This post may contain affiliate links. View my privacy policy and disclosure policy for more details.
These Lower Fat Muddy Buddies come together in minutes with simple ingredients and one bag. They’re crunchy, sweet, and coated with plenty of chocolate-peanut butter goodness. This version keeps things a little lighter while still giving you all the classic Muddy Buddies flavor.
If you love this, try Puppy Chow for a classic chocolate-peanut butter version, or Rainbow Muddy Buddies for a colorful twist.
Why You’ll Love These Lower Fat Muddy Buddies
Chocolate and peanut butter make this snack hard to resist, and a few simple swaps make it lower in fat than traditional Muddy Buddies. Using powdered peanut butter in place of some of the regular peanut butter cuts back on fat while keeping that familiar peanut butter flavor. The result is still sweet, crunchy, and easy to make for a quick snack.
Ingredient Notes
A few quick notes on the ingredients for these lower fat muddy buddies.
- Rice Chex Cereal: The light, crispy texture makes it perfect for coating with the chocolate-peanut butter mixture.
- Salted Butter: Adds richness and helps create a smooth coating.
- All-Natural Peanut Butter: Adds creaminess and plenty of nutty flavor.
- Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: Melt into a rich, chocolatey coating with just the right amount of sweetness.
- Powdered Peanut Butter: I used PB Fit for extra peanut butter flavor without adding more regular peanut butter.
- Collagen: I used Vital Proteins for an easy protein boost.
- Sugar-Free Powdered Sugar: I used Swerve for that classic sweet, powdery finish.
How to Make Muddy Buddies
Grab a big zip-top bag, and you’re ready to go. The whole process is pretty simple, and the printable recipe card below has the full ingredient list and exact measurements.
Step 1: Add the Cereal
Measure the Chex cereal into a large gallon-size zip-top bag and set it aside.
Step 2: Melt the Chocolate Mixture
Add the butter, peanut butter, and chocolate chips to a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until smooth. Quickly stir in the powdered peanut butter while the mixture is still warm.
Pro Tip: Have the cereal ready before melting the chocolate so you can coat it while the mixture is warm and easy to work with.
Step 3: Coat the Cereal
Pour the chocolate mixture over the cereal. Seal the bag and gently shake until the pieces are evenly coated. Keep shaking for another minute or two until everything looks nicely covered.
Step 4: Add the Finishing Ingredients
Open the bag and add the collagen and sugar-free powdered sugar. Seal it again and shake for about 30 seconds, until everything is coated.
Make-Ahead Tip: Make these ahead and store in an airtight container once completely cooled. They’re an easy snack to have ready when you need something sweet.
Step 5: Serve
Pour the muddy buddies into a serving bowl and dig in!
Tips for Success
- Work quickly after adding the powdered peanut butter. The mixture thickens as it sits, so coat the cereal while it’s still easy to spread.
- Coat evenly. Pour the chocolate mixture over the cereal in a few spots instead of all at once, then shake gently to help distribute it.
- Shake gently at first. This helps coat the cereal without breaking the pieces.
- Let the muddy buddies cool before storing. Sealing them while warm can soften the coating and affect the crunch.
- Use a large bag. The extra room makes it easier to coat everything without crushing the cereal.
What to Serve With Muddy Buddies
Muddy Buddies are sweet and crunchy, so they pair well with drinks and softer desserts that balance out the texture.
- Strawberry Limeade — The bright strawberry and lime flavors add a refreshing contrast to the sweet Muddy Buddies.
- Hot Chocolate — A warm, creamy drink pairs especially well with the chocolate and peanut butter flavors.
- Peanut Butter Blossoms — Soft peanut butter cookies pair well with the crunchy, chocolate-coated cereal.
- Chocolate Chip Cookies — Soft, chewy cookies add a different texture alongside the crunchy Muddy Buddies.
I hope these Lower Fat Muddy Buddies become a go-to snack for you. They’re easy to make, satisfy that chocolate-peanut butter craving, and keep well for snacking later.
Lower Fat Muddy Buddies
If you love the original version of Muddy Buddies (or sometimes called Puppy Chow) then you will love this lower fat, lower carb, higher protein version. While I don’t consider this to be a protein version of muddy buddies, I do add some collagen and powdered peanut butter to add a little extra. It certainly gives you something to snack on that is so yummy and a little healthier than the original which I LOVE.
Ingredients
- 8 cups rice chex cereal 240 grams
- 2 tablespoons salted butter 28 grams
- 2 tablespoons all natural peanut butter 33 grams
- 6 tablespoons semi-sweet chocolate chips 84 grams
- 2 tablespoons powdered peanut butter I used PB Fit, 16 grams
- 2 scoops collagen I used Vital Proteins, 20 grams
- 3/4 cup sugar-free powdered sugar I used swerve, 108 grams
Instructions
-
Measure Chex cereal into a large, gallon-size ziploc bag and set aside.
-
In a microwave safe bowl, add butter, peanut butter and chocolate chips. Microwave in 30 second increments, stirring frequently, until everything is completely melted and smooth. Stir in powdered peanut butter. It will be thick, so work quickly.
-
Pour this mixture over the chex, seal the bag and shake to coat the cereal as evenly as possible. It will take a minute or two, but everything should become pretty sticky and look chocolatey.
-
Open the bag, add in the collagen and sugar free powdered sugar, seal and shake to coat, about 30 seconds.
-
Pour into a serving bowl and enjoy!
Notes
The more accurate macros for 1 serving (1/12th, 44 grams) of this recipe are as follows: 146 calories, 29.7g C/5.3g F/4.2g P.
Nutrition
Calories: 148kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 3gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 200mgPotassium: 90mgFiber: 2gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 400IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 74mgIron: 7mg
More Easy Snack Recipes
If you make this recipe, I would really appreciate it if you would give it a star rating and leave your review in the comments! If you have a picture of your finished dish, post it on Instagram using the hashtag #laurenslatest and tag me @laurens_latest.