Nutella Muddy Buddies
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This recipe for Muddy Buddies (also known as puppy chow) is made without peanut butter. Instead, we’re adding in everyone’s favorite Hazelnut spread, Nutella! It’s easy to make in just 10 minutes with only 6 ingredients.
Nutella Muddy Buddies are naturally gluten free and you can easily cut the recipe in half to make a small batch. This sweet treat is perfect for an afternoon snack, or bag it up and take it to neighbors, friends or parties!
Table of contents
Now the real question is, did you call them muddy buddies or puppy chow as a kid?
I called them muddy buddies, but no matter what you called them, I know I’m not the only one who was totally obsessed with this delicious sweet snack as a kid! It was always a favorite at holiday parties, birthday parties and just a delicious dessert to have around the house.
As an adult I’ve become totally obsessed with Nutella recipes. Let’s take a look at a few of my favorites.
- Nutella Rice Krispie Treats – talk about another classic childhood treat, made even better with Nutella!
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Cups with Nutella – it’s a cookie cup, filled with Nutella, what could be better?
- Nutella Cheesecake Bites – oh hello little bites of goodness!
- Nutella Brookies – it’s a brownie and a cookie IN ONE… with Nutella, come on now!!
I love the delicious hazelnut spread, so of course I had to add it to this classic recipe for muddy buddies to switch up the flavor!
One of the best parts about this recipe (besides how scrumptious it is!) is just how quick and easy it is to make. You only need 6 ingredients, most of which you probably already have in your pantry. And it only takes 10 minutes to make!
Plus you can get the kids involved and let them help toss everything together. I love making this recipe with my nieces! They really enjoy making it, and of course, we all enjoy eating it!
Ingredients
- Chocolate chips – for this recipe, I use semi-sweet chocolate chips. You could also use milk chocolate or dark chocolate chips instead.
- Unsalted butter
- Nutella – or your favorite brand of hazelnut spread. Alternatively, if you want to make traditional muddy buddies, just sub in creamy peanut butter for the Nutella.
- Vanilla extract
- Rice Chex cereal – while rice is the most popular type of Chex cereal used to make muddy buddies, you could also use Wheat Chex, Chocolate Chex, Peanut Butter Chex or Corn Chex instead.
- Powdered sugar
Step by step instructions
- Add the chocolate chips and butter to a small microwaveable bowl. Place in the microwave for 2 minutes.
- Remove from the microwave, stir, then microwave for an additional 30 seconds. Remove from the microwave and stir in the Nutella and vanilla extract.
- Add the Rice Chex cereal to a large bowl and pour the Nutella chocolate mixture on top.
- Toss to coat the cereal in the Nutella chocolate mixture.
- Add powdered sugar to the bowl.
- Use a spatula, or your hands, to toss the muddy buddies in the powdered sugar until they’re evenly coated.
Alternatively, you can add the cereal to a gallon size plastic bag, then add the Nutella chocolate mixture, seal the bag and toss to coat. Add in the powdered sugar and shake the bag until all of the cereal is fully coated in the powdered sugar.
I made this recipe using a 1000 watt microwave. If your microwave has a stronger wattage, microwave the chocolate for 1 minute, then remove and stir. Add 30 seconds until the chocolate fully melts. Continue to add 30 seconds until the butter and chocolate chips melt completely.
Variations and mix-in ideas
- You can mix pretzels or peanuts into muddy buddies for a sweet and salty Chex mix style snack.
- For more sweetness, mix in M&M’s, Reese’s Pieces, sprinkles, peanut butter chips or butterscotch chips.
- Around the holidays, I like to mix in pretzels, red and green M&M’s and mini peanut butter cups to make “Reindeer Chow”.
- You can make cookies and cream muddy buddies by using white chocolate chips instead of semi-sweet, and adding crushed oreos to the mix.
- Add powdered food coloring to the powdered sugar to make them a different color. I used this trick to make Red Velvet Puppy Chow. So festive and perfect for holiday parties!
Frequently asked questions
- How do you melt Nutella? You don’t! On the package of Nutella, it specifically says not to melt Nutella. I made that mistake the first time I made these and unfortunately it makes for a clumpy chocolate hazelnut mess. Over the years, I’ve perfected this Nutella Muddy Buddies recipe and found that if you simply mix the Nutella into the butter and chocolate after they melt together in the microwave, you get a much smoother Nutella chocolate sauce to coat your Rice Chex cereal.
- How long can you store muddy buddies? Sealed in an airtight container, you can store muddy buddies at room temperature for up to 5 days. After 5 days, you can put them in the refrigerator for another 5-7 days.
- Are muddy buddies gluten free? Yes! Rice Chex cereal is gluten-free, which means Muddy Buddies are naturally gluten free, without making any substitutions.
- Can you make them without chocolate chips? Sure, you could also use 1 cup of chopped chocolate or chocolate chunks. You could also melt the butter, then mix it with 1 1/2 cups Nutella and omit the chocolate chips altogether.
- How do you make a small batch of muddy buddies? To make a half batch of this recipe, use 1/2 cup chocolate chips, 2 tablespoons butter, 2 tablespoons Nutella, 1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract, 3 1/2 cups Rice Chex cereal and 3/4 cups powdered sugar. Follow the recipe instructions just the same as you would with a full batch.
More Nutella recipes
If you’re like me and can’t get enough of the hazelnut goodness, be sure to check out these other delicious recipes with Nutella!
Don’t forget to pin this recipe for Nutella Muddy Buddies for later and when you make it, be sure to share a pic on Instagram and tag me @WhitneyBond or use the hashtag #WBRecipes!
Nutella Muddy Buddies
Ingredients
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- ½ cup Nutella hazelnut spread
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 7 cups Rice Chex cereal
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Add the chocolate chips and butter to a medium mixing bowl. Place in the microwave for 2 minutes (using a 1000 watt microwave, see notes below if your microwave has a higher wattage).
- Remove from the microwave, stir, then microwave for an additional 30 seconds.
- Remove from the microwave and stir in the Nutella and vanilla extract.
- Add the Rice Chex cereal to a large bowl and pour the chocolate Nutella mixture on top. Toss to coat.
- Add the powdered sugar to the bowl and toss together until the cereal is fully coated in the sugar.
Video
Notes
- This recipe was made using a 1000 watt microwave. If your microwave has a stronger wattage, microwave the chocolate for 1 minute, then remove and stir. Add 30 seconds if it’s not completely melted. Continue adding 30 seconds until the butter and chocolate chips are both melted.
- Making it in a Ziplock bag: add the cereal to a gallon size plastic bag, then add the Nutella chocolate mixture, seal the bag and toss to coat. Add in the powdered sugar and shake the bag until all of the cereal is fully coated in the powdered sugar.
- Sealed in an airtight container, muddy buddies can be stored at room temperature for up to 5 days. After 5 days, you can put them in the refrigerator for another 5-7 days.
- Muddy Buddies are naturally gluten free, without making any substitutions.
- To make a half batch of this recipe, use 1/2 cup chocolate chips, 2 tablespoons butter, 2 tablespoons Nutella, 1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract, 3 1/2 cups Rice Chex cereal and 3/4 cups powdered sugar. Follow the recipe instructions just the same as you would with a full batch.
Nutrition Facts
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25 Comments on “Nutella Muddy Buddies”
I would recommend heating the chocolate in 30 second intervals as mine scorched entirely after 2 minutes and rendered my entire batch of ingredients unusable. Two minutes was way too long.
Hi Dana, I’m sorry that happened. I have updated the recipe to note that this recipe was made with a 1000 watt microwave. Your microwave probably has a higher wattage, as I’ve made this recipe dozens of times and have never had the chocolate scorched.
Hi there! Just made this for the first time with the nutella and just wanted to give a little hint that might be helpful. I did as instructed by melting only the chocolate chips and the butter, and then adding the nutella afterwards, but it still stiffened up. So I threw a couple tablespoons of coconut oil into the mix and it immediately returned to its former liquidy glory. Hope this helps!
Hi Bridgette, thanks for the great tip! I’ll have to try this out next time I make them!
You had me at Nutella! My kids LOVE this!
Wow this looks incredible, kids are going to love it!
This looks so so good!! Thanks for this!
Ummm yum!!
Excited to try these with Nutella!
WOW…my grandkids would love this as a treat on our picnics this summer. Easy to make, and I know they will find it delicious.
Such a genius idea to use Nutella! This is a favorite recipe around my house!
Just came across this page looking for an idea for Nutella muddy buddies. I’d like to point out that on the jar of Nutella it says not to heat it. I mistakenly did this and it takes away the smoothness and makes it clumpy (hence the cereal not getting coated like in the picture). I’d like to suggest melting the chocolate first and then adding the nutella to it. Yummy stuff.
I would like to second this suggestion. I just followed the instructions to microwave the nutella, chocolate, and vanilla extract. The contents of the bowl is now a hard, chocolate-nutella ball. Fortunately, I have more ingredients to make another batch, but I don’t think there’s anyway to salvage the original round of ingredients.
These look cutre, but, alas, nutella has gluten in it.
Hi Heather, thanks for your comment! According to Nutella’s website the product does not contain any gluten. Do you know what gluten product it contains?
Yay! I had heard that nutella has gluten and the store brand nutella I have does have gluten in it (wheat, specifically). I was bummed when I thought I had to give up nutella. 🙂 Thanks. I’ll have to check it out.
Haha Yay! My brother has celiac’s and I talked to him this morning, he said he has eaten it and was fine, so you should be good to go!
I’ve always wondered what kind of a fortune I could make if I could mass-produce these and put them in supermarkets…it’s such a delicious treat and so addictive.
Chex actually makes bags of Muddy Buddies now and sells them at the Supermarket!! It’s not quite the same as homemade, but if you need a quick fix, they do now exist 😉
Darn, there goes my one brilliant money-making scheme…
Hahaha sorry! Maybe we could package my Nutella Buddies together and sell them 🙂
We have a deal, Ms. Bond.
yumm! I’ve never had muddy buddies before – but they look like a must try!!
these look so nourish 🙂
They are a definite must try! But I warn you, they are totally addictive!!
“Indulge in the heavenly combination of Nutella and muddy buddies for an irresistible sweet treat! 😍🍫 #SnackTimeDelight”