The Best Samoas Puppy Chow

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Imagine all the flavors of your favorite Girl Scout cookie—toasty coconut, rich chocolate, buttery caramel—coating crunchy cereal pieces in a wildly addictive snack. That’s exactly what you get with this Samoas Puppy Chow! It’s the perfect mash-up of dessert nostalgia and snack-time ease, whether you’re prepping a party treat or just something to nibble on during a cozy movie night.

This upgraded version of classic puppy chow (aka Muddy Buddies) layers melted chocolate with creamy caramel, sweetened coconut flakes, and a dusting of powdered sugar for a finish that practically melts in your mouth. One bowl is never enough, and once you bring it to a gathering, be ready to hand out the recipe!

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Why You’ll Love This Samoas Puppy Chow

Samoas Puppy Chow is one of those irresistible treats that hits all the right notes: sweet, salty, crunchy, and chewy. It comes together quickly with minimal prep and zero baking required. Plus, it stores well, making it a great option for gifting or make-ahead snacking.

This is also a fun, creative way to use pantry basics like cereal and chocolate chips and turn them into something party-worthy. If you’re a fan of Samoas cookies or just need a no-fuss dessert that pleases a crowd, you’ll fall in love with this snack.

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What Kind of Cereal Should I Use?

Rice Chex or Corn Chex cereal is the go-to choice for puppy chow thanks to their light, crisp texture and hollow pockets that perfectly catch the melted chocolate-caramel coating. You can use a mix of both, or substitute with Crispix for an equally satisfying crunch. Just avoid sweetened or flavored varieties—they can overpower the real stars of this recipe: caramel, chocolate, and coconut.

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Ingredients for the Samoas Puppy Chow

You won’t need anything fancy for this one—just a handful of tried-and-true ingredients that each serve a specific role in the magic:

Chex Cereal: The crispy foundation that holds all the flavor together.

Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: Melted and mixed to form the rich chocolate coating.

Caramel Bits or Soft Caramels: These bring the buttery, chewy caramel layer you expect from a Samoas-style treat.

Powdered Sugar: A sweet finishing touch that also keeps the mix from clumping.

Toasted Shredded Coconut: Adds that signature flavor and a bit of chew to balance the crunch.

Butter: Helps the caramel melt smoothly and brings a richness to the overall coating.

Sea Salt (optional): For those who love a salty-sweet contrast, a sprinkle enhances every bite.

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How To Make the Samoas Puppy Chow

Step 1: Prep Your Ingredients

Measure out all your ingredients first. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and toast your shredded coconut until golden and fragrant—just a few minutes in the oven or a dry pan will do.

Step 2: Melt the Chocolate and Caramel

In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the chocolate chips in 30-second bursts, stirring in between, until smooth. In a separate bowl, melt the caramel bits with butter until creamy.

Step 3: Coat the Cereal

Place the cereal in a large mixing bowl. Pour the melted chocolate over and gently stir to coat. Then drizzle the caramel mixture and toss again until everything is covered.

Step 4: Add the Coconut and Sugar

Sprinkle the toasted coconut into the mix. Transfer everything to a large zip-top bag, add powdered sugar, and shake until every piece is coated.

Step 5: Cool and Store

Spread the puppy chow out on the lined baking sheet to cool completely. Once set, store in an airtight container for up to a week—if it lasts that long!

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How to Serve and Store Samoas Puppy Chow

This snack mix is ready to go as soon as it’s cooled, and it serves 8 to 10 people depending on how generous your portions are. You can portion it into festive jars or bags for gifting, pack it into lunchboxes, or serve it in a big bowl at game night or a potluck.

Store it in a sealed container at room temperature for up to 7 days. For longer storage, refrigerate it—just let it come back to room temp before serving for best texture.

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What to Serve With Samoas Puppy Chow?

Fresh Fruit Platters

Brighten the sweetness with juicy grapes, berries, or sliced apples.

Hot Chocolate or Lattes

Warm drinks pair beautifully with this chocolate-caramel crunch.

Sweet Dips (like cream cheese fruit dip)

Use puppy chow as a topper or scoop it up with a spoonful of dip.

Popcorn Mixes

Add to plain or lightly salted popcorn for a sweet-savory snack bowl.

Mini Cheesecakes

The crunchy contrast pairs well with creamy mini desserts.

Pretzels or Trail Mix

Add it to savory mixes to balance flavor and texture.

Ice Cream Sundaes

Sprinkle it over vanilla or caramel ice cream for extra flair.

Chocolate-Covered Strawberries

Keep the indulgence going with this romantic snack pairing.

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Want More Dessert Snack Ideas?

If you love this Samoas Puppy Chow, you’ll definitely want to check out these irresistible bites:

• Chocolate Raspberry Drip Cake for showstopping layers and ganache.
• Peach Cobbler Crumble Bars for a fruity, buttery bar.
• Whipped Shortbread Cookies Recipe for melt-in-your-mouth classic cookies.
• Magic Lemon Cobbler if you’re craving something tangy and soft.
• Gooey Cinnamon Cream Cheese Muffins for the ultimate cozy bake.

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Save This Pin For Later

📌 Save this recipe to your Pinterest dessert board so you can come back to it any time.

And let me know in the comments how yours turned out. Did you toast the coconut extra dark? Mix in some peanut butter? Or maybe added a hint of sea salt?

I love hearing how others put their twist on it. Questions are welcome too—let’s inspire each other with easy, delicious snack ideas.

Explore beautifully curated health-boosting drinks and more sweet treats on Nora Nosh Recipes and discover your new go-to for feel-good indulgence.

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