Valentine Muddy Buddies is a crunchy, creamy mix of peanut butter and chocolate-coated cereal, dusted in sugar and speckled with Valentine-colored M&M’s!
We absolutely love Muddy Buddies (you might know them as Puppy Chow) in our house! And don’t miss out on trying these no-bake Muddy Buddy Bars for a fun twist.
These Valentine Muddy Buddies Are…
- Super Easy: No baking, just mix!
- A Party Hit: Always popular at gatherings.
- Eye-Catching: Colorful and festive, especially for Valentine’s Day!
- A Great On-the-Go Treat: Easy to transport.
- Freezer-Friendly: Save some for later!
- Crowd-Pleasing: Loved by both kids and adults.
Valentine Muddy Buddies Ingredients
- Corn Chex Cereal: Or use Rice Chex if preferred.
- Creamy Peanut Butter: Avoid natural peanut butter to prevent oiliness.
- Chocolate Chips: Choose high-quality for better melt and flavor; milk for sweetness, semi-sweet for depth.
- Unsalted Butter: Allows control over saltiness.
- Salt: A small amount enhances flavors.
- Powdered Sugar: The sugar coating!
- Pink Sparkling Sugar: Adds color!
- Valentine-themed M&Ms: Alternatively, just use the reds from a regular pack.
How To Make Valentine Muddy Buddies
- Melt Mix: Microwave peanut butter, chocolate chips, butter, and salt until smooth.
- Coat Cereal: Pour melted mix over cereal, stir to coat.
- Sugar Coat: Shake coated cereal with powdered and sparkling sugar in a zip-top bag.
- Add M&M’s: Stir in, reserve some for topping.
- Ready to Serve: Enjoy now or store for later.
Storage
What To Do With Leftovers
Store Valentine Muddy Buddies in an airtight container at room temperature. For longer shelf life, freeze in a sealed container or bag. Enjoy straight from the freezer for a delicious treat!
Gift ‘Em!
- Mason Jars: Fill, tie with a ribbon, add a tag.
- Cellophane Bags: Secure with a twist tie or ribbon.
- Tin Containers: Use decorative tins, line with parchment.
- Custom Boxes: Fill small boxes with tissue paper and snack mix.
More Valentine’s Treats:
- Valentine’s Pretzels
- Valentine M&M Cookie Bars
- Chocolate-Covered Wafers
- Valentine’s Popcorn
- Heart Oreo Truffles
Valentine Muddy Buddies
Valentine Muddy Buddies is a crunchy, creamy mix of peanut butter and chocolate-coated cereal, dusted in sugar and speckled with Valentine-colored M&M's!
Equipment
- Extra-large bowl, for mixing
- Gallon zip-top bag, for tossing mix with powdered sugar
Ingredients
- 9 cups corn Chex cereal
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter (Skippy recommended)
- 1 cup milk or semi-sweet chocolate chips (Note 1)
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
- 2 cups powdered sugar, separated
- 6 tablespoons pink sparkling sugar
- 1 cup Valentine M&Ms (red, pink hues, white)
Instructions
- CEREAL: Place the cereal in a large bowl and set aside.
- PEANUT BUTTER-CHOCOLATE MIXTURE: In a microwave-safe bowl, combine peanut butter, chocolate chips, butter, and salt. Microwave in 20-second intervals, stirring after each, until the mixture is smooth and fully melted.
- COAT CEREAL: Pour the melted peanut butter-chocolate mixture over the cereal. Stir gently to evenly coat each piece of cereal, taking care not to crush them.
- SUGAR COATING: Open a 2-gallon zip-top bag. Layer inside the bag: ½ cup powdered sugar, 2 tbsp pink sparkling sugar, half of the cereal mixture, another ½ cup powdered sugar, and another 2 tbsp sparkling sugar. Seal the bag and shake well until the cereal pieces are uniformly coated. Transfer to a clean bowl. Repeat with the remaining cereal mixture. Combine both batches of sugar-coated cereal in the same bowl.
- MIX-INS: Add ¾ cup of Valentine-themed M&M's to the sugar-coated cereal. Mix gently. Sprinkle the remaining ¼ cup of M&M's on top for decoration.
- STORAGE: Serve immediately or store in an airtight container at room temperature. Can also be frozen and enjoyed directly from the freezer (SO good!)
Recipe Notes
Note 1: Chocolate chips: Milk chocolate chips make it sweeter and creamier, while semi-sweet chips give a richer taste. Use high-quality chocolate for the best melt and flavor.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 447kcal | Carbohydrates: 70g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 13mg | Sodium: 274mg | Potassium: 151mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 49g | Vitamin A: 905IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 113mg | Iron: 6mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
