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Dulce de Leche Chex™ Muddy Buddies™ are a fun entertaining recipe. This post is sponsored by Chex Cereal. Thanks for supporting the sponsors that keep A Cozy Kitchen cozy!
In Latin America, dulce de leche (translation: sweet milk) is a caramelized milk. It’s traditionally made by combining milk and sugar and cooking it over low heat for hours and hours. Of course, there are shortcuts which include using a can of sweetened condensed milk and cooking that for hours. The milk solids slowly caramelize, which will result in a delicious, thick dulce de leche.
You can put it on cookies, desserts…you name it. I like it in this capacity! It’s new and fun.
What are Muddy Buddies
Muddy Buddies (also known as Puppy Chow) is a dessert/snack with roots in Midwestern culture. Typically the recipe structure is as such: Chex Cereal, chocolate wafers, peanut butter, powdered sugar and additional add-ins.
Obviously I like to change it up and with this recipe I like to slowly cook a can of sweetened condensed milk and thin it out with avocado oil, a bit of vanilla extract, a pinch of salt and then toss it with the Chex Cereal. After it’s evenly coated, I like to toss it in powdered sugar – yum!
How to Make Dulce de Leche Muddy Buddies
- Prep a baking sheet with parchment. And add the Rice Chex to a large bowl.
- In a resealable kitchen bag, add the powdered sugar.
- You can buy dulce de leche. You can also boil the can but I find people are afraid of that method so this is what I like to do: Pour a can of sweetened condensed milk in a shallow baking dish. Place a cinnamon stick in the center and cover it with foil. Place it in a roasting pan or a larger baking dish and fill it up half way with water. This will create a water bath and will help to slowly cook the sweetened condensed milk and transform it to dulce de leche. This will take probably about 1 1/2 hours.
- I like to let it cool a bit before I take off the foil. I find it to be easier. Remove the foil and pour the dulce de leche in a small bowl. I like to whisk it smooth if it has any lumps. Pour in the avocado oil, pure vanilla extract and salt. Whisk it until smooth.
- Pour it on top of the Rice Chex and give it a mix until all of them are evenly coated.
- Transfer the Rice Chex to the bag with the powdered sugar, seal it up and then shake it a few times. You really want to shake it up until it’s evenly coated.
- Then, pour the muddy buddies onto the prepared baking sheet and allow it to set for about 30 minutes. At this time, it’s ready to serve!
Tips and Tricks for Dulce de Leche Muddy Buddies
- You can prep the dulce de leche the day before. If you want to skip this step, you can buy it pre-made at the store.
- This recipe moves quickly once you start. It’s super easy but I find that you really have to do it all in one fell swoop for optimum deliciousness. Be sure to prep all of your ingredients.
Variation Ideas
- Rice Chex – I used the Rice Chex because I personally love the flavor of them. Having said that, I think this recipe would be delicious with other Chex flavors too, like Chocolate Chex or Cinnamon Chex.
- Avocado oil – I wanted a neutral oil flavor in these but if you want to add a coconut vibe to them, use coconut oil! You could even add hazelnut oil, almond oil or another flavored oil like that.
If you make this recipe, let me know on Instagram!
More Snacking Recipes
Quick and Easy
Panettone Chex Mix
Appetizers
Classic Pimento Cheese
Desserts
Arroz con Leche Muddy Buddies
Breakfast
Everything Soft Pretzels
Dulce de Leche Muddy Buddies
Ingredients
- 5 cups Chex Cereal
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 (14-ounce) can of sweetened condensed milk , (see notes for alternatives)
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil, (or other neutral oil)
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place a sheet of parchment onto a baking sheet and set aside. Add the Rice Chex to a large bowl and set it aside.
- In a resealable bag, add the powdered sugar.
- Pour a can of sweetened condensed milk in a shallow baking dish. Place a cinnamon stick in the center and cover it with foil. Place it in a roasting pan or a larger baking dish and fill it up half way with water. This will create a water bath and will help to slowly cook the sweetened condensed milk and transform it to dulce de leche. This will take probably about 1 1/2 hours.
- I like to let it cool a bit before I take off the foil. I find it to be easier. Remove the foil and pour the dulce de leche in a small bowl. Whisk it smooth to get rid of any lumps. Pour in the avocado oil, pure vanilla extract and salt. Whisk it once more. And then pour it atop the Chex Cereal.
- Give it a good mix until evenly coated and then immediately transfer to the prepared resealable bag. Close the bag securely and shake it, until all of the Rice Chex is evenly coated. Pour it on the prepared baking sheet and allow to dry and set for 30 minutes.
- Transfer to a bowl and serve it up!
Notes
- Rice Chex – I used the Rice Chex because I personally love the flavor of them. Having said that, I think this recipe would be delicious with other Chex flavors too, like Chocolate Chex or Cinnamon Chex.
- Avocado oil – I wanted a neutral oil flavor in these but if you want to add a coconut vibe to them, use coconut oil! You could even add hazelnut oil, almond oil or another flavored oil like that.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Hello!
What temperature do I set the oven to to cook the sweetened condensed milk?
Thanks!
Anna
sorry about that – 350F!
Hi Adrianna,
Just a heads up – the post has the correlating recipe, but the recipe card seems to have the right ingredients, but wrong instructions. The instructions are the ones for the Arroz con Leche Muddy Buddies.
Thanks Shelby – all fixed! 🙂