Pumpkin Spice Puppy Chow
Crispy Chex cereal in a sweet and spicy candy coating, this Pumpkin Spice Puppy Chow is a delicious and easy fall treat made with just 4 ingredients!
Pumpkin Puppy Chow aka “Scarecrow Snack Mix”
Pumpkin spice season officially started this week! Yep, it’s an official thing!
To celebrate, I thought I’d share this new recipe for pumpkin spice puppy chow! Crispy cereal pieces coated in a creamy pumpkin chocolate chip coating — it’s the perfect combination of sweetness and fall spice!
This is one of the easiest snack mix recipes to whip up, with just 4 ingredients and about an hour of total time from start to finish.
Both kids and grown-ups will love this crispy, crunchy, sweet treat!
Make a batch of this Fall Chex Snack Mix for Halloween parties, or just for fun! It’s sure to be a favorite!
What is Puppy Chow?
Also known as “muddy buddies,” puppy chow is a deliciously sweet and crunchy treat made with Chex cereal. The Chex pieces are coated in chocolate (or another type of melted candy) and dusted with powdered sugar.
You can customize your muddy buddies with an almost unlimited range of flavors, especially with all the fun flavored candy chips on the market these days.
We love pumpkin spice chips, so it was a no-brainer to make a fall snack mix with them! (PS- Click here to see the pumpkin spice chicken curry we made using these chips…it sounds a bit strange but it is soooo good!)
However, you can make this recipe year round using orange candy melts and pumpkin pie spice to get the same flavor combo!
Ingredients
For your convenience in making our pumpkin spice muddy buddies, I’ve added clickable ingredient and supply links where possible. Read our disclosure policy here.
- 2 cups orange candy melts
- 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
- 4-5 cups Chex cereal
- 1 cup confectioner’s sugar
Optional Mix-Ins
Kitchen Tools Used
Instructions
To Prep: Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper or non-stick silicone baking mat.
- Place the pumpkin spice chips into a large microwave-safe bowl and heat for 35 seconds. Continue heating in 20 second intervals, stirring in between, until melted and smooth. Stir in the pumpkin pie spice.
- Pour the Chex cereal into the bowl and stir to coat the chex mix completely with the candy coating.
- Place the powdered icing sugar in a gallon size zip-top bag and scoop your coated Chex cereal into the bag. Close the bag and shake well until everything is well-coated in powdered sugar mixture.
- Empty the bag onto your prepared baking sheet and spread out to fill the tray. Let candy coating set for about an hour before packaging or serving.
Video Demo:
Prep Tips
- Substitutions – Use Cinnamon Chex cereal for an extra flavorful treat! You can also substitute pumpkin spice morsels for the orange candy melts and pumpkin pie spice, making this a 3-ingredient recipe. However, the pumpkin spice morsels are a seasonal item and may not be in stores at all times.
- Mix-Ins – Add mellowcreme pumpkin candies to the serving bowl with your muddy buddies to make them look festive for fall. You could also add fall M&Ms candy!
- Storage – Puppy chow does not need to be refrigerated. I recommend storing in an airtight container or large zip-top plastic bag and it should stay good for up to a week. You can also freeze the muddy buddies and keep it in the freezer for up to 2-3 months!
More Puppy Chow Recipes To Try:
- Cupid Crunch (Valentine Puppy Chow)
- Reindeer Food (Christmas Puppy Chow)
- Leprechaun Bait (St. Patrick’s Day Puppy Chow)
- Peppermint Puppy Chow
Pumpkin Spice Puppy Chow Recipe (Printable Copy)
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Pumpkin Spice Puppy Chow
Equipment
- Large Mixing Bowl microwave-safe
- Baking sheet
- Gallon size freezer bag
Ingredients
- 2 cups Orange Candy Melts
- 2 tsp Pumpin Pie Spice
- 4-5 cups Chex cereal
- 1 cup powdered sugar
Optional Candy Mix-Ins
- Mellowcreme Pumpkin Candy optional
- Fall M&Ms optional
Instructions
- To Prep: Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or non-stick silicone baking mat.
- Place the candy melts in a large microwave-safe bowl and heat for 35 seconds. Continue heating in 20 second intervals, stirring in between, until melted and smooth. Stir in pumpkin pie spice.
- Add Chex cereal to the mixing bowl and stir until completely coated with melted pumpkin spice chips.
- Place the powdered sugar in a large ziplock bag and scoop your coated Chex cereal into the bag. Close the bag and shake well until everything is coated in sugar.
- Empty the bag onto your prepared baking sheet and spread out to fill the sheet. Allow candy coating set for about an hour.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Be Sure to Pin Our Pumpkin Pie Muddy Buddies Recipe on Pinterest
More of our favorite pumpkin treats:
- Homemade Fudgy Brownies - May 12, 2025
- 40 Signs of Bullying that Parents Often Miss - May 12, 2025
- Homemade Teriyaki Sauce - May 8, 2025
I love this idea! I’m all in when it comes to pumpkin! Have you considered using chocolate with the pumpkin spice? It is a wonderful flavor combination!