Fall Muddy Buddies are a deliciously sweet and salty snack mix, combining the rich creaminess of peanut butter and chocolate with the salty crunch of pretzels and the sweet pop of fall-colored M&Ms and Reese’s.
We’re huge fans of Muddy Buddies (also known as Puppy Chow) around here! Give these fun no-bake Muddy Buddy Bars a try sometime or these fun flavored variations: S’mores Muddy Buddies or Cookies and Cream Muddy Buddies.
Fall Muddy Buddies
Who’s ready for the ultimate autumn snack? Fall Muddy Buddies are here, and they’re about to rock your world! Picture this: peanut butter, chocolate, crunchy cereal, salty pretzels, and festive M&M’s all in one bite. But hey, wanna know a secret? They’re even better from the freezer. Seriously!
Stash a batch in the freezer and boom — instant happiness when sweet cravings hit. It’s my favorite grab-and-go treat to have on hand!
So, what are you waiting for? Let’s whip up a batch!
Quick Tip
We name brands like Oreos, Chex, M&M’s, Reese’s, Chex and Skippy because we trust their quality and they’re well-known. Feel free to substitute with your preferred brands.
Fall Muddy Buddies Ingredients:
- Corn Chex cereal: Use fresh for the best crunch; stale cereal leads to a stale-tasting snack mix.
- Creamy peanut butter: We recommend Skippy® Creamy Peanut Butter, for a perfect texture.
- Milk or semi-sweet chocolate chips: High-quality chocolate melts better and tastes richer. Pick milk chocolate for a sweeter profile, or semi-sweet for less sweetness. Dark chocolate is an option for a bolder flavor.
- Fine sea salt: It boosts other flavors and cuts sweetness.
- Unsalted butter: Stick to real butter for the right flavor and texture.
- Vanilla extract: Optional, but it adds flavor richness and slight sweetness.
- Powdered sugar: Coats the mix for a sweet, non-sticky, clump-free exterior contrasting the crunchy inside.
The Mix-Ins
- Mini Reese’s: They boost the flavor and creaminess. If you can’t find minis, just chop up some regular-sized Reese’s.
- Pretzels: Adding a crunchy, salty twist to the sweet mix, broken pretzels make everything more exciting!
- Fall-colored M&M’s: These bring festive colors to the mix. Use a seasonal pack or pick out the autumn colors yourself. Or, swap in Reese’s Pieces to keep the peanut butter flavors going strong.
Quick Tip
If you’re into Trader Joe’s, try their tasty and adorable mini peanut butter cups in this Fall Muddy Buddies mix — that’s our go-to!
How To Make Fall Muddy Buddies (Tips)
- Ace the melt: Take it slow with the chocolate and peanut butter — heat in short spurts, stirring often to keep things smooth. Read more tips about melting chocolate in the microwave here.
- Be gentle: Mix the cereal with the melted ingredients carefully to keep that satisfying crunch intact.
- Go big: Use a large bowl for easy mixing and less breakage.
- Smart sugaring: Add powdered sugar gradually for an even, sweet coating on each piece.
- Freezer-friendly fun: For an extra-crunchy snack, try freezing ’em! They become a cool, crisp treat that’s perfect for a quick snack on the go.
- Variety is the spice: Feel free to get creative with your mix-ins. Seasonal candies or nuts can add an extra element of flavor and texture.
Variations
Spread the joy: Fall Muddy Buddies make great gifts! Just pop them into cute bags or jars for an easy, thoughtful, homemade treat. OR, serve in cupcake liners for a festive touch at gatherings.
Storage
Keeping Your Fall Muddy Buddies Fresh
- At Room Temperature: Keep leftovers in an airtight container, like a Mason® or Weck® jar, in a cool, dry spot. They’ll stay fresh for a week but are tastiest within three days.
- In the Freezer: Extra snack mix? Just freeze it! Put it in a sealable bag or container and it’ll keep for up to three months. Eat it straight from the freezer for a crisp treat!
More Fall Favorites:
- Acorn Donut Holes with a chocolate topping
- Candy Corn Krispie Treats made to look like candy corn
- Apple Cobbler with a crunchy, cookie-like topping
- Candy Corn Popcorn with a peanut butter coating
- Pumpkin Pancakes with the best vanilla syrup
Fall Muddy Buddies
Equipment
- Extra-large bowl, for mixing
- 2 Gallon zip-top bags, for tossing mix with powdered sugar
Ingredients
- 9 cups Corn Chex cereal
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 cup milk chocolate chips or semi-sweet (Note 1)
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract optional
- 2 cups powdered sugar, separated
- 1½ cups pretzel twists, broken
- 1 cup red, orange, yellow, and brown M&M's (or Reese's pieces)
- 1 cup miniature Reese's (Note 2)
Instructions
- CEREAL: Place the cereal in a large bowl and set aside.
- PEANUT BUTTER-CHOCOLATE MIXTURE: In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the peanut butter, chocolate chips, butter, and salt. Heat the mixture in the microwave in 20-second intervals, stirring after each interval until smooth and fully melted. If desired, stir in the vanilla extract.
- COAT CEREAL: Pour the melted peanut butter-chocolate mixture over the cereal. Gently stir to coat each piece evenly, taking care not to crush the cereal.
- SUGAR COATING: Divide the coated cereal into two batches. For the first batch, use a large resealable plastic bag and layer as follows: ½ cup powdered sugar, and half of the cereal mixture, followed by another ½ cup of powdered sugar. Seal the bag and shake well until the cereal pieces are well-coated with sugar. Remove the contents to a clean bowl. Repeat this process for the second batch of cereal, and then combine both sugar-coated batches in the same bowl.
- MIX-INS: To the bowl of sugar-coated cereal, add the broken pretzels, miniature Reese's cups, and ¾ cup of the M&M's or Reese's Pieces. Gently mix to incorporate. Sprinkle the remaining ¼ cup of M&M's or Reese's Pieces over the top for decoration.
- STORAGE: Serve immediately, or keep leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature. Alternatively, you can freeze it and enjoy straight from the freezer (SO good!)
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
