Name: Christmas Muddy Buddies Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 20
Ingredients: 7 cups Chex Cereal (rice or corn); 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips; 1 cup creamy peanut butter; 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract; pinch of salt; 1½ powdered sugar; 1 cup Christmas M&Ms

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This Christmas Muddy Buddies Recipe is the perfect quick and easy treat for the holidays. Always a classic favorite, naturally gluten-free, and ready in minutes!

Christmas Muddy Buddies in a White Bowl with Hot Chocolate in the background

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This is an incredibly easy snack to make for Christmas parties, to give as a holiday food gift, or simply when you’re craving snacky, sweet, and salty food.

Much like my 5 Minute Christmas Crack, this snack mix is perfect to have on hand all through the season.

And just to top it off and make it super Christmasy — hot chocolate is always a good thing.

Closeup view of a bowl of Christmas Muddy Buddies

What I Love About Christmas Muddy Buddies

Ready in 15 minutes
Keeps for a month in the refrigerator (2 weeks room temperature)
Can be frozen for longer storage
It’s just plain delicious!

Muddy Buddies Ingredients on a white background

Ingredients in Christmas Muddy Buddies

Specific ingredient measurements are in the recipe card found at the bottom of this post. Here’s what you’ll need to make Christmas Muddy Buddies:

Chex Cereal (Rice Chex and Corn Chex are gluten-free)
Semisweet chocolate chips
Creamy peanut butter
Vanilla extract
Salt
Powdered sugar
Christmas M&Ms

Peanut Butter Substitutions

Creamy peanut butter is the absolute best option for muddy buddies. Avoid all-natural peanut butter that has oil separation as it will be too oily for the recipe. Chunky peanut butter, though, works well.

Peanut butter substitutions:

Almond butter
Cashew butter
Nutella

Christmas Muddy Buddy Variations

Change the M&M colors to customize the mix for different seasons.
Up the peanut butter flavor by stirring in 1/2 cup each peanut butter chips and milk chocolate chips. Or add 1 cup chocolate-covered peanuts!

How to Make Christmas Muddy Buddies

Gather 2 bowls (1 microwave safe), a gallon-size zip-top bag, and line a baking sheet with wax paper.

Melted Chocolate and peanut butter for Christmas Muddy Buddies

Step 1: Melt the Chocolate

In a medium bowl add the chocolate chips and peanut butter. Microwave in 30-second intervals on 50% power, stirring between each interval until the chocolate has completely melted and is smooth. Stir in the vanilla and pinch of salt.

Melted Chocolate poured over Chex cereal

Step 2: Coat the Cereal

In a large bowl, add the cereal. Pour the melted chocolate peanut butter mixture over the cereal and stir carefully to evenly coat. Place the mixture in the refrigerator and chill for 3 to 4 minutes.

Chocolate coated Chex cereal in zip-top bag with powdered sugar

Step 3: Dust with Powdered Sugar

Add the powdered sugar to a gallon-size zip-top bag and seal. Shake the bag well until all of the cereal is evenly coated with powdered sugar.

Christmas Muddy Buddies drying on a baking sheet

Step 4: Let Dry

Spread the mixture onto a wax-paper-lined baking sheet to cool and set; about 20 to 30 minutes. Stir in Christmas colored (red and green) M&Ms then store in an airtight container to keep crisp.

Muddy Buddies Storing Suggestions

Once the coating is set, you can store muddy buddies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks or refrigerate it for a month.

It can also be frozen for up to 3 months.

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