Last weekend, I was craving something sweet but didn’t want to make a full batch of traditional muddy buddies (which I know I’d eat way too much of!). While staring into my pantry, I spotted a sleeve of plain rice cakes that had been sitting there for weeks. That’s when inspiration struck – why not transform these into a lighter version of my favorite childhood treat? These rice cake muddy buddies were born out of that moment, and they’ve quickly become my go-to when I want something sweet that satisfies my chocolate and peanut butter cravings without going overboard. The rice cakes add a unique crunch that’s actually even more satisfying than the original cereal version. Plus, they come together in just minutes with ingredients you probably already have on hand, and are gluten free!
Making Rice Cake Muddy Buddies
These rice cake muddy buddies couldn’t be easier to make, which is why they’ve become my favorite last-minute treat for unexpected guests or late-night cravings.
First, you’ll need to break up your rice cakes into bite-sized pieces. I find that putting them in a ziplock bag and gently crushing them works perfectly – you want chunks about an inch big, not tiny crumbs. The beauty of using rice cakes is that they hold their crunch even after being coated in chocolate, giving you that perfect textural contrast.
Next, you’ll melt together your chocolate chips, peanut butter, and coconut oil. I do this in the microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring between each interval. The coconut oil helps the chocolate mixture stay smooth and coat the rice cake pieces evenly. If you’re allergic to peanut butter, you could substitute almond butter or even sunflower seed butter for a nut-free option.
Once your chocolate mixture is smooth, pour it over your rice cake pieces in a mixing bowl and gently fold everything together until each piece is well-coated. Work quickly here, as the mixture will start to set. Then transfer everything back to your ziplock bag, add the powdered sugar, seal it up, and shake, shake, shake! This is definitely the fun part, and kids love to help with this step.
After chilling in the fridge for about 45 minutes, your muddy buddies will be perfectly set and ready to enjoy. They’ll keep in an airtight container for up to a week, though they’ve never lasted that long in my house! Serve them in a cute bowl for snacking, pack them in lunch boxes, or portion them into small bags for on-the-go treats.
Looking for more easy snack inspo? Try my Popcorn Muddy Buddies or Healthy Muddy Buddies!
Rice Cake Muddy Buddies
Equipment
- Mixing Bowl
- Ziplock Bag
Ingredients
- 6 rice cakes cracked into pieces
- 1 cup chocolate chips melted
- 3 tbsp peanut butter melted
- 1 tsp coconut oil melted
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Add rice cakes into a ziplock bag and crush, leaving larger chunks (around an inch or so big).
- Melt chocolate, peanut butter, and coconut oil together in the microwave in 30-second increments, stirring frequently until you have a smooth mixture.
- Add crushed rice cakes into a mixing bowl, pour in melted chocolate mixture, and stir well to coat.
- Add coated rice cake pieces back into ziplock bag and add powdered sugar.
- Seal the bag tightly and then shake it to coat all of the pieces in powdered sugar.
- Let chill in the fridge for 45 minutes to allow the chocolate to harden to the rice cake pieces.
- Pour into a bowl and enjoy!
