Apple Pie Spiced Puppy Chow (Muddy Buddies)

This Apple Pie Spiced Puppy Chow (Muddy Buddies) is a crunchy, sweet fall treat made with Rice Chex cereal, dairy-free white chocolate chips, sunflower seed butter, and coated in an apple pie spiced powdered sugar coating. It’s the perfect gluten-free, nut-free, and dairy-free snack mix for parties, holidays, or all those Fall cozy nights in!

If you’ve ever had classic puppy chow (aka muddy buddies), you already know how dangerously snackable it is. Sweet, crunchy, and totally addictive—it’s the kind of treat you can’t just grab one handful of. But this time, we’re giving it a cozy seasonal upgrade with all the flavors of apple pie, minus the dairy, so everyone can enjoy! 🍎✨

This dairy-free Apple Pie Spiced Puppy Chow takes the traditional recipe you know and love and infuses it with all the warm, spices used to make apple pie. This apple-spiced twist is perfect for fall. Think crunchy Rice Chex cereal coated in a creamy blend of dairy-free white chocolate, sunflower seed butter, and vanilla, tossed with apple pie spice and powdered sugar until every bite is sweet, spiced, and perfectly coated. It’s like the crunchy cousin of apple pie—and trust me, once you start snacking, it’s game over.

Not only is this recipe ridiculously easy to make, but it’s also a total crowd-pleaser. Make a big batch for fall movie nights, Halloween parties, or game-day spreads. You can even portion it into little treat bags for gifting—because who wouldn’t love a bag of spiced sugary goodness?

This puppy chow is totally dairy-free, gluten-free, and nut-free, thanks to the use of sunflower seed butter and dairy-free white chocolate. That means it’s allergy-friendly and safe to share with friends and family— or for school parties and snacks, making sure no one has to miss out on the fun.

Ingredients

Here’s what makes this puppy chow so irresistible:

Rice Chex Cereal – The classic choice for muddy buddies. Its light, crunchy texture holds up perfectly to the coating without getting soggy.

Dairy-Free White Chocolate Chips – Sweet and creamy, these melt down into the perfect coating for the Chex. I used this brand.

Sunflower Seed Butter – Nut-free and dairy-free, this acts as the rich, creamy binder that gives the puppy chow that irresistible flavor while keeping the flavor neutral.

Pure Vanilla Extract – Rounds out the flavor with warm, cozy sweetness.

Apple Pie Spice – The star of the show! This blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cloves, and a touch of ginger, brings that cozy fall apple pie flavor to every crunchy bite.

Powdered Sugar – The final snowy dusting that gives puppy chow its signature sweetness.

💡I don’t like my puppy chow overly sweet, so it’s a fairly light coating of powdered sugar. If you like more, you can add 1/4-1/2 cup more powdered sugar.

Products Used In This Recipe

💡 I used this apple pie spice.

How to Make Dairy-Free Apple Pie Spiced Puppy Chow

Make the apple pie spice powdered sugar – Sift the powdered sugar into a medium bowl. Add the apple pie spice and whisk until the spice is dispersed throughout. 

Melt the coating – In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the dairy-free white chocolate chips and sunflower seed butter. Microwave in 20-30 second intervals, stirring until smooth. Stir in vanilla.

Coat the cereal – Place the Rice Chex cereal in a large mixing bowl. Pour the melted chocolate mixture over the cereal and gently stir until all pieces are evenly coated.

Chill – Chill the mixture for 20-30 minutes before coating in powdered sugar. This helps the powdered sugar to not absorb into the cereal. You don’t want to chill it enough that it’s already hardened, but enough that it’s not still warm from the melting process.

Powdered sugar coating – Add the appie pie spiced powdered sugar to the bowl and fold the chex cereal mixture until it is all coated well with the powdered sugar mixture. You may also use a large zip-top bag or container and shake until everything is well-coated and dusted.

Cool and enjoy – Spread the puppy chow out on a parchment-lined baking sheet, then transfer to the fridge to cool and set for at least 4 hours. Once hardened, transfer to a bowl for snacking or store in an airtight container.

FAQs

What is puppy chow?

Puppy chow (also called muddy buddies) is a sweet snack mix made from Chex cereal coated in melted chocolate, nut or seed butter, and powdered sugar. Despite it’s name, it’s for humans, not dogs! 😆

Can I make this ahead of time?

Yes! Puppy chow stays fresh for up to a week when stored in an airtight container. I like to keep it stored in the fridge for that extra crunch. It also freezes well for up to 3 months.

Can I use another kind of cereal?

Rice Chex is the classic choice, but you could also use Corn Chex, Crispix, or even gluten-free pretzels for a fun twist.

Can I substitute the sunflower seed butter?

Absolutely! I used sunflower seed butter for a neutral taste and to make this recipe nut-free, but you may also use almond butter, cashew butter, or peanut butter.

What if I can’t find apple pie spice?

No problem! You can make your own blend with 3 parts cinnamon, 1 part nutmeg, 1 part allspice, and a pinch of cloves and ginger.

So grab a cozy sweater, put on your favorite fall playlist, and whip up a bowl of this apple pie spice puppy chow. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you when the bowl disappears in record time! 😜

Leave a comment below as well as giving this recipe a five ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating if you make this Apple Pie Spiced Puppy Chow recipe! Tag me on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest if you make it- I’d love to see yours!

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