Go Back
alt=""

Brownie Batter Puppy Chow {or Muddy Buddies}

Yield: 16 Cups
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 9 cups Rice Chex cereal, (about 255 grams) which is half of a family-size box
  • 2 cups (340 g) semisweet or bittersweet chocolate chips
  • ½ cup (128 g) creamy peanut butter
  • Pinch of coarse kosher salt
  • 1 ½ cups (213 g) dry brownie mix powder, (see note for substitutions)
  • 4 cups (about 113 g) small pretzels

Instructions 

  • Pour the cereal into a large bowl.
  • In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the chocolate chips and peanut butter. Microwave at 1-minute intervals, stirring inbetween, until the mixture is smooth and creamy (don't overheat). Stir in the salt.
  • Drizzle the chocolate mixture over the cereal and using a flat rubber spatula (this works better than using a thick spoon, which tends to crush the cereal), fold the mixture until the cereal is evenly coated with the warm mixture.
  • Place the dry brownie mix in a large bag and add the chocolate-covered cereal (you may need to do this in batches depending on the size of your bag). Close the bag and shake like your life depends on it until the cereal is coated with the dry mixture.
  • Alternate method: I've also spread half of the dry brownie mix in a large rectangular tupperware, added the cereal mixture, and then sprinkled the rest of the dry mix on top. I add a lid to the tupperware and shake back and forth gently until the cereal is coated. If there are still uncoated pieces when you open the tupperware, toss everything together a couple times with your hands. Discard any dry mix that sits at the bottom of the bag or tupperware.
  • Let the mixture cool completely and add pretzels.
  • This keeps for several days well-covered at room temperature.

Notes

Brownie Mix: I'm not a brownie mix expert since I'm usually whipping up easy homemade brownies for brownie eating, but I like to keep some dry mix on hand for this recipe because it's sooooo delicious.
Substitute: having said that, I've been out of brownie mix a time or two (yes, we make this a lot) and I've used a combination of powdered sugar and cocoa powder that's been whisked together (about 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar + 1/3 cup cocoa powder). You won't get quite that same "brownie batter" taste but it's still delicious.