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Muddy Buddies and Rice Krispie treats got married and had the most deliciously irresistible baby ever! Chocolate and peanut butter with gooey marshmallow is the best mash up of all time!
I want to take credit a tiny bit but mostly I want to yell from the rooftops that my own daughter is a genius. A legit genius. Claire was helping me make chex muddy buddies puppy chow one day when she said, “Mom, I think we should try to make these into rice krispies treats.”
And then I dreamt of them, thought of them, salivated over the idea of them and flat out obsessed for almost 2 months before I just couldn’t take it anymore and had no choice but to make them.
And they were glorious.
I mean, hands down one of our new favorite family treat recipes. There’s no going back.
Is it sweet? Yes, but the salty peanut butter and cereal, and additional salt breaks it up. I couldn’t stop eating these and I’m not usually a crazy sweet dessert person!
Ingredients for Muddy Buddies Marshmallow Treats
Most people have probably made muddy buddies, or puppy chow, as I called it growing up. Most people have probably made rice krispie treats. But have you every combined the two?? Here are the ingredients you will need:
Muddy Buddies – Rice Chex Cereal (Corn Chex or Wheat Chex also work), Chocolate Chips, Peanut Butter, Butter, Powdered Sugar
Marshmallow Treats
- Butter
- Vanilla
- Mini Marshmallows
- Sea Salt
Do you have everything on hand already? This recipe is dangerous because I almost always have everything to make them at any given moment.
All the measurements for each ingredient can be found in the recipe card below.
How to Make Muddy Buddies Marshmallow Treats
If you want the quick and simple directions for making these babies, you will make a batch of muddy buddies. Let them cool and set, and then make them all stick together with melted butter and marshmallows. You’re welcome, I just changed your life.
Here are a little more detailed instructions which can also be found in the recipe card at the end of the post:
Have a batch of muddy buddies cooled and ready to go.
- Prepare a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray and foil or parchment.
- Melt the butter, salt and some of the marshmallows on the stove over medium heat or in the microwave. Heat it until everything is melted and smooth.
- Add the vanilla and stir it all together again.
- Pour over the muddy buddies and mix everything together well.
- Add the rest of the marshmallows and press the mixture into your prepared pan.
- Let them cool for a while and cut and serve.
These directions can be found in full detail in the recipe card at the end of this post.
The Best Way to Eat Muddy Buddies?
Mix everything together and eat while warm. My goodness, you will thank me later!! Don’t eat them all though! Save enough to make these marshmallow treats!
How to Store Marshmallow Treats
If I’m just making muddy buddies, I like to keep them in the refrigerator, but in a marshmallow bar form, it’s all about room temperature. They stay gooey and delicious. Store with plastic wrap over the top or with a lid on your dish if you have one.
How Long Will Muddy Buddies Marshmallow Treats Last?
These bars will keep at room temperature for up to 3 days, but they have never lasted past day 2 at our house!
Best of luck buttoning up your jeans but don’t you dare feel bad about it. Dessert is ok!!! It’s ok to just enjoy a meal and treats one night. The next day just go back to healthy eating and leave the sugar for the weekend only. Mmmmmmm, these muddy buddies marshmallow treats are my new obsession!
More No Bake Treats
- Reese’s Rice Krispies Treats
- Snickers Ice Cream Cake
- No Bake Caramel Cheesecake Bars
- Peanut Butter Cheesecake Dip
- Churros Chex Mix
- No Bake Oreo Pie
- Reese’s Krispies
- No Bake S’mores Bars
- Scotcheroos
Muddy Buddies Marshmallow Treats
Ingredients
- 3/4 Cup Peanut Butter
- 3 Tablespoons Butter
- 1 1/2 Cups Chocolate Chips
- 1 12 oz. box Rice Chex Cereal, *see note
- 2 1/2 Cups Powdered Sugar
- 5 Tablespoons Butter
- 1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt, fine grain
- 9 Cups Mini Marshmallows, reserve 1 cup
- 1/4 teaspoon Vanilla
Instructions
- Make the muddy buddies. Melt peanut butter, butter and chocolate together, stirring frequently over medium or use a microwave.1 1/2 Cups Chocolate Chips, 3/4 Cup Peanut Butter, 3 Tablespoons Butter
- Add 3 cups of cereal to a large bowl. Pour 1 cup of your chocolate/peanut butter mixture over the cereal. Repeat with remaining cereal and chocolate to evenly distribute everything.1 12 oz. box Rice Chex Cereal
- Stir until the cereal is evenly coated.
- Let the mixture cool for a bit so it’s not too warm.
- Add 1 cup of powdered sugar. Mix until combined.2 1/2 Cups Powdered Sugar
- Let cool for a few minutes so the powdered sugar has a chance to set.
- Add more powdered sugar 1/4 cup at a time until your cereal is coated to your satisfaction. Let the muddy buddies cool.
- Spray a 9×13-inch pan with non-stick spray and line it with a foil or parchment paper sling. Spray again.
- In a very large microwave-safe bowl, or in a pot on the stove over medium heat, place your butter, salt, and 8 cups of mini marshmallows. Microwave in 30-second increments, or heat, stirring in between, until everything is completely melted and smooth.5 Tablespoons Butter, 1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt, 9 Cups Mini Marshmallows
- Add vanilla and stir again.1/4 teaspoon Vanilla
- Pour in the muddy buddies and mix well.
- Add in the remaining marshmallows while still warm and lightly press into your prepared pan (**see note).
- Let them cool for an hour or two and then cut and serve!
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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These muddy buddy bars are way to sweet for my taste. I even cut way back on the chocolate chips and powdered sugar. The marshmallows provide all the sugar. I even used Fluff instead of marshmallows because the marshmallows had way too many artificial ingredients in them. The Fluff worked great and I didn’t have to use a lot..half of the big container.
Thanks for the feedback Diane! This is a super indulgent treat!
This definitely does NOT take 15 minutes to prep. We tagged teamed it with THREE people and it took over an hour to melt and mix everything. HOW is this done in 15 minutes???
Hello! You’re right, 15 minutes was probably too optimistic. I updated the amount of prep time to more accurately reflect the time to make this tasty treat!
By any chance, have you tried this with actual Rice Krispies? I have some on hand and wondering if that could work, instead of chex?
Hmmmm…I’ve never tried it. I’m not sure it would work too well with just Rice Krispies. You really want a cereal with large pieces to get all coated in the yummy chocolate and peanut butter. That being said, I won’t think it would be bad!
Oh silly! Sorry for the bother…I see you add them later.🤦🏼♀️
Hahahaha…I just responded before seeing this comment. I hope they were delicious!
This is exciting! In the ingredient list you have 10 cups of marshmallows, but in the directions you list 8. Or are you accounting for the fact that I’ve ate enough muddy buddies to decrease it by 2 cups?😂😊
Bahaha…story of my life! The rest of the marshmallow go in at step 5. They stay whole and add another level of chewy goodness!