Easy Pistachio Puppy Chow (AKA Muddy Buddies)
Pistachio Muddy Buddies provide a burst of nutty goodness and sweet indulgence that’s perfect for your holiday snacking.
Pistachio muddy buddies offer a unique and delicious spin on a beloved classic, making this treat a favorite for those seeking a little extra pizzazz in their snacking experience.
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If you’re anything like me, you’ve got a never-ending love affair with all things munchable, especially during the holiday season.
But let’s be real, who can resist the charm of a bowl of homemade puppy chow (and we’re not talking about dog food!)?
Not me, that’s for sure!
When the holidays roll around, my kitchen turns into a battlefield of sweet treats.
I’m all about convenience, and that’s where this pistachio-infused puppy chow variation comes into play.
This pistachio cereal snack mix has that earthy nutty flavor you love combined with that melt-in-your-mouth sweetness, courtesy of pistachio pudding mix and powdered sugar. T
he recipe comes together quickly and can be kept in an airtight container for up to week (if it lasts that long!).
Whether you’re looking to impress your holiday guests or just want to keep a stash of delicious snacks at arm’s reach during the festive season, this pistachio puppy chow is the recipe for you.
More Pistachio Recipes You’ll Love:
- The Best Pistachio Pudding Dessert Recipes
- Pistachio Pudding Cake
- Pistachio Fluff
- Cranberry Pistachio Bread
- Soft and Chewy Pistachio Pudding Cookies
- Pistachio Whoopie Pies
- Pistachio Ooey Gooey Cake
- No Bake Pistachio Cream Pie
- Holiday Pistachio Bread
- Easy Pistachio Cupcakes
- Pistachio Sheet Cake
- Pistachio Cranberry Cookies
- Pistachio Pudding Cookies with Cherries
- No-Bake Pistachio Cheesecake
- Pistachio Kiss Cookies
Why You’ll Love Pistachio Muddy Buddies
There are so many reasons to fall in love with this snack mix!
- Distinctive Flavor: Pistachio muddy buddies offer a unique and distinctive flavor profile that sets them apart from the traditional version.
- Variety: While the classic muddy buddies are beloved, the pistachio twist provides a refreshing change for those who enjoy exploring new flavors.
- Sophistication: Pistachios lend an element of sophistication to the snack, making it suitable for special occasions where you want to impress with a unique twist on a classic.
- Festive Appeal: Pistachios’ green color and festive appearance make these muddy buddies particularly popular during the holiday season, especially around Christmas St. Patrick’s.
- Customization: Just like traditional muddy buddies, you can customize pistachio muddy buddies with additional mix-ins or variations. Whether it’s dried fruits, holiday M&Ms, other nuts, or a drizzle of dark chocolate, you have plenty of options to experiment with.
- Simplicity: It takes less than 10 minutes to whip up a batch of delicious pistachio puppy chow!
For another flavor option, try this strawberry cheesecake muddy buddies recipe or these banana pudding muddy buddies!
How to Make this Pistachio Puppy Chow Recipe
It’s really easy to whip up a batch of this snack mix.
Ingredients You’ll Need:
- Powdered Sugar
- Instant Pistachio Pudding Mix
- Almond Extract
- Rice Chex Cereal
- White Chocolate Melting Wafers
- Butter
How to Make It:
(Full printable recipe is available below)
Prepare the dry mixture. First, you’ll combine powdered sugar and dry pistachio pudding mix in a gallon-size zip-top bag.
Seal bag and shake to mix. Add almond extract to the bag, then seal and shake again to incorporate.
Melt the chocolate. Next, you’ll combine white chocolate chips and butter. Microwave for 30 seconds, then remove and stir.
Continue microwaving in 15-second increments, just until melted and smooth.
Pour mixture over Chex cereal in the large mixing bowl and gently stir to coat the cereal with the melted chocolate, working quickly before the chocolate hardens.
Coat with the sugar and pudding mixture. Last, you’ll transfer the cereal mixture to the zip-top bag.
Seal bag and shake, coating the cereal with the sugar mixture.
Notes and Adaptations:
- White chocolate chips can be difficult to work with, as they can sometimes seize up and harden when heating. I’ve found using high-quality white chocolate chocolate melting wafers works better than white chocolate chips, along with microwaving for short increments of time.
- For a more intense pistachio flavor, you can decrease the powdered sugar to 1/3 cup and add a second package of instant pistachio pudding mix.
Recommended Equipment:
Pistachio Puppy Chow
Try this pistachio puppy chow for a fun flavor variation on the classic sweet snack mix!
Ingredients
- 2/3 cup powdered sugar
- 3.4-oz box instant pistachio pudding mix
- 1/4 tsp almond extract
- 5 cups rice Chex cereal
- 2 cups white chocolate melting wafers
- 1/4 cup butter, cut into pieces
Instructions
- Place Chex cereal in a large mixing bowl and set aside. Line a work surface or baking sheet with parchment paper or wax paper.
- In a gallon-size zip-top bag, combine powdered sugar and dry pistachio pudding mix. Seal bag and shake to mix.
- Add almond extract to the bag, then seal and shake again to incorporate.
- In a separate medium microwave-safe bowl, combine white chocolate wafers and butter. Microwave for 30 seconds, then remove and stir. Continue microwaving in 15-second increments, just until melted and smooth.
- Pour mixture over Chex cereal in the large mixing bowl and gently stir to coat the cereal with the chocolate, working quickly before the chocolate hardens.
- Transfer the cereal mixture to the zip-top bag. Seal bag and shake, coating the cereal with the sugar mixture.
- Spread cereal mixture out onto lined surface. Allow to cool completely.
Notes
- White chocolate chips can be difficult to work with, as they can sometimes seize up and harden when heating. I've found using high-quality white chocolate melting wafers works best, along with heating for short increments of time. I like the Ghirardelli brand of melting wafers best. You could also use vanilla almond bark, if preferred.
- For a more intense pistachio flavor, you can decrease the powdered sugar to 1/3 cup and add a second package of instant pistachio pudding mix.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
12Serving Size:
1/2 cupAmount Per Serving: Calories: 327Total Fat: 14gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 16mgSodium: 88mgCarbohydrates: 47gFiber: 1gSugar: 25gProtein: 4g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and is not guaranteed for accuracy.
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Struggled with this from start to finish. The white chips never melted with the butter. It just turned into a thick paste. Trying to salvage it we went out and bought more chips thinking we made an error. Nope, same thing, the second attempt we did it on low on the stove top. Exact same problem extremely thick paste that would not melt. The only thing we could do at that point was melt down some white almond bark. $10 wasted on chips and butter. What we ended up with in the end was good but won’t make again.
Hi Wendy! I’m so sorry to hear that–I know how frustrating it is when a recipe doesn’t work out right. White chocolate chips can be very fickle and scorch easier than regular chocolate chips. I’ve updated the recipe with a recommendation to use white chocolate melting wafers, as they are much easier to work with and are my personal preference.