Popcorn Puppy Chow (or Muddy Buddy Popcorn) takes your favorite chocolate-peanut butter snack to the next level by swapping cereal for popcorn!
Popcorn Puppy Chow
Switching the usual cereal for popcorn is a fun change to classic Muddy Buddies. And the chocolate, peanut butter, and powdered sugar coating make this popcorn the absolute best treat!
If you’re into fun popcorn flavors like cinnamon roll or chocolate, you’re going to love this recipe!
Quick Tip
The name “Puppy Chow” comes because it looks a bit like dog food. But don’t feed this to your pups—it’s just for humans!
Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make Popcorn Puppy Chow:
- Popcorn: Use plain or lightly salted popcorn; remove any unpopped kernels.
- Peanut Butter: Use creamy for easy coating; skip natural as it can make the treat oily.
- Chocolate Chips: Semi-sweet is best, but milk or dark chocolate works too!
- Butter: Adds smoothness and helps blend everything together nicely.
- Salt: Just a pinch adds flavor, but skip if your popcorn is salted.
- Powdered Sugar: Shake well to make sure all of the popcorn is well coated.
How To Make Popcorn Puppy Chow
- Pop Popcorn: Cool and remove unpopped kernels.
- Melt Mix: Microwave peanut butter, chocolate, butter, and salt until smooth.
- Coat: Pour over popcorn and stir gently.
Add Sugar: Shake with powdered sugar in a large bag for plenty of room to coat evenly. - Chill: Freeze briefly and enjoy—or eat it straight from the freezer (my favorite!)
Recipe Tips
Here are a few tips for making the best Popcorn Puppy Chow:
- Use Fresh Popcorn: Pop right before making for the best crunch.
- Mix Gently: Fold the popcorn carefully to avoid crushing.
- Use a Large Bowl: When mixing, use the largest bowl you have—more space makes it easier to coat without crushing the popcorn.
- Work Fast: Coat quickly before the chocolate mix sets.
- Layer the Sugar: Shake on powdered sugar in small amounts for even coating.
- Add Extras Last: Add candies or marshmallows after the sugar to keep them from melting.
Change Things Up
Here are some fun ways to make your popcorn puppy chow unique:
- Holidays: Add colored chocolate candies and a bag topper (here are some for Easter, Valentine’s, Halloween, and Christmas).
- Birthdays: Add in some birthday sprinkles.
- Sports Events: Use candies or sprinkles in your team’s colors.
- Movie Night: Add mini marshmallows, chocolate chips, and other small candies for a fun movie snack.
Storage
Put the coated popcorn in an airtight container or freezer bag. Keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. Enjoy straight from the freezer for a delicious crisp treat!
More Delicious Desserts:
- Popcorn Snack Mix with pretzels and white chocolate
- Oreo Balls with a chocolate coating
- Pop-Tart Cookies with a brown sugar filling
- Cake Mix Cupcakes using pudding mix
- Turtle Candy with only 3 ingredients!
Popcorn Puppy Chow
Equipment
- Large bowl
- Resealable plastic bag 1 or 2-gallons
Ingredients
- 8 cups plain popped popcorn see note 1
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1-1/2 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Pop popcorn and let it cool. Remove any unpopped kernels and place 8 cups of popcorn into a large bowl. (The bigger the bowl, the easier to mix!)
- In a separate large, microwave-safe bowl, combine peanut butter, chocolate chips, butter, and salt. Microwave in 15-second bursts, stirring well between each, until the mixture is fully melted and smooth.
- Pour the melted mixture over the popcorn and gently stir to coat evenly, taking care not to crush it. Ensure all popcorn is evenly and well-coated.
- Transfer half the coated popcorn to a 1 or 2-gallon-sized resealable bag, add half the powdered sugar, seal, and shake until coated. Repeat with the remaining popcorn and powdered sugar, shaking until all popcorn is well coated.
- Pop the coated popcorn in the freezer—I love eating it straight from the freezer for extra crispness! At room temperature, the popcorn will be softer.
Video
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I’ve totally never tried muddy buddies but you make them looks SO GOOD! You should totally come out with a book on them!
I love all of these! PINNING!
Jaw dropped. This looks amazing.
I had to stop making muddy buddies at home because I just cannot control myself around it!! haha I blame college – we didn’t have a kitchen so the only dessert we ever made was muddy buddies!
Love puppy chow 🙂
I’m dying because I can eat muddy buddies like mad. Gone in an instant! Love this recipe!
Oh wow, these puppy chow popcorn looks AMAZING! Once I start eating puppy chow, I can’t stop! That’s ok though, right? 🙂
Whenever I see this stuff at parties, I gravitate toward it like a magnet! This puppy chow popcorn looks SO irresistible, Chelsea! I’ve got to finally try making it for myself… and only myself. Hehe.
This looks fab!
Have a beautiful Wednesday Chelsea!
Oh man…how do you live in the same house as these!! I would just sit and eat them all day.