1-Gathering your supplies: Gathering your supplies is the first step to making Puppy Chow Muddy Buddies. Begin by measuring out 8 cups of rice cereal or a mix of rice and corn cereal into a large bowl. This forms the crunchy foundation of your snack, so make sure you use a gentle hand to avoid breaking the pieces.

2-Combine chocolate, peanut butter, and butter: Next, in a microwave-safe bowl, combine 2 cups of chocolate chips, 1 1/2 cups of creamy peanut butter, and 3/4 cup of butter. Heat this mixture in 30-second intervals, stirring each time until it’s smooth and fully melted. Keep an eye on it to prevent any burning, which keeps the flavor just right for your Puppy Chow Muddy Buddies.

3-Add vanilla and coat cereal: Stir in 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract to the warm mixture for a boost of flavor. Then, pour this over the cereal and fold it gently to coat everything evenly. Transfer the coated cereal to a large resealable bag, add 4 tablespoons of powdered sugar, and shake well.

4-Cool and set: Spread the mixture on parchment paper to cool and set. For variations, you can swap ingredients to make it vegan or gluten-free. Here’s a simple table to compare standard and adapted ingredients for your Puppy Chow Muddy Buddies: