These Keto Chocolate Peanut Butter Muddy Buddies, also known as Keto Puppy Chow, offer a delightful twist on a classic holiday treat, guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser while staying true to your ketogenic lifestyle. This easy keto snack provides a satisfyingly sweet and crunchy experience, mirroring the traditional recipe's appeal without the carb overload.
What are Muddy Buddies?
Traditionally, Muddy Buddies (or Puppy Chow) consist of cereal coated in a melted mixture of chocolate chips, butter, peanut butter, and vanilla extract, then generously dusted with powdered sugar. This keto version recreates that familiar flavor and texture using low-carb alternatives.
Key Ingredients and Substitutions
Here's a breakdown of the ingredients you'll need, along with some helpful substitutions:
- Cereal: Instead of Chex cereal, the recipe uses Catalina Crunch cereal. If you can't find Catalina Crunch, you can use any keto cereal or this 5-Minute Skillet Keto Granola.
- Chocolate: The recipe recommends sugar-free chocolate melting wafers by Bake Believe. Alternatively, you can use sugar-free chocolate chips.
- Peanut Butter: Opt for commercially prepared peanut butter, such as Natural Peanut Butter by Member's Mark. Avoid chunky or all-natural peanut butter with oil separation, as they can make the mixture too oily. Creamy peanut butter is the number one option for muddy buddies. I prefer brands like Jif or Member's Mark.
- Butter: Butter contributes to a more liquid consistency, ensuring the keto cereal is thoroughly coated. Coconut oil or palm shortening can be used as substitutes.
- Vanilla Extract: A touch of vanilla extract enhances the overall flavor profile.
- Protein Powder: Vanilla protein powder (or chocolate or peanut butter!) is used to coat the Keto Chocolate Peanut Butter Muddy Buddies. Pea protein or casein protein are good choices; whey protein powder isn't recommended as it may not coat the mixture as effectively. Naked Nutrition's Vanilla Casein or Vanilla Pea Protein powder are good options.
- Sweetener: A powdered sweetener can be sprinkled on for added sweetness, especially if the protein powder isn't overly sweet. Lakanto has an amazing 1:1 Powdered Sugar alternative that works perfectly and keeps the recipe sugar-free and low carb.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Making Keto Cereal
- Preheat oven to 375 F.
- Combine the almond flour, coconut, and stevia in a bowl.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix until combined. (The mixture will be thick and sticky.)
- Spread the mixture non-stick cookie sheet or one covered with a silicone baking mat . Spread it as thinly and evenly as possible, but it doesn't have to be perfect.
- Bake for 9-12 minutes, until the cereal is cooked through and the edges begin to lightly brown.
- Remove the cookie sheet from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes.
- Flip the cereal "mat" over and then cut it into thin strips using a knife or kitchen shears. Then, cut the thin strips into Chex-cereal sized pieces.
- Put the cookie sheet with the cereal back into the oven for 6-8 minutes, watching the cereal to ensure it doesn’t burn.
- Remove cereal from oven and place in a bowl to cool.
Preparing the Muddy Buddies
- Place the cereal in a large bowl.
- Combine sugar-free chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter in a medium-sized microwave-safe bowl.
- Microwave, uncovered, on high for 30 seconds, then stir. Continue warming the mixture until smooth and completely combined, about 15 seconds longer.
- Microwave the mixture on high for one minute, then stir in vanilla extract. Continue to stir until the mixture is evenly melted and no lumps remain.
- Pour the melted chocolate mixture over the cereal in the large bowl. Gently stir until each piece of cereal is evenly coated.
- Add the coated cereal to a 1-gallon Ziploc bag.
- Add Swerve to bag, zip the bag closed, and shake until the cereal is sufficiently coated with Swerve.
- Open the bag and place the cereal on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Hint: After you have coated these keto chocolate peanut butter muddy buddies with the vanilla protein powder, let the mixture firm slightly. Then, have a taste and add the powdered sweetener.
- Spread the entire mixture out in a single layer and cool it completely.
- Chill the cereal for at least 15 minutes before serving.
Variations and Add-Ins
Even though these sugar-free muddy buddies are delicious as they are, there are many variations you could try.
Keto Puppy Chow Without Cereal
I use crushed pork rinds in place of the cereal to give the muddy buddy snowballs the crunch without the carbs.
Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers
- Place pork rinds between sheets of parchment paper or in a zippered freezer bag and use a mallet or a rolling pin to smash and crush the pork rinds into crumbs.
- In a large mixing bowl add 1 ½ cups smashed pork rinds,⅓ cup almond flour, 2 tablespoons cocoa powder, and ¼ cup powdered sweetener.
- Use a whisk to mix until combined.
- Add 1 cup peanut butter and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract to the mixture and use a larger spoon to combine until a gritty dough forms.
- Place a sheet of parchment paper or a silicone mat on a baking sheet. Use a cookie scoop to form a ball and roll between hands to make a smooth ball. Place on the cookie sheet and repeat.
- Place the baking sheet with the balls into the freezer or the fridge for 20 minutes until firm.
- Add 2 tablespoons of low-carb powdered sweetener to a small bowl and roll each ball into powdered sweetener to coat. Serve.
Tips and Tricks for Success
- Cooling is Crucial: If you do not cool the Muddy Buddies or Puppy Chow and spread them out, the fats from the chocolate can break down the cereal and make it soggy. Make sure to spread the entire mixture out in a single layer and cool it completely.
- Sweetener Considerations: If you don't care for the "cooling" effect that some sweeteners leave on your tongue, using vanilla protein powder can add sweetness without that sensation.
- Melting Chocolate: I heated up the peanut or almond butter in the microwave for 15 seconds just to make mixing a little easier.
- Portioning: I used a one tablespoon-sized cookie scoop to make rolling the dough into balls easier and to get the portion sizes similar.
Serving and Storage
Keto Muddy Buddies are perfect for snacking, family game nights, parties, or road trips. They don't need to be kept cool, making them a convenient on-the-go treat.
Store your Keto Muddy Buddies in a covered container at room temperature.
Nutritional Information
- Serving size: 1/2 cup
- Calories: 160
- Fat: 126
- Cholesterol: 19
- Sodium: 184
- Carbs: 8.8
- Fiber: 4.2
- Sugar: .4
- Protein: 6.7
- Sugar Alcohol: 2.4
- NET CARBS 2.2 per 1/2 cup
Note: Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is accurate to the best of our knowledge based on the ingredients and brands used. However, accuracy is not guaranteed.
Why is it called puppy chow?
It’s not known exactly why this popular dessert recipe is called Puppy Chow. It’s commonly known as a Midwestern thing, dating back to at least the 1980s.
Important Reminder
Please do NOT feed this recipe to your dogs!
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