puppy chow

Step 1- Prep work. Line a large baking sheet or pan with parchment paper. Add your cereal to a large bowl. 

Step 2- Make the chocolate coating. In a microwave-safe bowl or stovetop, melt the sunflower seed butter with chocolate chips. 

Step 3- Combine. Pour the melted chocolate mixture over the cereal and stir until each piece is fully coated. 

Step 4- Refrigerate. Pour the muddy buddy mixture onto the prepared baking sheet and spread it into a thin, even layer. Refrigerate for 15 minutes or until the chocolate has mostly set.

Step 5- Coat in powdered sugar. Remove the muddy buddies from the fridge, break them into large chunks, and place them back in the mixing bowl. Add the powdered sugar and shake the bowl until each piece is coated. Place the muddy buddies back on the pan and allow the sugar to settle before serving. 

Recipe tips and variations

• Add sea salt. If you’re like me and love a sweet and savory flavor combo, add a sprinkle of sea salt to the powdered sugar mixture to help balance out the sweetness.
• Protein muddy buddies. Like my protein puppy chow, you can add a scoop of vanilla protein powder to make these muddy buddies even more satisfying.
• Use white chocolate. I have an easy sugar-free white chocolate recipe, so if you’re wondering what white chocolate puppy chow tastes like, you’ll want to give this a try. 
• Use Nutella. One time when I was feeling a little wild, I swapped the seed butter and chocolate for homemade Nutella. Let’s just say portion control went out the window!

Storage instructions

To store: Store leftover puppy chow in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 weeks. I prefer to keep it at room temperature. Otherwise, I’ve found it can get soggy if kept in the refrigerator.

To freeze: Put leftover puppy chow in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Let it thaw at room temperature before enjoying. 

Frequently asked questions

More homemade candy recipes to try

• Homemade Twix bars– No-bake shortbread base and gooey caramel filling, all covered in melted chocolate. 
• Peanut brittle– A childhood favorite of mine, but made with zero corn syrup.
• Turkish delight– We just made a batch at home, and they’re almost gone!
• Coconut bars– Think of them as the filling to almond joys or bounty bars. 
• Rocky road fudge– Creamy chocolate fudge studded with marshmallows, peanuts, and candy. 

Recipe originally published January 2019 but updated to include new information for your benefit.