This 4th of July Chex Mix is the perfect sweet and salty dessert for Independence Day and beyond! Spruce up your classic muddy buddies by adding salty pretzels and sweet patriotic-themed candy for a fun treat!
Whether you call it Chex Mix, Puppy Chow, or Muddy Buddies, this dessert is a classic treat! It might be messy, but I just can’t resist scooping up spoonful after spoonful of this fun treat. I’m not sure if it’s the peanut butter coating or the crunch of the cereal, but something about it is seriously addictive!
SAVE THIS RECIPE FOR PATRIOTIC PUPPY CHOW TO YOUR FAVORITE PINTEREST BOARD!
Why All The Funny Names?
I’m pretty sure the name you use for this treat depends on where you live, or maybe your family traditions. “Puppy Chow” started in the Midwest and is a classic staple at gatherings. It got that name from its resemblance to real dog treats called kibble. Plus, Chex was made by the same company (Purina) that makes dog food!
“Muddy Buddies” is the name General Mills gave to this treat, printing it on cereal boxes when sharing their own recipe for this sugary treat.
Since I have readers that live all over, I decided to use the title Chex Mix, since we are basing our recipe around that cereal. But you’ll see me use all three terms in this post, just for fun!
What do you call it?
Ingredients for 4th of July Chex Mix
You’ll need the following ingredients for this patriotic snack mix:
- Rice Chex cereal
- White chocolate chips
- Creamy peanut butter
- Unsalted butter
- Pure vanilla extract
- Powdered sugar
- Mini pretzels (I used Snyder’s Mini Pretzel Rounds)
- Red, White, and Blue M&Ms
- Red, White, and Blue Mini Swedish Fish
If you have a hard time finding the candy in the store, I linked them to Amazon above and in the recipe card, so you can buy them online!
Be sure to check out the recipe card at the end of the post for a detailed ingredient list and instructions!
How to make 4th of July Chex Mix
This patriotic Chex Mix is really easy to make and doesn’t require any baking at all, making it perfect for summer!
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Place 6 cups of Rice Chex cereal in a large mixing bowl and set aside.
- In a medium microwave-safe bowl, combine 1 cup white chocolate chips, ½ cup creamy peanut butter, and 2 tablespoons unsalted butter. Microwave on high for 30-second intervals, stirring after each interval, until the mixture is completely melted and smooth. Next, stir in 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract.
- Pour the melted chocolate mixture all over the cereal. Gently stir with a spatula until the cereal is evenly coated. Then spread the chocolate-covered cereal on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper to cool, and let the chocolate dry completely.
- In a large bowl, sprinkle the powdered sugar over the coated cereal. Gently toss until the cereal is pretty evenly coated. Alternatively, place the cereal in a Ziploc bag with the powdered sugar and gently shake to coat.
- Add 1 ½ cups mini pretzels, 1 ½ cups M&M’s, and 1 1/2 cups Swedish Fish. Gently mix to distribute evenly. Serve and enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
- Transfer the 4th of July Puppy Chow to a festive serving bowl.
- For a festive touch, serve in individual patriotic cups, so people can just grab and go!
FAQs
What substitutions can I make?
- Cereal: You can swap out the Rice Chex for other crispy cereals like Corn Chex or Crispix cereal.
- Chocolate: I used white chocolate chips for my 4th of July Muddy Buddies to highlight the patriotic colors, but you could use milk chocolate or dark chocolate chips too.
- Peanut Butter: Swap out peanut butter for other nut butters if you need a peanut-free option. I’m partial to sunflower seed butter.
- Candy: Add additional or different red, white and blue treats to your 4th of July snack mix: Mike and Ike Candies, Sour Patch Kids, Jelly Belly Jelly Beans, Peanut M&M’s
How do I store 4th of July Chex Mix?
Store it in an airtight container for 1-2 weeks at room temperature. You can also store it in the fridge if you like it chilled.
Can you freeze Patriotic Puppy Chow?
Yes, freeze it in an airtight container for up to 2 months. You can actually eat it straight from the freezer for a delicious, refreshing snack, but watch those frozen candies and don’t break a tooth! I would leave it out to thaw for a few hours in that case.
More Patriotic Desserts
Need a red, white, and blue-themed dessert to serve your guests or bring to a potluck? Try one of these easy recipes:
- Patriotic Poke Cake
- Patriotic Jello Dessert
- Red, White, and Blue Dream Bars
- Berry Trifle
- 4th of July Strawberries
Pin or print this 4th of July Chex Mix recipe for your next patriotic holiday gathering!
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4th of July Chex Mix
Ingredients
- 6 cups Rice Chex cereal
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 ½ cups mini pretzels I used Snyder's Mini Pretzel Rounds for this recipe.
- 1 ½ cups Red, White, and Blue M&Ms
- 1 ½ cups Red, White and Blue Mini Swedish Fish
Instructions
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Place 6 cups of Rice Chex cereal in a large mixing bowl and set aside.
- In a medium microwave-safe bowl, combine 1 cup whitechocolate chips, ½ cup creamy peanut butter, and 2 tablespoons unsalted butter. Microwave on high for 30-second intervals, stirring after each interval, until the mixture is completely melted and smooth. Stir in 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract.
- Pour the melted chocolate mixture over the Rice Chex cereal. Gently stir with a spatula until the cereal is evenly coated. Spread the chocolate-covered cereal on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper to cool, and let the chocolate dry completely.
- In a large bowl, sprinkle the powdered sugar over the coated cereal. Gently toss until the cereal is pretty evenly coated.
- Add 1 ½ cups mini pretzels, 1 ½ cups M&M's and 1 1/2 cups Swedish Fish. Gently mix to distribute evenly.
- Transfer the 4th of July Puppy Chow to a festive serving bowl or into individual plastic cups, so people can just grab and go.
Notes
- Be gentle when combining the cereal with the chocolate and peanut butter mixture to avoid breaking the cereal. This will help maintain the desired crunchy texture.
- Make sure each piece of cereal is evenly coated with the chocolate mixture.
- Allow the mix to cool completely before adding the powdered sugar. This helps the sugar stick better and keeps the cereal from getting soggy.
- Store this Patriotic Chex Mix in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
- Nutritional value has been calculated for 1/2 cup per person.
- Add additional or different red, white and blue treats to your 4th of July snack mix:
Mike and Ike Candies – not in stock when this was published, but you can use any kind of red, white, and blue candy as a substitute.
Sour Patch Kids
Jelly Belly Jelly Beans
Peanut M&M’s
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