Peppermint Bark Muddy Buddies make the perfect holiday snack mix! These treats are rich, chocolatey, and packed with chopped peppermint bark candies.
Peppermint Bark Muddy Buddies
Nothing says Christmastime to me like a cheesy Hallmark movie, cozy blankets, and a bowl of festive treats like these Peppermint Bark Muddy Buddies! Or try this Hot Chocolate Snack Mix—perfect for movie night, too.
This twist on muddy buddies is inspired by my favorite holiday treat—peppermint bark! Chocolate and peppermint are a classic pair, and this mix has real pieces of peppermint bark for extra flavor. Muddy Buddies, made with Chex® cereal, are a snack-time favorite, and this version combines everything into the most delicious snack mix!
Peppermint Bark Muddy Buddies Tips
- Use good-quality chocolate chips, for smoother melting and richer flavor.
- Melt chocolate in sturdy, microwave-safe bowls, heating slowly to avoid it turning cloudy or sticky.
- For a less-sweet mix, try semi-sweet or dark chocolate instead of milk; for extra richness, swap Rice Chex with Chocolate Chex.
- Use peppermint extract (not mint) to avoid a toothpaste-like flavor. I suggest 1/2 teaspoon of McCormick® peppermint extract.
How To Crush Peppermint
Candy canes or hard peppermint candies are great for this recipe. For quick, even crushing, use a mini food processor or a small blender.
Or, put unwrapped candies in a large plastic bag (double-bagged to prevent tearing), squeeze out the air, seal, and crush with a rolling pin or meat mallet until finely crumbled.
Peppermint Bark
Candy canes or hard peppermint candies are perfect for this snack mix. For easy, even crushing, use a mini food processor or a small blender.
Or, put unwrapped candies in a large plastic bag (use two bags to prevent tearing), press out the air, seal, and crush with a rolling pin or meat mallet until finely crumbled.
Peppermint Bark Muddy Buddies Storage
- This recipe doubles easily, and you can also make half if needed.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week; it’s best within 3-4 days.
- Freeze: Store leftovers in an airtight container or bag in the freezer for up to 3 months; thaw at room temperature.
Quick Tip
Add some holiday flair to these Peppermint Bark Muddy Buddies with extras like Christmas M&Ms, festive sprinkles, or mini chocolate chips. They also make a great gift—pack them in decorative boxes or tins for a fun holiday treat.
More Peppermint treats
- No-Bake Peppermint Cheesecake with an Oreo® cookie crust
- Peppermint Brownies with a chocolate topping
- Peppermint Snowball Cookies with pecans
- Soft Peppermint Sugar Cookies with peppermint-cream cheese frosting
- Peppermint Bark Brownie Cookies brownie mix cookies
- See the original: Muddy Buddies recipe!
Peppermint Bark Muddy Buddies
Ingredients
- 6 cups Rice Chex cereal or Chocolate Chex
- 1 and 1/2 cups peppermint bark candies coarsely chopped
- 1/2 cup candy canes finely crushed (7 candy canes)
- 2 cups good quality milk chocolate chips
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract (See Note 1)
- 1 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- PREP: Measure out the cereal into a very large bowl and set aside. Unwrap and coarsely chop the peppermint bark candies.
- CRUSH PEPPERMINT: Unwrap the candy canes and add to a powerful miniature blender or food processor. Pulse or chop until candy is very finely crushed into a powder. Set aside.
- CHOCOLATE: In a medium-sized microwave-safe bowl, add the milk chocolate chips and 2 tablespoons coconut oil. Microwave, in bursts of 15 seconds, stirring in between each burst for 15 seconds, or until chocolate is fully melted and smooth. Once melted, stir in the peppermint extract. Pour the melted chocolate over the cereal. Add the crushed peppermint on top. Gently stir to coat the cereal and distribute the peppermint.
- POWDERED SUGAR: Pour powdered sugar into a large (2-gallon) freezer bag. Pour the chocolate-coated cereal into the bag on top of the powdered sugar. Seal the bag (do not squeeze air out of the bag) and shake to coat the cereal in the sugar. Once the cereal is well coated, pour into a large bowl or serving bowl. Mix in the coarsely chopped peppermint bark candies.
Video
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Can you make this ahead? How many
days?
Totally! Just make it, let it fully cool then pop it in an airtight container/bag and freeze until the day before using!
Could i use peppermint oil instead of peppermint extract?
I’ve actually never tried peppermint oil! I’m not sure how it compares to extract, sorry!
Where do you find the peppermint bark?
These were really good! I tried these and your sugar cookie snack mix as gifts for Christmas. I must say I can’t rate them exactly as you made them cuz I didn’t have any peppermint extract or peppermint candies XD I just put in mint M&Ms instead of the peppermint. They tasted really good, but I didn’t coat with powdered sugar well enough and some clumped together. Oh well, it was good enough that I will likely make again for Christmas 2021!!! <3