This Christmas Puppy Chow is full of peppermint bark, creamy chocolate, and crunchy salty-sweet goodness! It’s so easy to make, you just mix the ingredients together and enjoy. Snack on this holiday treat by the handful all season long – it’s Christmas crack!

a sheet pan full of peppermint bark puppy chow

Why You’ll Love This Christmas Puppy Chow Treat

What a great snack! I’ll never turn down a handful (or many) of puppy chow – one of my favorite variations is my white chocolate Chex mix recipe – so I knew I wanted to whip up a Christmas-inspired treat for the holiday season. It just so happens that my favorite Christmas snack is peppermint bark, so why not combine the two?

It’s so easy to make too! Just combine all of the dry ingredients, pour in the melted chocolate, and then try to resist eating it until it’s cool. There’s chopped peppermint bark, salty pretzels, creamy chocolate, and cereal crunch!

You’ll be enjoying this treat all season long! I call it Christmas crack for a reason!

Ingredients

 chex mix, pretzels, peppermint bark, cheerios, and candy canes

I like to think of this recipe and its ingredient list broken into two parts – dry and wet. Or better yet – dry and chocolate! Check the recipe card below for exact measurements. 

  • Cheerios
  • Rice Chex
  • Corn Chex
  • Small pretzels
  • Peppermint bark – chopped
  • Candy canes – crushed
  • White chocolate
  • Dark chocolate

How to Make Peppermint Bark Puppy Chow

pour the pretzels and chex mix into a bowl

Step 1: Combine Dry Ingredients

In a large bowl, combine the Cheerios, rice Chex, corn Chex, small pretzels, chopped peppermint bark, and crushed candy canes.

Step 2: Melt White Chocolate

In a large glass bowl, melt the white chocolate in 30-second increments in the microwave. You can also melt it via a double boiler on the stove. 

add the chopped candy canes and peppermint bark

Step 3: Pour Chocolate

Pour the melted chocolate over the dry mix and stir everything together until the ingredients are coated.

Step 4: Spread Mix

Spread out the batch evenly on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

pouring melted white chocolate into the bowl to mix everything together until coated

Step 5: Melt Dark Chocolate

In a small glass bowl, melt the dark chocolate in the microwave. Drizzle it on top of the batch evenly. 

Step 6: Dry + Store

Let everything dry for an hour or so and then transfer it to an air-tight container.

a closeup photo of christmas puppy chow with chunks of peppermint bark and chocolate drizzled on top

FAQs

How do I melt chocolate using the double boil method? 

It’s so easy, just start by boiling water. Then, place a glass bowl that is larger than the pot of boiling water on top of the pot. Add the chocolate to the glass bowl and allow it to melt by the heat of the steam coming from below. Simple as that!

Are muddy buddies the same as puppy chow? 

Yes, they’re the same thing with different names based on where you are in the country. The South tends to call this treat muddy buddies. 

How long does this batch of puppy chow last? 

Once it cools, store it in an airtight container at room temp or in the fridge for up to a week. 

Christmas Puppy Chow Variations

The beauty of this Christmas crack recipe is that you can make it completely your own. It has the classic elements of puppy chow, the flavors and textures of peppermint bark, but you can add your favorite mix-ins beyond that! Here are some ideas for you to try:

  • This recipe calls for chopped pretzels, but if you’re a chocolate lover like me you can use chocolate-covered pretzels. 
  • Mix in some tiny marshmallows for added texture and sweetness. 
  • If you’re looking for more peppermint flavor, you can stir in some peppermint chocolate chips once the melted chocolate has cooled but is still sticky. 
  • Same with Andes! They’re such a classic in the peppermint chocolate world and they’d be great chopped up and mixed in this snack. 
  • Like classic puppy chow, you can dust yours with some powdered sugar. I personally think it’s sweet enough with it, but I’d support you!
  • Add a little vanilla extract to the melted chocolate for an added depth of flavor. 
  • Want to get extra chocolately? Some crumbled brownies would be a fun addition to your puppy chow!
a baking sheet with christmas crack on it and a candle, candy canes, and christmas decor placed around it

More Christmas Recipes You’ll Love

peppermint bark puppy chow on a baking sheet with christmas decor and a candle around it

Christmas Puppy Chow With Peppermint Bark

Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time15 minutes
Servings: 10 servings
This Christmas Puppy Chow is full of peppermint bark, creamy chocolate, and crunchy salty-sweet goodness! It’s so easy to make, you just mix the ingredients together and enjoy. Snack on this holiday treat by the handful all season long – it’s Christmas crack!

ingredients
 

  • 3 cups cheerios 
  • 3 cups rice chex 
  • 3 cups corn chex 
  • 2 cups small pretzels 
  • 2 cups chopped peppermint bark 
  • 1 cup crushed candy canes 
  • 24 oz white chocolate 
  • 1 cup dark chocolate 

instructions
 

  • In a large bowl combine cheerios, rice chex, corn chex, small pretzels, chopped peppermint bark, and crushed candy canes. 
  • In a large glass bowl melted the white chocolate in 30 second increments in the microwave, mixing after each addition. Alternatively this can be melted in a double boiler on the stove. 
  • Add the melted chocolate over the cereal and stir together until all the ingredients are coated. 
  • Lay the batch out evenly on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper. 
  • In a small glass bowl melted 1 cup of dark chocolate in the microwave. Drizzle this on the top of the batch evenly. 
  • Let the batch dry for an hour or so and then transfer to an air tight container.
Disclaimer: Nutritional values were calculated using a third-party tool and are provided as an estimation only.
Course: Sweets
Cuisine: American
Keyword: christmas crack, christmas puppy chow, peppermint bark

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peppermint bark puppy chow on a baking sheet with christmas decor and a candle around it
Elizabeth, author of Everyday Elizabeth, drinking at a gathering.

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