This Valentine’s Day Muddy Buddies recipe is an easy, no-bake, and festive sweet treat perfect for gifting to friends and family during the holiday.
Also known as Puppy Chow, this delightful snack is crunchy, sweet, and packed with Valentine’s Day M&M’s and sprinkles, making it visually appealing and incredibly delicious. It’s a kid-friendly recipe that stores well and can be made ahead of time.
❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe
• Effortlessly Easy: A simple, no-bake recipe that comes together quickly, perfect for busy schedules or involving kids.
• Festive & Fun: Uses pink and red candy melts, Valentine’s Day M&M’s, and heart sprinkles to create a vibrant and celebratory snack.
• Crowd-Pleaser: A universally loved sweet and crunchy treat ideal for parties, gifts, or cozy nights in.
• Make-Ahead Friendly: Can be prepared in advance and stored at room temperature or refrigerated for up to 5 days, or frozen longer.
• Customizable: Easily adapted for other holidays by changing candy colors and toppings.
🛠 Tools You’ll Need
• Microwave-safe bowls (for melting candy melts)
• Large Ziplock Bags (for coating cereal with powdered sugar)
• Baking Sheets (for setting muddy buddies)
• Wax Paper (for lining baking sheets)
• Measuring cups and spoons
💖 Key Ingredients
• Chex Cereal: The classic crunchy base
• Pink and Red Candy Melts: Festive Valentine’s colors
• Powdered Sugar: Signature coating and anti-stick layer
• Vegetable Oil: Thins candy melts for smooth coating
• Valentine’s Day M&M’s: Chocolatey crunch and color
• Valentine’s Day Sprinkles: Decorative heart-themed finish
💞 How to Make Valentine’s Day Muddy Buddies
1. Divide Cereal:
Divide 7 cups of Chex cereal into two large bowls.
2. Melt Pink Candy:
Melt 1 cup pink candy melts with 1 tsp vegetable oil in 30-second microwave intervals, stirring until smooth.
3. Coat with Pink:
Pour over one bowl of cereal and gently fold until evenly coated. Reheat briefly if candy thickens.
4. Sugar Coat Pink:
Transfer to a ziplock bag with 1/2 cup powdered sugar. Shake well. Spread onto wax paper.
5. Melt Red Candy:
Repeat melting with 1 cup red candy melts and 1 tsp vegetable oil.
6. Coat with Red:
Pour over remaining cereal and fold gently to coat.
7. Sugar Coat Red:
Transfer to a ziplock bag with remaining 1/2 cup powdered sugar, shake, and spread onto wax paper.
8. Set & Finish:
Let set 30 minutes. Gently mix in 1 cup Valentine’s Day M&M’s and 2–4 Tbsp sprinkles.
9. Enjoy!
Serve immediately or store for later.
💡 Tips for Success
• Work quickly candy melts harden fast
• Spread cereal in a single layer to prevent clumps
• Let coating fully set before adding M&M’s
• Microwave candy melts gently to avoid burning
• Customize colors and toppings for other holidays
🆘 Valentine’s Day Muddy Buddies Troubleshooting Guide
Candy melts seized:
Cause: Overheating or moisture
Solution: Stir in ½ tsp vegetable oil until smooth
Clumpy muddy buddies:
Cause: Not enough powdered sugar or not spread out
Solution: Coat thoroughly and spread to set
Soggy or stale texture:
Cause: Improper storage
Solution: Store in an airtight container
Cereal not coated:
Cause: Not enough candy melts or mixing
Solution: Fold gently but thoroughly; melt extra if needed
👩🍳 Pro Chef Tips
• Add nuts, pretzels, or crushed cookies for texture
• Package in cellophane bags for Valentine’s gifts
• Freeze up to 3 months in airtight containers
• Drizzle extra candy melts for decorative flair
• Swap colors easily for any holiday or event
🍬 Perfect Pairings
• Hot Chocolate (especially pink hot chocolate)
• Cold Milk
• Vanilla or Strawberry Ice Cream
• Fresh Berry Fruit Platter
• Coffee or Mild Tea
📦 How to Store
• Room Temperature: Airtight container, up to 5 days
• Refrigerator: Airtight container, up to 2 weeks
• Freezer: Airtight freezer-safe container, up to 3 months
🍰 More Recipes You’ll Love
- Fudgy Heart-Shaped Brownies with Chocolate Ganache – Perfect Valentine’s Day Dessert
- Valentine’s Day Brownies ❤️🍫 Ultra Fudgy Chocolate Brownies with M&M’s
- Delightful Strawberry Swirl Cookies: A Chewy, Fruity Treat! 🍓✨
- The Ultimate Soft Batch Double Chocolate Chip Cookies
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Valentine’s Day Muddy Buddies (Puppy Chow) 💖🍫 | Easy No-Bake Festive Treat
Description
An easy, no-bake, and festive sweet treat made with Chex cereal, pink and red candy melts, powdered sugar, Valentine's Day M&M's, and sprinkles. Perfect for gifting or sharing.
Ingredients
Instructions
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Prepare the Cereal
Divide the Chex cereal evenly between two large mixing bowls. Set aside while you prepare the candy coatings.
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Melt the Pink Candy Melts
Place the pink candy melts and 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil into a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring well between each interval, until the candy melts are completely smooth and glossy. Avoid overheating to prevent seizing.
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Coat the Pink Cereal
Pour the melted pink candy over one bowl of Chex cereal. Using a spatula, gently fold until all pieces are evenly coated. If the candy begins to thicken, microwave for an additional 10–15 seconds and stir again.
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Toss with Powdered Sugar
Transfer the coated cereal into a large ziplock bag. Add ½ cup powdered sugar, seal the bag, and shake gently until the cereal is fully coated. Spread the coated cereal in a single layer on a wax paper–lined baking sheet to set.
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Melt the Red Candy Melts
Repeat the melting process with the red candy melts and the remaining teaspoon of vegetable oil, microwaving in short intervals and stirring until smooth.
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Coat the Red Cereal
Pour the red candy melts over the remaining bowl of cereal. Gently fold until evenly coated, reheating briefly if needed
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Toss with Powdered Sugar
Transfer the red-coated cereal into another ziplock bag with the remaining ½ cup powdered sugar. Shake gently to coat, then spread onto a lined baking sheet.
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Let Set
Allow both batches of muddy buddies to set at room temperature for about 30 minutes, or until the candy coating is fully firm.
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Add Decorations
Once set, gently combine the pink and red muddy buddies in a large bowl. Fold in the Valentine’s Day M&M’s and sprinkles, taking care not to break the cereal.
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Serve or Store
Serve immediately, or transfer to an airtight container for storage.