For a special patriotic treat, put together a batch of 4th of July Muddy Buddies! Pair sweet and indulgent white chocolate with light and crispy Chex cereal for an amazing snack.
With powdered sugar and festive colored M&M's, this is ideal for picnics, BBQs, parties, and more! This decadent finger food will quickly become your go-to recipe for any patriotic holiday.
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🩵 About This Recipe
Looking for a fun and festive 4th of July snack? This amazing Chex cereal muddy buddies snack mix is a fun and exciting dessert that's made with crispy cereal and delicious candy pieces!
The cereal is coated in festive colors and finished with powdered sugar, and the mix also features patriotic colored M&Ms for chocolatey flavor and even more patriotic flair. You'll love serving this delicious dessert at picnics, barbecues, or just for a fun summer treat.
For even more delicious recipes that feature cereal, try my Chocolate Crunch Cookies or these Whole Wheat Waffles with Raspberries and Chocolate Krispies!
🧂 Gather Your Ingredients
- Rice Chex - this light and crispy cereal is perfect as a base for a sweet and delicious snack mix.
- candy melts - you'll need red and blue candy melts for the classic patriotic color combo.
- powdered sugar - adds sweetness and creates the classic sugared surface for this 4th of July snack.
🔪 Let's Make 4th of July Muddy Buddies!
(Or click here to jump right to the recipe card with measurements!)
Melt Red Candy Melts
In a large bowl, combine cereal with melted red candy melts.
Coat in Sugar
Toss cereal in half the powdered sugar until fully coated.
Blue Candy Melts
Repeat the process with the other half of the cereal and blue candy.
Coat in Sugar
Toss in powdered sugar until coated.
Combine
Spread out the cereal on a baking sheet and set for 10 minutes, then toss with the M&Ms and serve!
💡 Expert Tips and Tricks
- Be sure to have the powdered sugar ready so you can properly coat the cereal before the candy melts set up.
- Use rubber gloves and/or silicon spatulas to eliminate mess when you're mixing up the candy-coated cereal.
- Try to spread out the cereal in a single, even layer to prevent it from sticking together and help it set faster.
- Make sure the cereal and candy have cooled completely before mixing with the M&Ms to prevent melting.
❔ FAQs
If you're serving this 4th of July Chex mix on a hot or humid day, it's natural that the candy melts and M&Ms might get a little melty. Be sure to properly coat the cereal in powdered sugar to create a barrier to prevent the candy from melting.
I prefer to use Chex cereal, and another kind of like wheat Chex or corn Chex would also work. In a pinch, you could also use something like Cheerios or Crispix for a similar result.
Not quite, though powdered sugar is basically just another form of granulated sugar. Regular sugar is coarser, but powdered sugar is a much lighter and finer texture and makes for a great coating for this Chex cereal muddy buddies recipe.
📝 Substitutions and Variations
- Add festive sprinkles instead of (or in addition to) the M&Ms for more color.
- Toss in some mini pretzels or peanuts for additional crunch and salty flavor.
- This can easily be altered for other holidays by using different colored candy melts and M&Ms.
Kristin's Kitchen Tip
Be sure to stir the candy melts every 30 seconds or so while melting them to prevent scorching or clumping!
🥡 Storage
Store your 4th of July Chex mix in an airtight container at room temp for 5 days or so.
I don't recommend freezing or refrigerating, as this will cause the cereal to become soggy or soft.
Keep It Handy
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🍴 How To Serve This Dish
Serve in a large bowl at parties or pack into festive cellophane bag to make individual treats. This is also a great treat to serve at movie nights or while watching fireworks during the summer!
😋 More Sweet Snack Recipes You'll Love
- Sugared Peanuts - Combine sweet and salty with a simple peanut snack that only requires a couple ingredients!
- Microwave S'mores - No campfire required to make these nostalgic and indulgent bite-sized s'mores treats.
- Elf Nibbles - This snack mix is themed for Christmas and the winter holidays, but it can easily be altered for any occasion.
- Homemade Fig Newtons - Make these soft and chewy cookies from Dessert for Two and enjoy a fruity and delicious classic!
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Chex Cereal Muddy Buddies
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📋 Recipe Card
4th of July Muddy Buddies
Ingredients
- 4 cups Rice Chex cereal, divided
- 1 cup red candy melts
- 1 cup powdered sugar, divided
- 1 cup blue candy melts
- ⅔ cup patriotic M&Ms
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- Place 2 cups of the Chex in a medium mixing bowl. Place the red candy melts in a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 2 minutes, stopping every 30 seconds to stir. Once the candy melts are completely melted, drizzle them over the top of the Chex cereal and gently mix until the cereal is fully coated.4 cups Rice Chex cereal, divided, 1 cup red candy melts
- Sprinkle ¼ cup powdered sugar over the coated cereal while it's still wet, gently toss the cereal a bit, then add another ¼ cup powdered sugar and toss again until the cereal is well-coated.1 cup powdered sugar, divided
- Repeat steps 2 and 3 for the blue candy melts.1 cup blue candy melts
- Place the muddy buddies on the prepared baking sheet and roughly spread them out to set (this doesn't have to be flat or perfect). Allow the muddy buddies to set on the pan for 10 minutes.
- Place the muddy buddies in a serving bowl and toss in the M&Ms.⅔ cup patriotic M&Ms
Notes
Prep Tips:
- Stir the candy melts every 30 seconds while microwaving to help them melt smoothly without scorching.
- Work quickly when coating the cereal so the powdered sugar sticks well before the candy coating sets.
- Rubber gloves or silicone spatulas make tossing much less messy.
- Spread the muddy buddies out on the baking sheet so they cool and set faster without clumping together too much.
- Let the coated cereal cool completely before adding the M&Ms to help prevent melting.
Variations:
- You can swap the patriotic M&Ms for color-coordinated sprinkles.
- Add mini pretzels or peanuts for extra crunch and salty contrast.
- Make this recipe for other holidays simply by changing the candy colors and mix-ins.
Serving Suggestions:
- Serve in a large bowl for parties, cookouts, and holiday gatherings.
- Package into treat bags or jars for festive edible gifts.
- Great for snacking during fireworks or movie nights.
Storage:
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- Avoid refrigeration, which can make the cereal lose some crunch.
- Freezing is not recommended.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate. The nutritional values for your final dish may vary based on measuring differences and products used.
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