Cake Batter Puppy Chow
This Cake Batter Puppy Chow is a sweet, crunchy snack mix made with Rice Chex cereal, white candy melts, rainbow sprinkles and cake mix. It has all the fun of birthday cake packed into an easy no-bake treat.
Puppy chow (also called muddy buddies) is one of those recipes every kid wants to help make, and this version skips the melted chocolate step entirely. You just toss cereal with melted candy melts, then shake it in a bag with cake mix and sprinkles until every piece is coated. It's a good one for birthday parties, school treat trades or any time you want a fast homemade snack without turning on the oven.
If easy no-bake treats are your thing, try our Halloween Puppy Chow or Christmas Puppy Chow for two more fun ways to dress up a batch for the holidays.
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Ingredients
You only need five simple ingredients to make this colorful snack mix.
See the recipe card below for the exact quantities of each ingredient.
- Rice Chex Cereal: The light, crispy base for the puppy chow.
- White Candy Melts: I use candy melts because they melt smoothly and create a coating that sets nicely around the cereal.
- Rainbow Sprinkles: I like small rainbow nonpareils because they distribute throughout the entire batch. You can easily switch up the sprinkles for different occasions.
- White Cake Mix: Gives the puppy chow its cake batter flavor. Heat treat the dry cake mix and let it cool completely before using.
- Powdered Sugar: Coats the outside and keeps the cereal pieces from sticking together.
Just get out your large mixing bowl, spatula, a resealable bag and a baking sheet for this fun, no bake recipe.
Variations
- Make It Funfetti: Use Funfetti cake mix for even more colorful birthday cake flavor.
- Change the Sprinkles: Match the colors to a birthday party, holiday, baby shower or other celebration.
- Try a Different Cake Mix: Swap the white cake mix for another flavor to create your own variation.
- Add Almond Extract: A very small amount mixed into the melted candy coating can add more bakery-style flavor.
How to Make Cake Batter Puppy Chow
This sweet snack mix comes together in just a few simple steps.
You can heat treat cake mix it before starting the recipe if you're concerned about the raw flour within it. Spread the cake mix in an even layer on a baking sheet and bake at 350F for 5 minutes. Let it cool completely.
In a large bowl add Chex and then melt white candy melts in a microwave safe bowl, using 30 second increments, stirring well in between.
Pour melted chocolate on the Chex, then carefully mix with a spatula until covered as much as you can.
Add in 3 ounces of sprinkles (in batches), I like the rainbow non-peril ones, because they are small and colorful.
Mix as well as you can then transfer to a large resealable bag, then add in cake mix and icing sugar. Add more icing sugar as needed to make sure all the chocolate is covered.
Seal the bag and gently toss it all around to coat, then transfer to a large baking sheet and allow it to set.
Hint: If you heat treat your cake mix, make sure it has returned to room temperature before starting. You do not want it to be warm when adding it to the bag.
Recipe Tips
- Heat Treat the Cake Mix: Dry cake mix contains raw flour, so heat treat it before adding it to the puppy chow.
- Work While the Coating Is Wet: Add the sprinkles before the candy coating sets so they stick to the cereal.
- Fold Gently: Use a rubber spatula and a light hand to avoid crushing the Chex cereal.
- Add Powdered Sugar as Needed: If some of the melted coating is still exposed after shaking, add a little more powdered sugar and toss again.
For another colorful no-bake treat that's easy to customize, our Oreo Bark would fit nicely here.
More No Bake Dessert Recipes
Storage Instructions
- Room Temperature: Once set, store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week, or refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.
- Freezer: Freeze in an airtight container or freezer bag for longer storage. Let it come to room temperature before serving.
Serving Suggestions
- Cookies & Bars: Butter Pecan Cake Mix Cookies, Chocolate Chip Cookie Brownie Bars, Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake, Strawberry Shortcake Cookie Cups, and S'mores Cookies.
- Drinks: Crockpot Hot Chocolate, Caramel Mocha, and Iced Whimsical Latte.
Cake Batter Puppy Chow Recipe FAQs
Dry cake mix contains raw flour, which is not intended to be eaten without cooking. Heat treating the cake mix before using it makes it suitable for a no-bake recipe like puppy chow.
Yes, although I don't recommend it. White chocolate chips may melt thicker and can be a little harder to coat the cereal with evenly. If it is all you have you may want to add a little butter to help thin it out.
Yes, the names are often used interchangeably for a sweet snack mix made with Chex cereal and a powdered sugar coating. Classic puppy chow usually contains chocolate and peanut butter, while this version uses white candy melts and cake mix for a birthday cake twist.
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Cake Batter Puppy Chow
Equipment
- Large Baking Sheet
- Heat-Safe Metal Bowl
- Medium Pot
- Large Resealable Bag
- Measuring Cups
Ingredients
- 8 cups Chex Rice Cereal
- 14 ounces white candy melts
- 3 ounces rainbow sprinkles
- ¾ cup white cake mix
- ½ cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- You can heat treat cake mix it before starting the recipe if you're concerned about the raw flour within it. Spread the cake mix in an even layer on a baking sheet and bake at 350F for 5 minutes. Let it cool completely.
- Add the Chex cereal to a large bowl. Melt the white chocolate in a double boiler, stirring regularly until smooth.
- Pour melted chocolate on the Chex, then carefully mix with a spatula until covered as much as you can.
- Add in 3 ounces of sprinkles (in batches), I like the rainbow non-peril ones, because they are small and colorful.
- Mix as well as you can then transfer to a large resealable bag, then add in cake mix and icing sugar. Add more icing sugar as needed to make sure all the chocolate is covered.
- Seal the bag and gently toss it all around to coat, then transfer to a large baking sheet and allow it to set.
Notes
- Heat Treat the Cake Mix: Dry cake mix contains raw flour, so heat treat it before adding it to the puppy chow.
- Work While the Coating Is Wet: Add the sprinkles before the candy coating sets so they stick to the cereal.
- Fold Gently: Use a rubber spatula and a light hand to avoid crushing the Chex cereal.
- Add Powdered Sugar as Needed: If some of the melted coating is still exposed after shaking, add a little more powdered sugar and toss again.
- Let the Cake Mix Cool: If you heat treat your cake mix, make sure it has returned to room temperature before starting. You do not want it to be warm when adding it to the bag.
- Room Temperature: Once set, store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week, or refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.
- Freezer: Freeze in an airtight container or freezer bag for longer storage. Let it come to room temperature before serving.
Nutrition
I'd be so grateful if you left a rating and review after trying this recipe, it helps me and helps other readers discover it!
This is such a fun recipe, we love making it all year long. We have even used the funfetti cake mix!