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Birthday cake puppy chow is a colorful, sweet snack that’s made with boxed cake mix, Rice Chex cereal and white candy coating. It has the classic crunch of traditional muddy buddies, but we put a fun cake batter flavor twist on it and plenty of colorful sprinkles for a festive vibe.
If you’re looking for a quick, minimal effort party treat or movie night snack, this colorful snack mix should be at the top of your list. The cereal is coated with melted candy, then tossed in a mixture of store-bought cake mix, powdered sugar and sprinkles to create that signature coating.
We’re sharing tips to help you get the best results with this recipe. If you don’t need the tips, scroll to the bottom for the full recipe and a printable recipe card.
You’ll love this version of the sweet, no-bake snack mix with a delicious cake batter twist. And it’s a great pick for a birthday party, alongside an Ice Cream Sundae Bar or packaged for a bake sale.
This cake batter puppy chow recipe is quick to make, colorful and easy enough for the kids to help. And it’s a fun idea for special occasions – pair it with other birthday-themed treats to create a full dessert table with festive color and crunch. For a themed holiday version, check out the Grinch Puppy Chow Snack Mix recipe.
More Easy Snack Mixes…
What is Puppy Chow?
Puppy chow, also known as muddy buddies, is a sweet snack mix made with Chex cereal that’s coated in melted chocolate or candy coating and tossed in powdered sugar. Despite the name, it’s meant for people, not pets!
The texture is crunchy and the outside has a soft, sugary coating that clings to each piece. It might look like puppy food but it tastes like a dream.
Birthday Cake Puppy Chow Ingredients Needed
- Vanilla or white cake mix – A 13 to 15-ounce box works well. Cake mix must be heated first to make it safe to eat.
- Powdered sugar – This helps create the sweet outer coating.
- Rainbow sprinkles – Add texture and a fun, festive look.
- Rice Chex cereal – The square shape holds the coating well and stays crisp.
- White candy coating – Melts smoothly and coats the cereal with a sweet shell.
Get the complete ingredients & directions in the recipe card below.
How to Make Puppy Chow with Cake Mix
We’re going to start with heat-treating the cake mix by spreading it out evenly on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet, baking, then letting it cool. We’ve included microwave directions below if you’d rather not use the oven.
Put the cooled, heat-treated cake mix in a large bowl or Ziploc bag and add the powdered sugar plus the sprinkles. Whisk the mixture if using a bowl or shake if using a bag.
Melt the candy coating in the microwave according to package directions and then pour it over the cereal in a mixing bowl.
Combine the coated cereal with the powdered sugar mixture and mix well to combine.
Tips for Making Cake Mix Puppy Chow
- Heat treat the cake mix – Raw flour can carry bacteria so it’s important to complete this step to make it safer to eat. And be sure to let it cool so it doesn’t melt the sugar mixture.
- To heat treat cake mix in the microwave – Heat the mix in 20 second intervals, stirring between each heating cycle, until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
- Toss gently – Stir the cereal carefully after adding the melted coating so the pieces don’t break apart.
- Use a large bag – Make sure your bowl or bag is large enough for the mix to move around and get good coverage.
- Make extra – Make more than you think you’ll need. This always disappears fast!
Recipe Substitutions & Variations
- Different cake flavors – Try yellow, strawberry or funfetti cake mix for a different flavor profile.
- Alternate cereal – Use Corn Chex or Crispix in place of the Rice Chex.
- Change the sprinkles – Match the sprinkle colors to holidays, baby showers or themed parties.
Can I make cake batter puppy chow ahead of time?
You can make it up to a couple of days in advance. To maintain the crispiness of the mix, keep it in an airtight container at room temperature.
What to Serve with Cake Mix Puppy Chow
If you’re making puppy chow for a party, offer some savory snacks for contrast, like my Instant Pot popcorn, air fryer pizza rolls or baked ranch pretzels. This copycat Jarlsberg cheese dip is also delicious paired with your choice of crackers or chips.
If you want to add more sweet treats to the spread, try these brown sugar candied walnuts and chocolate covered cookie dough bites.
How to Store Leftover Puppy Chow Snack Mix
Store your puppy chow in a Ziploc bag or airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. We don’t recommend refrigerating it because the condensation can soften the cereal and make the coating sticky.
Can I freeze puppy chow made with cake mix?
No. Just like refrigerating it, the changes in temperature can affect the texture of the candy coating and cereal.
Cake Batter Puppy Chow FAQs
Can I use white chocolate chips instead of candy coating?
You could, but they can be trickier to melt smoothly in the microwave. I find candy coating the easiest to work with, unless you have a double boiler for melting and then you can use either.
Is it necessary to use sprinkles?
Not at all. The sprinkles are optional and mainly for adding color and a slight crunch. The recipe will still be tasty without them.
Birthday cake puppy chow is one of those treats that’s fun to look at and tastes like a party. And it comes together with very little effort making it a great choice for after-school snacks, treat trays and holidays. Try it once, then make it your own with different colored sprinkles and cake mix flavors.
More Sweet Treat Recipes…
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Birthday Cake Puppy Chow
Ingredients
- 1 box white or vanilla cake mix, 13-15 ounces
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- ¼ cup rainbow colored sprinkles, optional
- 8 cups Rice Chex cereal
- 16 ounces white candy coating
Instructions
Heat treat the cake mix:
- Preheat the oven to 325⁰ F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Transfer the cake mix to the paper-lined sheet pan and spread it out evenly in a level layer from edge to edge.1 box white or vanilla cake mix
- Bake the mix for 7-10 minutes, remove pan from oven and allow to cool completely.
Make the coating:
- After the cake mix has cooled, transfer it to a gallon-sized zip lock bag or large mixing bowl.
- Add the powdered sugar and sprinkles if using.1 cup powdered sugar, ¼ cup rainbow colored sprinkles
- Seal the bag and shake to combine, or whisk to combine if using a bowl.
Coat the cereal:
- Add the Chex cereal to a large mixing bowl.8 cups Rice Chex cereal
- In a medium microwave-safe bowl, heat the candy coating in 20-30 second intervals, stirring after each heating cycle, until it’s smooth.16 ounces white candy coating
- Pour the white candy coating over the cereal and gently toss until it’s evenly coated.
- Use a large spoon to transfer the coated cereal to the powdered sugar mixture.
- Seal the bag and shake well, or gently toss if using a mixing bowl, making sure the cereal is evenly covered.
Notes
- Don’t skip heat treating your cake mix before eating it, as raw flour can harbor bacteria. If preferred, it can be done in the microwave, heating in 20-second intervals, until the mix reaches an internal temperature of 165⁰ F.
- Substitute corn Chex cereal or Crispix for the Rice Chex.
- Change up the sprinkles to customize for birthdays and holidays. Or try a combination of jimmies and nonpareils.
- We used a 14.25 ounce Betty Crocker Super Moist white cake mix but you can use any brand with a similar volume of mix. After shaking the cereal, we ended up with a couple of tablespoons of mix left in the bag.
- You can substitute a different flavor of cake mix like yellow, strawberry or a funfetti-flavored mix.
- Recipe can be easily doubled or tripled for a crowd.
- A serving size = 1 cup, but you can stretch it to 12-16 servings with smaller portions.
- For best taste and crispiness, store leftovers in a zip lock bag or airtight container at room temperature, for 3-5 days. Be sure to keep your storage container airtight to keep any moisture out.
- Don’t store puppy chow in the frig – it can get soggy and funky-tasting.
Nutritional Estimate
Nutritional information is provided as a reference, using an online calculator. We recommend verifying the information independently for accuracy.
