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Keto Puppy Chow (aka Keto Muddy Buddies)

Whether you call the recipe Puppy Chow, Muddy Buddies, or “that really amazing stuff with peanut butter, chocolate, and powdered sugar,” you will go CRAZY over this Keto Puppy Chow dessert recipe. It has all the incredible flavors of the original recipe with only 3 grams of net carbs per serving!

keto candy chocolate covered keto puppy chow

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Keto Puppy Chow

Prediction: this recipe is going to change your life.

Maybe that sounds a little dramatic, but I am absolutely certain it’s a recipe that is going to become a dietary staple for keto dieters around the world. It is THAT good. When you have a recipe like this in your life, you say to yourself, “Yep, I can do this keto thing.”

I even tested this Keto Candy on a few folks who aren’t on the keto diet. There were a lot of OH MY GODs and various (happy) curse words that I probably shouldn’t repeat on this blog. 😉 The batch I made was gone in about two seconds… and I’ve literally thought about it every day since.

I am sure you figured out from the title that this recipe is a keto copycat version of the oh-so-delicious Muddy Buddies™ / Puppy Chow / Monkey Munch / Muddy Munch / Reindeer Chow (it has so many names!) recipe. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, all you need to know is chocolate, peanut butter, Chex cereal, and powdered sugar. (And rest assured, this is not a dog food recipe!)

overhead view of keto puppy chow spread out on a baking sheet

Obviously, cereal and powdered sugar are a no-no on the keto diet. But don’t worry, friends… I’ve got you covered. I made a version that is low in carbs and is darn close to the original texture. (Personally, I think this version is even better than the “real” thing!)


Why You’ll Love This Keto Puppy Chow Recipe

  • It tastes JUST like the original!
  • It’s ready in just under an hour.
  • It will satisfy your sweets and chocolate cravings all in one serving.

Note: Do NOT feed this recipe to your dogs. It is suitable for humans only!

Ingredients Needed for Puppy Chow Healthy

Ingredient quantities for keto muddy buddies are located in the recipe card at the end of the post.

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How to Make Keto Puppy Chow {Quick Overview}

This is just a quick overview of how to make this low carb puppy chow dessert. For the recipe in detail, scroll to the recipe card at the end of the post.

There are two steps to this recipe: 1) making the keto copycat Chex cereal and then 2) making the actual Keto Muddy Buddies. The cereal doesn’t take long to make, and it’s actually a stellar recipe on its own. Try it in a bowl of unsweetened vanilla almond milk with a bit of stevia for a delicious keto breakfast or snack!

Start by Making the Keto Cereal…

keto puppy chow collage of cereal creation steps

Step #1: Preheat oven. Then combine dry cereal ingredients in a bowl, then add wet cereal ingredients. Mix well. This will be a thick, sticky batter.

Step #2: Spread cereal batter onto a non-stick cookie sheet. I highly recommend using a silicone baking mat on your cookie sheet for best results.

TIP: Try to spread out the batter as thin as possible and as evenly as possible, but it’s not going to be perfect (see the photo above for my imperfect batter thickness). The thinner it is, the crunchier the cereal will be. Trust me when I say you won’t care if it’s not as crunchy as Chex when it’s coated with peanut butter, chocolate, and Swerve powdered “sugar.” 🙂

Step #3:  Put your cookie sheet in the oven for 9-12 minutes.

Step #4: Remove cookie sheet from oven. Carefully flip over your “mat” of cereal and let it cool for a minute or two.

Step #5: Using a sharp knife (or even kitchen shears), cut your cereal mat into thin strips. Then, cut the thin strips into small, Chex-sized pieces.

Step #6: Place your cookie sheet back into the oven and cook for 10 minutes.

Step #7: Remove cookie sheet from the oven and make sure your cereal is cooked enough. Note that it will firm up a bit after it cools down, so don’t overcook (or burn) it. If it needs a bit more time, return it to the oven for a minute or two.

Your cereal is ready! Again, this can be enjoyed as-is. It has a nice sweetness to it and makes for a great breakfast or snack.

Then Make the Keto Muddy Buddies…

keto puppy chow overhead view of final dessert process steps

Step #1: Add the chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter to a large, microwave-safe bowl.

Step #2: Microwave the mixture on high for one minute, then stir in vanilla extract. Continue to stir until the mixture is evenly melted and no lumps remain.

Step #3: Combine mixture and cereal and stir until each piece of cereal is evenly coated.

Step #4: Add the coated cereal to a 1-gallon Ziploc bag.

Step #5: Add Swerve to bag, zip the bag closed, and shake until the cereal has been sufficiently coated with Swerve.

Step #6: Open the bag and place the cereal on a non-stick cookie sheet. Chill the Keto Puppy Chow for at least 15 minutes before serving.

TIP: Swerve dissolves a bit more than regular powdered sugar, so these aren’t as white as the original recipe, but the flavor is 100% spot-on. If you really want that traditional coloring, you could dust a light coating of Swerve on them right before they’re fully set.

Step #7: Dig in and ENJOY!

closeup of keto puppy chow on a white serving platter

For more amazing keto recipes, you could give my keto White Chocolate Mousse or Spinach Chips a try.

Keto Puppy Chow Without Coconut

If you would prefer to make this recipe without coconut, here is the alternative recipe for the cereal:

  • 2 cups almond flour
  • 1 1/8 tsp stevia
  • 2 tbsp butter, melted
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 4 large eggs

Servings in Keto Muddy Buddies

This recipe yields 15 servings, each of which is about 1/3 cup. (For most accurate results, weigh the whole recipe and divide it by 15 to get the perfect serving size.)

side view of pile of keto puppy chow with bite taken out of one piece on top

Each serving is 3g net carbs, as noted below. I assure you that 1/3 cup is plenty — this stuff is so sweet that you don’t need a lot to be satisfied. However, if you find yourself dying for more servings, only 3g net carbs per servings gives you enough wiggle room to have 2 or maybe even 3 servings. No judgment from me. 🙂 As a comparison, regular Puppy Chow is 29g net carbs per serving!

Frequently Asked Questions

How many carbs does Puppy Chow have?

Traditional Puppy Chow contains 29g net carbs per serving. Keto Puppy Chow contains only 3g net carbs per serving!

Why is it called puppy chow?

It’s not known exactly why this popular dessert recipe is called Puppy Chow. It’s commonly known as a Midwestern thing, dating back to at least the 1980s. This article says some places on the internet attribute the recipe to one Elizabeth Cooney, but no one knows who she is.

General Mills created a version of the recipe called Muddy Buddies, which they began marketing en mass in 2010.

What is Puppy Chow made of?

Puppy Chow is traditionally made with:

  • Chex and/or Crispix cereal
  • Peanut butter
  • Chocolate chips
  • Powdered sugar
  • Butter

Nutrition Facts for Keto Muddy Buddies

Per serving (15 servings):

  • 235 calories
  • 20g fat
  • 6g protein
  • 3g net carbs

Keto Desserts

If you enjoy making delicious keto desserts, here are some more very popular favorites:

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I hope you love this Keto Muddy Buddies recipe! If you liked this post, I would so appreciate you giving it a share by using the social sharing icons. THANK YOU!

keto candy chocolate covered keto puppy chow

Keto Puppy Chow

Keto Puppy Chow is a decadent keto treat that is out-of-this world good with a fraction of the net carbs of regular recipe. Also known as Keto Muddy Buddies.
5 from 36 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: Western
Keyword: keto candy, keto dessert, keto puppy chow, puppy chow healthy
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 23 minutes
Total Time: 48 minutes
Servings: 15
Calories: 235kcal

Ingredients

Keto cereal ingredients:

Keto Muddy Buddies ingredients:

Instructions

To make the keto cereal:

  • Preheat oven to 375 F.
  • Combine the almond flour, coconut, and stevia in a bowl.
  • Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix until combined. (The mixture will be thick and sticky.)
  • Spread the mixture non-stick cookie sheet or one covered with a silicone baking mat . Spread it as thinly and evenly as possible, but it doesn't have to be perfect.
  • Bake for 9-12 minutes, until the cereal is cooked through and the edges begin to lightly brown. Remove the cookie sheet from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes.
  • Flip the cereal "mat" over and then cut it into thin strips using a knife or kitchen shears. Then, cut the thin strips into Chex-cereal sized pieces.
  • Put the cookie sheet with the cereal back into the oven for 6-8 minutes, watching the cereal to ensure it doesn’t burn.
  • Remove cereal from oven and place in a bowl to cool.

To make the Keto Puppy Chow:

  • Add the chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter to a large, microwave-safe bowl.
  • Microwave the mixture on high for one minute, then stir in vanilla extract. Continue to stir until the mixture is evenly melted and no lumps remain.
  • Combine mixture and cereal and stir until each piece of cereal is evenly coated.
  • Add the coated cereal to a 1-gallon Ziploc bag.
  • Add Swerve to bag, zip the bag closed, and shake until the cereal is sufficiently coated with Swerve.
  • Open the bag and place the cereal on a non-stick cookie sheet. Chill the cereal for at least 15 minutes before serving.
  • ENJOY! This is the best keto treat you will ever eat. 🙂

Notes

Swerve and net carbs: I didn't include Swerve in the nutrition card because my nutrition card doesn't allow for sugar alcohols. Sugar alcohols have zero impact on blood sugar, so Swerve contains NO net carbs. You can read more about Swerve here.
The reason for the extra chocolate chips and peanut butter is to give the recipe a stronger (aka more delicious) flavor. You can't argue with more chocolate and peanut butter!
Keto Puppy Chow won't be as white as regular Puppy Chow because Swerve dissolves a bit when wet. It will still taste just as sweet as the original! If you really want it to look white, you can give it a quick dusting of additional Swerve right before it fully hardens.
Please do NOT feed this recipe to your dogs! A lot of people call it "puppy chow," but it is not dog food.
Nutrition Facts
Keto Puppy Chow
Amount Per Serving
Calories 235 Calories from Fat 180
% Daily Value*
Fat 20g31%
Saturated Fat 8g50%
Trans Fat 0g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0g
Monounsaturated Fat 0g
Cholesterol 48mg16%
Sodium 63mg3%
Potassium 33mg1%
Carbohydrates 6g2%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 0g0%
Protein 6g12%
Vitamin A 125IU3%
Vitamin C 0mg0%
Calcium 31mg3%
Iron 0.7mg4%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition Disclaimer



Nutrition facts are included as a courtesy only. They are accurate to the best of our knowledge based on the ingredients and brands used, but their accuracy is not guaranteed. If applicable, sugar alcohols have already been removed from the total carb count.

51 Comments

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If you have tried this recipe, please rate it using the stars below. Thank you!
Recipe Rating




  • Sounds good and I can’t wait to try it but I’d take “Puppy Chow” out of the name because some people might think it is a homemade dog treat and chocolate is poisonous to dogs.

    • Hi Dar, Thank you for your feedback! The “Puppy Chow” name is definitely a regional thing. Since publishing this recipe, I’ve discovered that most people have no idea what I’m talking about. 🙂 I swapped the name to Muddy Buddies, although that’s regional as well. Enjoy the recipe!

      • Thanks for the quick reply. Your Pinterest posting still shows Puppy Chow in the recipe name and description, you might want to make sure that gets updated. All your pet followers thank you.

        • 5 stars
          Hi, love that i finally stumbled onto a Puppy Chow keto recipe! However, I despise coconut in all forms. Is there any other ingredient I can sub?

          • Hi Alicia! Yes you can. Here is a coconut-free version of the cereal ingredients:

            2 cups almond flour
            1 1/8 tsp stevia
            2 tbsp butter, melted
            2 tsp vanilla extract
            4 large eggs

            Enjoy!

  • 5 stars
    Do you think there is a substitute for the Macaroon Coconut? Thank you in advance and I hope I can make them without the coconut.

  • 5 stars
    Hi if I want to replace the stevia with more swerve what would the ratio be? Do you know? Great recipe!

  • Oops, I do see the name change. Just one more request. Sorry to be such a pest but would you put something in the description at the top emphasizing that this not for dogs? Thanks again. (Woof, woof from Fangy Wangy.)

    • Hi Dar,

      I really appreciate your feedback. Unfortunately, I have no ability to change Pinterest pins; the pins that were already pinned are out there permanently. I have updated the description on my end for future pins. The good news is anyone visiting the post will see the disclaimers.

      Rest assured, I am not the only one who calls this recipe Puppy Chow. Here are the links to many reputable and well-known food sites that call it that:

      https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/g3764/puppy-chow-recipes/
      https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/puppy-chow-party-mix
      https://www.marthastewart.com/1165951/hazelnut-puppy-chow
      https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/midnight-puppy-chow
      https://food52.com/recipes/39070-salted-dark-chocolate-puppy-chow
      http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/puppy-chow-recipes-76220.aspx

      These are just a few out of hundreds of thousands of results. Hopefully my disclaimers and our discussion will ensure no one makes this for their dog. Thanks for fighting for our furry friends! 🙂

      • 5 stars
        We have always called it puppy chow and we’re in the midwest. Being a dog owner, I would hope other dog owners research any homemade recipes they come across for thier pups. I can’t wait to try this. We made this a lot for school functions. All the kids are adults now … this would be great at family get togethers or movie snacks. Thank you for the recipe!

        • Hi Sarah, Thank you for your feedback! I’m so happy to hear there is another Midwesterner on here who knows the name Puppy Chow. Definitely give it a try when you have a chance… making it and eating it brought back all of the happy memories from my childhood!

          • 5 stars
            Hi Jessica! I am way excited to make this again! How would you recommend storing this?? Airtight container in fridge? Airtight container in the pantry?? How long will it stay good for? Thank you so much!❤️❤️

          • Hi Cristin! You are going to love it! I’ve stored mine both in the fridge and freezer in an airtight container. I’m not exactly sure how long it will last (because my household ate it all before we could find out — hah!), but I kept it for four days in the fridge and two months in the freezer.

          • 5 stars
            Ok Jessica… this recipe is AMAZING! You have a new follower! Thank you so much for this! Growing up this has always been my all time favorite treat and now even better, it’s healthier!!!❤️

            One question though, next time I make this do you think I could just do 4 egg whites instead of 4 eggs?? I mixed it very very well but I have serious sensitive taste buds and could taste the eggs after making it ( I can’t even eat French toast because the same eggy taste🤦🏽‍♀️Lol) Thank you so much!!❤️
            Also, thank you for your response on how to store it best!! You’re absolutely amazing!

    • Hi Marissa,

      Coconut flour is a lot drier and denser than coconut flakes and even almond flour (the potential substitute Kim asked about above), so I’m not sure if I would try using it instead. I’m not comfortable recommending too many big changes before I try it myself.

      Do you have unsweetened coconut flakes? If so, you can process those in the food processor until they’re a bit finer and use them instead.

  • 5 stars
    I am under the impression most people have the judgement making skills to understand this is not a dog food recipe. Do you think hot dogs are made of dogs dar? Ps, very excited to make this! Thank you for the pin

    • Thank you! I had a commenter who was very concerned so I wanted to make sure her concerns were addressed. As someone who grew up in the Midwest, “Puppy Chow” immediately makes me think of this dessert, but I discovered not everyone does. 🙂

    • Hi Allison! Each of the 15 servings is about 1/3 cup. (For most accurate results, weigh the whole recipe and divide it by 15 to get the perfect serving size.) Enjoy!

      • 5 stars
        Ok Jessica… this recipe is AMAZING! You have a new follower! Thank you so much for this! Growing up this has always been my all time favorite treat and now even better, it’s healthier!!!❤️

        One question though, next time I make this do you think I could just do 4 egg whites instead of 4 eggs?? I mixed it very very well but I have serious sensitive taste buds and could taste the eggs after making it ( I can’t even eat French toast because the same eggy taste🤦🏽‍♀️Lol) Thank you so much!!❤️
        Also, thank you for your response on how to store it best!! You’re absolutely amazing!

        • Hi Cristin! You are SO sweet!! Thank you! (I would leave you a bunch of smiley face emojis here but emojis aren’t working on my blog right now… argh!) I’m so happy to hear you liked the recipe!

          You can definitely use egg whites instead of whole eggs. You’ll want to use two egg whites for each whole egg though, so try it with eight egg whites. What a shame you’ll have to make it again… haha! Enjoy!

  • 5 stars
    I would SO hope that anyone old enough to own a dog and to make this recipe would know not to feed this to a dog!

    • Hi McKenzie! They’re processed differently (coconut flour has a lot of the fat and moisture removed, and it’s also less sweet) so you can’t substitute one for the other. If you can find shredded coconut, you can use that instead of macaroon coconut — just process it to a fine texture in a food processor. Enjoy! 🙂

  • 5 stars
    Jessica, these look yummy but I’m having trouble finding 100% cacao chips. Can I substitute 100% cacao powder? If so, how much should I use? Thanks!

    • Hi Barb! 🙂 Unfortunately, this recipe won’t be the same without the chocolate — it needs to be melted to give the recipe the right texture. However, you can also use 100% cacao bars chopped into small pieces. Ghiradelli is the best 100% brand I’ve found (Baker’s is far too bitter). You can also use the Lindt Excellence 90% Cocoa Supreme Dark instead. It has a tiny amount of sugar and will increase the carb count slightly, but it’s an alternative if you can’t find 100%.

  • 5 stars
    Thank you for this amazing recipe!! Absolutely delicious! I am still dumbfounded that anyone could look at the ingredients in this recipe and think it was dog food, lol! At least you have seen that 99.9% of people realize this is a snack food and not a dog treat. Thanks again!!

    • Thank you so much, Christine! 🙂 I’m glad you loved it! The dog food debacle was definitely an interesting one…! 😉

  • Yum, yum yum! I first heard of puppy chow when my son brought some home from school.

    A generous baking friend of his had made some to share. One taste and I was addicted. Thankfully, there was only one bag.

    Ahh, now I can make this delicious treat guilt-free. Thank you for coming up with this delicious recipe. I adore coconut and it’s oh so good for you. 🙂

  • Is there a sub for powdered Swerve? It has a rather metallic taste in the frosting I have used it in. Would the snack mix work just as well without the powdered Swerve/or sugar?

    • Hi Martine, It won’t be quite the same without the powdered Swerve, but still delicious! You can also try powdered Allulose (in the same quantity). You’re likely tasting the erythritol in the Swerve, and allulose is an entirely different type of sweetener.

  • 5 stars
    Making your keto puppy chow brought back so many memories. I haven’t been able to eat this dessert for years. Many thanks!

  • Let me just say that I hate to cook but have a sweet tooth that will not be denied at times. I have a box of Keto chocolate cereal that I am going to try the coating on and see if that will work. That way I use the cereal so I am not wasting money (will not eat on it’s own) and take care of my sweet tooth! I will let you know how it turns out!

  • 5 stars
    I was scared this would taste bad like some other keto recipes, but the recipe is amazing and did not disappoint! I added a tiny pinch of sea salt before tossing the muddy buddies in keto powdered sugar. So good!

Welcome! I’m Jessica.

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