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Trail mix muddy buddies recipe featuring nutty browned butter cereal clusters with a pinch of smoked sea salt.

Perfect Trail Mix Muddy Buddies Recipe

Rebecca Blumer
A sophisticated twist on the classic puppy chow, this trail mix muddy buddies recipe uses browned butter and smoked salt to create the ultimate sweet and salty snack for any crowd.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Setting time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 12 servings
Calories 385 kcal

Equipment

  • Large rimmed pan
  • Wax paper
  • Extra-large bowl
  • 1-quart microwave-safe bowl
  • 2-gallon resealable plastic bag

Ingredients
 

  • 5 cups Chocolate Chex cereal
  • 4 cups Peanut Butter Chex cereal
  • 2 cups Kraft® JET-PUFFED mini marshmallows from 10-oz bag
  • 1 cup milk chocolate chips from 11.5-oz bag
  • 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 1/4 cup butter softened
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 cups peanut butter candy-dipped pretzels drizzled with milk chocolate from 8.5-oz bag
  • 1 cup Planters® cocktail peanuts from 16-oz container
  • 1 cup holiday-colored candy-coated chocolate candies

Instructions
 

Set up your cooling station

  • Line a large rimmed pan with wax paper to ensure the mixture does not stick while it sets.
  • In an extra-large bowl, combine both types of Chex cereals and the mini marshmallows. Toss gently to distribute the marshmallows evenly.

Melt the coating until silky

  • In a 1-quart microwave-safe bowl, combine the chocolate chips, creamy peanut butter, and butter. Microwave on High for 30 seconds, then stir slowly.
  • Stir in the vanilla extract until fully incorporated into the warm chocolate mixture.

Coat, then “muddy” with powdered sugar

  • Pour the warm chocolate and peanut butter coating over the cereal and marshmallow mixture. Fold gently using two large spoons until every piece is evenly coated.
  • Transfer the coated cereal into a 2-gallon resealable plastic bag. Add the powdered sugar, seal tightly, and shake vigorously until the cereal is snowy white and dry.
  • Spread the mixture onto the prepared pan in a thin layer. Let it cool completely for about 20 minutes until the coating is set and no longer tacky.

Finish the trail mix

  • Place the set muddy cereal into a large serving bowl. Stir in the chocolate-dipped pretzels, cocktail peanuts, and holiday candies. Mix until evenly distributed and store in an airtight container.

Notes

Humidity Tip: On humid days, work quickly and spread the cereal very thin on wax paper to prevent the sugar coating from softening or becoming sticky.
Pro Tip: Allow the chocolate-coated cereal to rest for 2 to 3 minutes before adding it to the bag of powdered sugar. If the coating is too hot, it will melt the sugar into a glaze rather than a powdery finish.
Storage Tip: Keep the mix in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week. If freezing, only freeze the muddy cereal base and add fresh pretzels and candies after thawing to maintain texture.
Nutrition information is estimated based on common ingredients and serving sizes and may vary.

Nutrition

Calories: 385kcalCarbohydrates: 48gProtein: 6gFat: 21gSaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 12mgSodium: 240mgPotassium: 165mgFiber: 2.5gSugar: 32gVitamin A: 4IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 45mgIron: 4.5mg
Keyword chex mix, puppy chow, trail mix muddy buddies
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