Muddy Buddy Trail Mix makes the chocolaty peanut buttery goodness of the famous Chex Muddy Buddies low carb, grain free, and sugar-free.
Muddy Buddy Trail Mix – Low Carb, Grain-Free, Gluten-Free, Sugar-Free, THM S
I’ve seen recipes floating around for making this with pork rinds but I am not that adventurous. Using nuts and coconut seemed much safer.
If you are not a coconut fan you can make this with all nuts BUT you really can’t taste the coconut that much. The chocolate and peanut butter hides a lot of the coconut flavor.
I’ve loved Muddy Buddies since I was a teenager. One of the boys would show up to youth group with two gallon-sized Ziploc bags full. I thought his mom was amazing. I had no idea how simple they were to make. There were many youth group nights that I would eat that deliciousness by the handful.
I took the classic melted chocolate and peanut butter Chex topping and made it sugar-free and then poured it onto a mix of nuts and coconut. It has the flavor and the crunch of regular Muddy Buddies but none of the grains and a lot less of the carbs.
See how easy this delicious treat is:
I store this in the fridge but it is fine to leave it at room temperature for a few days. Sometimes after making it I divide it into small baggies so I can grab one and go. And the help with portion control.
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Ingredients
- 7 oz unsweetened chocolate or 85% dark chocolate
- 1 tbsp butter or coconut oil
- 1/2 cup peanut butter without added sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1/2 cup Trim Healthy Mama Gentle Sweet or my sweetener, finely ground
- 3 cups nuts I use 3/4 cup each almonds, walnuts, pecans, and peanuts (or 3 cups of the nuts of your choice)
- 3 cups coconut flakes
Coating:
- 1/2 cup Trim Healthy Mama Gentle Sweet or my sweetener, finely ground
- 2 tbsp peanut flour optional
Instructions
- In a medium bowl melt the chocolate and the butter or oil in the microwave. I melt chocolate in the microwave stirring every 30 seconds. You can do this on the stove top over low heat if you prefer.
- Stir in the peanut butter, vanilla, and sweetener.
- In a large bowl mix the nuts and coconut. Pour the chocolate mixture over the nuts and coconut. Stir well. Spread onto a large baking sheet lined with waxed paper or parchment paper. Sprinkle half the topping over the trail mix.
- Refrigerate until firm. Sprinkle the rest of the topping over the trail mix and mix well. Break up any large pieces. Store in the fridge.
Nutrition
Margot says
I use stevia or monkfruit sweetener. What would be the substitution ratio be?
Taryn says
Monkfruit (with erythritol, like Lakanto) would work better. I’d use 1.5 times the amount listed.
Tanya says
Can you use other sweeteners?
Taryn says
Yes, any granulated or powdered sweetener should work. If you know which one you’d like to use I can offer conversion tips.
Melissa Quinn says
CAn someone help me with the sweetener
Is there an equivalent sweetener I can buy at a local store rather have to order such a large quantity’s?
Taryn says
Truvia measures the same as my sweetener.
Amber W says
Oh my! Just made this to share with our extended family during Thanksgiving, but this bag may not survive the 8 hour trip down there. So yummy! I don’t have Gentle Sweet, but I keep homemade Super Sweet on hand. I subbed 4 Tbs powdered SS in the chocolate mixture and another 4 Tbs in the topping mixture. Thanks for sharing this delicious recipe with us!
Mary says
I have made this numerous times and it’s always awesome! But I don’t have time to get chocolate and I’m out. Can I sub cocoa powder and if yes, how much? Hoping to make this for a trip tomorrow (I thought I still had some in my freezer, lol, but apparently I ate it all 😁)
Taryn says
You could probably sub cocoa powder mixed with coconut oil (like skinny chocolate) but I haven’t tried it.
Mary says
Okay thanks!
Felicia says
Seriously this is amazing! I have loved muddy buddies (or we used to call it puppy chow) since I first had it in Kindergarten!! But now I’m sugar free and carb conscious… and this is an amazing way to take plain nuts and coconut and turn them FABULOUS! I’m going to make some more this weekend and have it ready to pack in my Birthing bag! This will be the perfect snack to get me through laboring my 4th child 😀
Lacey says
Just made this recipe! Super yummy! This will make a great treat while camping this weekend. I used half cup of the larger coconut flakes and half cup of the small flakes. I also added in some cocoa nibs for more super food. Thank you for this fun recipe!
Kapu says
What is the “topping” you mention?
Taryn says
It’s in the recipe on this post. I have it written as coating here. Powdered sweetener and peanut butter powder.
Rina Fradette says
How well would this do travelling without refrigeration? We’re going camping & this would be a great treat to have along but I worry it might just be a greasy mess without a fridge.
Taryn says
The chocolate would melt if it’s hot but it should be fine to just keep in a cooler.
Billie says
Do you think some broken pork rinds would work in this? That would certainly lower the net carb count. (And I have 2 of the big barrels from Sam’s I’m trying to use up — hehe.)
Taryn says
Yes. I’ve seen similar recipes with pork rinds. I haven’t been able to wrap my head around using them in a sweet recipe yet. lol.
Much says
This sounds delish but I do not like coconut flakes-
Can I just eliminate them or will it not turn out ?
Thanks
Taryn says
Yes, just double the nuts or half the other ingredients.
terrri says
about how much is a serving size
Taryn says
About 1/4 cup
Adrienne says
Just made my fitst batch! Thanks for the recipe!
Stacy says
I was wondering if I made a batch of this, do you think it would freeze well for later use? I want to take it to Christmas events but have a week in between. I’m one of those cook once eat twice kind of mamas 😉
Thank you! Ps- I’ve found myself pinning a lot of your recipes so guess I’ll subscribe hehe
Taryn says
It keeps in the fridge for a month 🙂 You don’t need to freeze it.
Stacy says
Awesome! Thank you so much!
Tina says
Can I use 100% cacao unsweetened baking chocolate? Is all I have at the moment!
Taryn says
Yes, you just may need to add more sweetener 🙂
Kristen Kohne says
I just made this and it is delishhhhh! I am in love. All of the nuts I used were unsalted except for the peanuts and I noticed I love the peanutty bites the best because of the salty-sweet thing….so I added some salt to the final coating and it’s great! Next time I’ll probably use my favorite nuts and leave out the ones I’m not as into. So much fun and so tasty!!!
Tammy says
It’s even better if you toast the coconut until it’s light brown and crispy! I’ve never made it with nuts before but I would toast those, too!
Maya | Wholesome Yum says
What a great idea! I’ve never heard of this before but it sounds amazing.
STACEY says
I have never had or made “muddy buddy” before. I have heard of it & it sounds awesome! Glad you have a sugar free version to try 🙂
Georgina Bomer says
Great combination of flavors!
Katrin says
What a great idea. This looks like the kind of snack I’d eat all by myself. Some things are just too good to share!
Sarah says
This looks fantastic!! My kids love muddy Buddies!
Amethyst says
This is great! I have one teen who won’t eat coconut! What would be a great sub – it would you just make it without it altogether?
Taryn says
You can just leave it out. Either double the nuts or half the other ingredients.
Kim | Low Carb Maven says
Oooh, great idea. I’ve made something similar pork rinds before, but the nuts and coconut sound so much better! My kids would love this.