There’s something about the festive season that calls for sweet treats, and this Christmas Puppy Chow Recipe hits all the right notes. It’s crunchy, chocolaty, a little bit peanut buttery, and speckled with colorful holiday M&M’s that just brighten your snack bowl — perfect for sharing or sneaking bites throughout the day.

A large white bowl is filled with many small, square cereal pieces coated in white powder, giving them a snowy look. Scattered evenly on top and around the cereal are bright red and green candy-coated chocolates, adding colorful spots to the white base. To the right, a smaller white bowl holds more of these red and green chocolates, with some spilling out onto the wood-textured table. At the bottom, a small light wooden scoop is filled with the same red and green candies. A green cloth with white dots lies on the left side under the bowl, and the whole scene rests on a wooden table with light brown grain lines. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Puppy Chow Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Christmas Puppy Chow Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Christmas Puppy Chow Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

This Christmas Puppy Chow Recipe has become a staple in my holiday season because it’s unbelievably simple yet full of those nostalgic flavors we all adore. Every bite feels festive and fun, making it an instant crowd-pleaser every time I bring it to gatherings.

Super Easy: Takes just 10 minutes to whip up, even with a busy holiday schedule.
Perfectly Balanced Flavors: The mix of chocolate, peanut butter, and powdered sugar coats the cereal just right.
Fun & Festive: Holiday M&M’s add a pop of color and a seasonal twist everyone loves.
Great for Gifting: Pack it in clear bags with ribbons – a charming homemade gift idea.

A large white bowl filled with small square cereal pieces covered in white powder with tiny dark specs, mixed with bright red and green candy-coated chocolates scattered evenly on top. Next to the bowl on a wooden surface, there is a small white bowl holding dark chocolate chips and a light wooden spoon resting inside it. In the background, a glass jar of milk is partly visible. The setting is on a wooden surface with a white marbled texture. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient in this Christmas Puppy Chow Recipe plays its part beautifully: the chocolate and peanut butter create a rich coating that sticks well to the Chex cereal, while the confectioners’ sugar adds just the right sweet dusting. The holiday M&M’s bring both festive color and a fun texture contrast.

Flat lay of semi-sweet chocolate chips in a small white ceramic bowl, smooth creamy peanut butter in a small white ceramic bowl, a thick slab of pale yellow butter on a white ceramic plate, a small white ceramic bowl of clear vanilla extract, nine cups of crisp Rice Chex cereal spread neatly on a white ceramic plate, a small white ceramic bowl filled with fine white confectioners sugar, and a handful of colorful holiday M&M’s scattered naturally on a white ceramic plate, each ingredient fresh and natural, balanced symmetrically, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Semi-sweet chocolate chips: Melts smoothly, giving that classic chocolate flavor without being too sweet.
Creamy peanut butter: Adds richness and a salty-sweet depth that balances the chocolate perfectly.
Butter: Helps thin the chocolate-peanut butter mix for an even coating and adds silkiness.
Vanilla extract: A little warm hint that amplifies all the flavors in the mix.
Rice Chex cereal: The crunch base that soaks up flavors without falling apart.
Confectioners sugar: The magic dust that makes the snack irresistibly sweet and powdery.
Holiday M&M’s: Seasonal colors that add festive flair and a different kind of crunch.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

Once I discovered how flexible the Christmas Puppy Chow Recipe is, I started experimenting with little tweaks that really make it feel personalized. Don’t hesitate to adjust the candy or add extra flavors to suit your holiday vibe.

Variation: I love swapping holiday M&M’s for mini peppermint candies when I want a cool mint twist—makes the crunch extra festive.
Nut-Free Option: Replace peanut butter with sunflower seed butter for a safe but still rich alternative for nut allergies.
Extra Chocolatey: Drizzle melted white chocolate over the finished Puppy Chow for a sweet contrast and an elegant look.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Puppy Chow Recipe

Step 1: Melt your chocolate and peanut butter gently

I like to microwave the chocolate chips and peanut butter in 30-second bursts, stirring after every round to avoid burning. The goal is a smooth, silky mixture with no lumps—adding the butter right after helps loosen it up. Don’t forget the vanilla here! It really lifts all the flavors.

Step 2: Coat the Chex cereal carefully

Pour the Chex into the chocolate mixture and gently fold it together. I use a rubber spatula to avoid mashing the cereal pieces. You want it all evenly coated but still crunchy.

Step 3: Shake it up with powdered sugar

Transfer the coated cereal to a large zip-top bag, add the confectioners’ sugar, seal tightly, and shake gently but thoroughly until every bite is dusted. I sometimes split the batch into two bags if that makes shaking easier.

Step 4: Add your festive M&M’s and serve

Pour the sweetened Puppy Chow into a big bowl, sprinkle the holiday M&M’s on top, give it a final gentle stir, and it’s ready! The colorful crunch is what truly makes this a Christmas-ready treat.

Top Tip

From my years of making this Christmas Puppy Chow Recipe, these tips really help you get the perfect texture and flavor every time — avoiding sogginess and uneven coatings.

Microwave in Short Bursts: Never rush melting chocolate and peanut butter; stirring often is key to silky smooth coating.
Gentle Folding: Handle your cereal with care—vigorous stirring breaks up pieces and changes the texture.
Use Large Zip Bags: This makes shaking to coat with powdered sugar so much easier and less messy.
Don’t Skip the Vanilla: It’s a subtle addition but really enhances the overall flavor profile in a way you won’t regret.

How to Serve Christmas Puppy Chow Recipe

Christmas Puppy Chow - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I usually keep garnishes simple—those festive M&M’s are enough for me! Sometimes I toss in a few crushed candy canes for a peppermint crunch or a handful of mini marshmallows for an extra soft texture. They add a fun surprise but aren’t necessary to enjoy the classic flavor.

Side Dishes

Christmas Puppy Chow is great alongside hot cocoa or coffee for a cozy snack break. If you’re serving a holiday dessert spread, I like pairing it with simple sugar cookies or a light fruit salad to balance the sweetness.

Creative Ways to Present

For a party, I like to layer Puppy Chow in clear jars or festive tins, tied with a ribbon. Another fun way is creating mini grab bags for guests to take home or tucking it into little paper cones lined with wax paper for easy snacking during holiday movie nights.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store my leftover Christmas Puppy Chow in an airtight container at room temperature, and it stays fresh and crunchy for about 5 days. For longer freshness, keeping it in the fridge up to a week works great, especially if you like it chilled like I do.

Freezing

Freezing is possible but not my favorite because the coated cereal can lose some of its crispness once thawed. If you decide to freeze it, store it tightly sealed in a freezer bag and thaw at room temperature before serving.

Reheating

Since this is a no-bake treat, you don’t really reheat Puppy Chow. Instead, I suggest just letting it come back to room temperature if it's been refrigerated too long, so the chocolate and peanut butter soften slightly for the best texture.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use a different type of cereal instead of Rice Chex?

You can! However, Rice Chex has a nice neutral flavor and holds up well without getting soggy, which is why it’s a classic choice. If you try another cereal, opt for a sturdy, square shape to get the best coating and crunch.

Is this Christmas Puppy Chow Recipe safe for dogs?

Nope! Despite the name, Puppy Chow is a human snack only because it contains chocolate, peanut butter, and sugar which aren’t dog-friendly. Keep it out of reach of pets.

Can I make this ahead for a holiday party?

Absolutely! This recipe comes together quickly and stores well. You can prepare it a day or two ahead and just add the M&M’s right before serving to keep the color bright and candy crisp.

What if I don’t have confectioners’ sugar?

Confectioners’ sugar is essential for that classic Puppy Chow coating. If you don’t have it, try grinding regular granulated sugar in a food processor to make a fine powder, but confectioners’ sugar works best for an even dusting and texture.

Final Thoughts

I keep coming back to this Christmas Puppy Chow Recipe because it’s like a little bite of holiday happiness—crunchy, sweet, and easy enough to make on a weeknight or holiday afternoon. Whether you’re gifting it, sharing with family, or just treating yourself, this recipe never disappoints. Trust me, you’ll want to keep a batch hidden just for those moments when you need a festive treat break.