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Mint chocolate puppy chow, also known as thin mint muddy buddies, is a fun and festive recipe to make for the holidays. You can whip up mint puppy chow in about ten minutes and you’ll love how sweet, crunchy and tasty it is. You don’t need many ingredients to make it and everyone is going to find this snack irresistible, so you’d better make extra!
This crunchy concoction of mints, chocolate chips, Chex, butter and sugar (plus optional mix-ins) is ideal for the holidays. It’s colorful, appealing and disappears fast!
Looking for more fun and festive treats? Try crinkle Grinch cookies or Christmas mug cake. And pancake nachos for a festive breakfast!
Why You’ll Love It
Easy to make: It only takes about ten minutes to make this muddy buddies snack and you probably already have most of the ingredients for it.
Great for a crowd: Make a big bowl of this is you have friends or family coming over. It’s easy (and probably a good idea) to double or triple the recipe because everyone will love it.
Customizable: You can mix and match what goes into the puppy chow, considering add-ins like creamy peanut butter chips, mini marshmallows, chocolate Chex or corn Chex, and anything else you like.
Mint Chocolate Puppy Chow Mix Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Andes mints: For crunch and a cooling minty flavor.
Chocolate chips: I used semi-sweet chocolate chips.
Salted butter: To help stick the ingredients together.
Rice Chex cereal: A contrasting flavor and texture.
How to Make Chocolate Mint Puppy Chow
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Make the melted chocolate mixture: Put the mints, chocolate chips and butter in a large mixing bowl and microwave in increments until everything is melted.
Add the other ingredients: Fold in the Chex cereal and stir until evenly coated and then add the powdered sugar.
Let the puppy chow mix set: With the lid (or foil) on the bowl, give it a good shake, and then let the puppy chow cool on a sheet of aluminum foil or parchment paper.
The finishing touches: Put the classic muddy buddies mixture in a serving bowl, add any optional mix-ins you want, and then serve the party mix to your hungry guests!
Substitutions and Variations
Andes mints: You can use another kind of mint in place of the Andes mints in this sweet treat, or simply omit them.
Optional add-ins: Include anything from peanut butter chips or raisins to mini marshmallows. Broken up candy canes would be good or perhaps green and red M&M candies or chopped mint cookies.
Chex cereal: Substitute any other cereal instead or mix and match more than one kind.
Serving Suggestions
With festive cocktails: Enjoy this snack with chocolate cake cocktails or Santa’s hat cocktails.
With festive snacks: I love apple caramel pretzel bark and also cranberry pistachio white chocolate bark, and they all pair well together if you want a sweet snack-a-thon! Or, for a contrast, something savory like Cajun shrimp deviled eggs would be good.
How to Store Andes Mint Muddy Buddies
Store: This snack should stay fresh and crunchy for a week or two weeks if kept at room temperature in an airtight container.
Freeze: Don’t freeze this recipe because it will just become soggy.
Top Tips
Get creative: One of the fun things about this recipe is you can add anything you please, and that means any candies, nuts, dried fruits, chocolates, or cereals. You can make it slightly different each time.
Make the sweetness pop: I like to add a little salt to mine, just for a contrast.
Make extra: Don’t underestimate how tasty mint chocolate puppy chow is – you’re going to get through even a double batch quicker than you imagine!
Andes Mint Puppy Chow FAQs
The name puppy chow stuck to this Chex mix recipe because of its resemblance to dog food. The classic muddy buddies recipe was made with either Chex cereal or Crispix cereal, which are both gluten-free as they’re made from rice or corn. The reason this dish is also called muddy buddies is that’s another name referring to pups that get muddy after walking and playing. But don’t worry – this party mix is puppy chow (and muddy buddies) in name only!
The best way to ensure the right texture is to melt the chocolate chips for 30 seconds, stir it and give it ten more seconds, then repeat until it’s melted, stirring well each time. Although the mints melt well, overheating them can mess up the chocolate, and then you’ll have to throw the whole thing out and start over.
Muddy Buddies Puppy Chow Recipe
Mint Chocolate Puppy Chow
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Andes Mints, roughly chopped
- 1 Cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 Tablespoon salted butter
- 7 Cups Rice Chex cereal
- 2 Cups powdered sugar
Optional Mix-Ins:
- mint-flavored cookies, chopped
- Andes mint candies, or mint-flavored baking chunks
- green M&Ms
Instructions
- Place the chopped Andes Mints, semi-sweet chocolate chips, and salted butter in a large, microwave-safe bowl.
- Heat on high in the microwave for 30 seconds and then stir well. If any unmelted chocolate remains, continue heating in 10 to 15 second increments and stirring well until it is smooth and melted. Do not overheat.
- Add the Chex cereal and gently fold it until it is coated with chocolate.
- Sprinkle on ½ of the powdered sugar and shake the bowl as much as possible before adding the other ½ of the powdered sugar.
- Seal the bowl with a lid or wrap it well with aluminum foil, and then shake the bowl to combine the cereal and sugar until uniformly coated. Gently break up any clumps if needed and shake again.
- Spread the muddy buddies out on a large sheet of aluminum foil or parchment paper and allow them to set completely.
- When ready to serve, transfer to a large serving bowl and fold in any optional mix-ins you desire.
Notes
Make the sweetness pop: I like to add a little salt to mine, just for a contrast.
Make extra: Don’t underestimate how tasty mint chocolate puppy chow is – you’re going to get through even a double batch quicker than you imagine!
Nutrition
This delicious chocolate mint and Chex cereal party mix is perfect for any party and is one of the best sweet snacks you can make. It’s quick and easy to prepare and you can mix and match what you put into it for contrasting flavors and textures. This unusual twist on muddy buddy recipes boasts chocolate, mint and cereal, giving it plenty of fun, festive flair. Whether Christmas, St. Patrick’s Day or any day, they are a delicious treat to try.
Other Recipes to Try
- Transform your snacking game with Homemade Mini Pizza Bagel Bites.
- These Frosted Lucky Charms Cookies are a fun and whimsical treat!
- Chocolate Pancake Spaghetti is a surprising, sweet twist on a traditional dish.
- Whip up a batch of Easy Reindeer Cupcakes for a festive dessert option.
- Nut Brittle is a wonderful festive treat you’re sure to enjoy!
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve made this! The mint and chocolate combo never gets old.
Mint chocolate puppy chow was so fun to make! Crunchy, sweet, and totally addictive!
This was a total hit with our guests! Excited to make this again. 🙂
Mint and chocolate will go down as one of the best classic flavor combos! So good!