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.
• 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.
• 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
• 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
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.
• 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
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
• 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
• Hot Chocolate (especially pink hot chocolate)
• Cold Milk
• Vanilla or Strawberry Ice Cream
• Fresh Berry Fruit Platter
• Coffee or Mild Tea
• Room Temperature: Airtight container, up to 5 days
• Refrigerator: Airtight container, up to 2 weeks
• Freezer: Airtight freezer-safe container, up to 3 months
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.
Divide the Chex cereal evenly between two large mixing bowls. Set aside while you prepare the candy coatings.
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.
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.
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.
Repeat the melting process with the red candy melts and the remaining teaspoon of vegetable oil, microwaving in short intervals and stirring until smooth.
Pour the red candy melts over the remaining bowl of cereal. Gently fold until evenly coated, reheating briefly if needed
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.
Allow both batches of muddy buddies to set at room temperature for about 30 minutes, or until the candy coating is fully firm.
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.
Serve immediately, or transfer to an airtight container for storage.
