Indulgent Salted Caramel Muddy Buddies Recipe

Sweet & Salty Delight: Indulgent Salted Caramel Muddy Buddies Recipe

Chocolate lovers rejoice as this addictive salted caramel muddy buddies recipe promises a delightful twist on the classic snack.

Sweet, salty sensations dance across your palate with every crunchy bite.

Crisp Chex cereal gets coated in rich caramel and chocolate, creating an irresistible treat that vanishes in moments.

The perfect balance of flavors turns this simple snack into a crowd-pleasing sensation.

Each handful delivers a decadent mix of sweet and salty that will keep everyone coming back for more.

No gathering or movie night is complete without these irresistible morsels scattered across the table.

Prepare to be the snack hero at your next get-together with this mouthwatering muddy buddies creation.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Calories: 288 kcal

Servings: 12

What’s in Salted Caramel Muddy Buddies You’ll Love

For Base:
  • Rice Chex Cereal: Crispy foundation that creates the perfect crunchy texture and absorbs the delightful caramel coating wonderfully.
For Coating Mix:
  • Chocolate Chips, Butterscotch Chips: Melt into a smooth, rich sauce that clings to every cereal piece with decadent sweetness.
  • Butter: Adds luxurious richness and helps create a silky smooth coating that binds all flavors together.
For Finishing Touch:
  • Powdered Sugar: Creates a magical snowy dusting that adds a sweet finish and prevents sticky clumping.
  • Sea Salt: Sprinkles a sophisticated flavor contrast that elevates the entire treat's taste profile and balances the sweetness.

Tools for Shaking Up Salted Caramel Muddy Buddies

  • Large mixing bowl: Spacious container for mixing cereal and coatings.
  • Baking sheet: Flat pan for cooling and spreading Muddy Buddies.
  • Parchment paper: Non-stick surface to prevent sticking and make cleanup easy.
  • Measuring cups: Precise tools for accurate ingredient amounts.
  • Measuring spoons: Small utensils for measuring salt and other seasonings.
  • Spatula or wooden spoon: Handy for stirring and coating cereal evenly.

How to Mix Salted Caramel Muddy Buddies with Perfection

  • Prepare Cereal Base

Pour Rice Chex into a spacious mixing bowl, creating a golden canvas for your sweet adventure.

  • Melt Chocolate Magic

Gently warm chocolate chips and butter in a microwave-safe bowl, stirring every 30 seconds until smooth and glossy.

  • Create Caramel Drizzle

Stir brown sugar, heavy cream, and salt in a saucepan over medium heat, transforming ordinary ingredients into a luscious caramel sauce.

  • Combine and Coat

Pour the molten chocolate and caramel over the cereal, folding gently to ensure every crispy morsel gets a delicious embrace.

  • Dust with Sweetness

Sprinkle powdered sugar generously over the coated cereal, shaking the bowl to create a delightful, snow-like covering.

  • Cool and Crunch

Spread the mixture on the prepared baking sheet, letting it cool and crisp up into irresistible bite-sized treats.

  • Store and Enjoy

Transfer the Muddy Buddies to an airtight container, ready to be devoured as a quick snack or shared with lucky friends.

Sweet Ideas to Remix Your Muddy Buddy Batches

  • Caramel Crunch Magic: Gently toss the cereal to ensure every piece gets perfectly coated without breaking delicate Rice Chex squares.
  • Make-Ahead Meal Prep: Store these sweet treats in an airtight container for up to 5 days, keeping them crisp and fresh at room temperature.
  • Dietary Swap Options: Replace regular chocolate with dairy-free chocolate chips for a vegan-friendly version, and use gluten-free Chex for a celiac-safe snack.
  • Flavor Adventure Twists: Experiment with different spices like cinnamon or sea salt sprinkles to create unique flavor profiles that'll surprise your taste buds.
  • Kid-Friendly Cooking Hack: Let children help with mixing and coating steps, turning this recipe into a fun family bonding activity that creates delicious memories.

Serve These Snacks in Bowls or Bags

  • Caramel Crunch Party Platter: Serve these sweet treats on a decorative platter with small individual serving cups, perfect for game nights or movie marathons with friends.
  • Dessert Table Showstopper: Sprinkle extra sea salt on top and arrange the Muddy Buddies in elegant glass jars or clear containers for a stunning visual display at birthday parties or potlucks.
  • Coffee Companion Delight: Pair these crunchy treats with a hot cappuccino or iced latte for a decadent afternoon snack that combines rich caramel flavors with your favorite coffee beverage.
  • Gift-Worthy Packaging: Package the Muddy Buddies in cute cellophane bags tied with ribbons, creating adorable homemade gifts for teachers, neighbors, or holiday gatherings.

Store Salted Caramel Muddy Buddies

  • Smart Portioning: Divide Muddy Buddies into individual snack-sized containers for easy grab-and-go treats during the week, perfect for lunchboxes or afternoon cravings.
  • Refrigeration Strategy: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, keeping the mix crispy and preventing moisture buildup that could soften the cereal.
  • Freezing Hack: Layer Muddy Buddies between wax paper in a freezer-safe container to maintain freshness for up to 3 weeks, allowing you to prepare larger batches in advance.
  • Temperature Tip: Keep these sweet bites away from direct sunlight or warm areas to prevent caramel from melting and maintain the delightful crunchy texture that makes this snack irresistible.
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Indulgent Salted Caramel Muddy Buddies Recipe

Indulgent Salted Caramel Muddy Buddies Recipe


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4.6 from 39 reviews

  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 13 1x

Description

Salted caramel muddy buddies offer a delightful twist on classic Chex mix snacks. Chocolate, caramel, and sea salt create an irresistible treat you cannot stop munching.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 9 cups (270 g) rice chex cereal
  • 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
  • 2 cups (250 g) powdered sugar
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) water
  • ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream, warmed
  • ¼ cup (60 g) unsalted butter, cubed
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp sea salt (plus extra for sprinkling)

Instructions

  1. Prepare Base: Position Rice Chex cereal in a generous mixing bowl with sufficient space for thorough coating and mixing.
  2. Create Chocolate Caramel Blend: Combine chocolate chips and butter in microwave-safe container, heating in brief intervals and stirring until achieving a smooth, glossy consistency. Integrate caramel sauce into melted mixture, whisking until uniformly combined.
  3. Coat Cereal: Pour warm chocolate-caramel blend over cereal, using spatula to gently fold and ensure complete, even coverage of each cereal piece.
  4. Season and Distribute: Dust powdered sugar and sea salt across coated cereal, tossing delicately to guarantee consistent seasoning. Transfer mixture onto parchment-lined baking sheet, arranging in a single, loose layer to prevent clumping.
  5. Set and Store: Allow muddy buddies to cool at ambient temperature for 15-20 minutes, permitting chocolate coating to solidify completely. Once crisp, separate any clustered sections and transfer to sealed container for serving or preservation.

Notes

  • Prevent Clumping: Spread cereal in a single layer on parchment paper to avoid sticky, dense clusters during cooling.
  • Temperature Control: Let chocolate-caramel mixture cool slightly before pouring to prevent cereal from becoming soggy or losing crispness.
  • Salt Balance: Adjust sea salt quantity based on caramel sauce sweetness to achieve perfect sweet-salty flavor profile.
  • Storage Strategy: Keep muddy buddies in airtight container at room temperature for maximum crunchiness, consuming within 3-4 days for optimal taste and texture.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Category: Snacks, Desserts
  • Method: Blending
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 13
  • Calories: 210
  • Sugar: 15 g
  • Sodium: 120 mg
  • Fat: 8 g
  • Saturated Fat: 5 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 31 g
  • Fiber: 0 g
  • Protein: 1 g
  • Cholesterol: 20 mg
Jenna Hartley

Jenna Hartley

Founder & Recipe Creator

Expertise

  • Recipe development with a focus on single-dish meals.
  • Fusion of traditional and modern Australian cuisines.
  • Food styling and photography for digital platforms.​

Education

Box Hill Institute, Melbourne

  • Degree: Advanced Diploma of Hospitality Management
  • Focus: Specialized in practical food and beverage service, responsible alcohol and hygiene compliance, legal risk management, and hands‑on experience in a simulated restaurant environment.

William Angliss Institute, Melbourne

  • Program: Certificate IV in Patisserie
  • Focus: Specialized in pastry and bakery techniques, cookery and specialty food preparation, recipe planning and costing, commercial kitchen operations, sustainable and inclusive work practices, food safety and hygiene compliance, and workplace health and safety.

Jenna is the heart of Picture Perfect Meals, turning simple ingredients into beautiful, easy‑to‑make dishes. 

Growing up around family meals in Melbourne, she trained at Box Hill Institute and then perfected her pastry skills at William Angliss Institute. She loves mixing classic Australian flavors with fresh ideas to keep cooking fun and stress‑free.

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