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Home » Recipes » Snack Recipes

Red Velvet Puppy Chow for Valentine's Day

Published: Jan 28, 2023 Last Updated: Jan 28, 2023 by Marye 1513 words. | About 8 minutes to read this article.

Red Velvet Puppy Chow is the perfect snack for Valentine's Day! Since there's no peanut butter in this recipe it's fine for school parties, too.
Total time 1 hour 25 minutes
Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
Overhead view of red and pink snack mix with a text overlay for Pinterest.

If you're looking for a cute snack for the kids on Valentine's Day you can't go wrong with this pretty pink and red snack mix! Best of all? No peanut butter so it's great for people with peanut allergies.

Don't want to scroll through the page to get to the recipe? Use the table of contents to click on the section you want to go to.

Overhead view of Valentine's Day Muddy Buddies on a table.
Jump to:
  • ❤️ Why you'll love it
  • 🧾 Ingredients
  • 🔪 Instructions
  • 🥫 Storage
  • 📖 Variations
  • 💭 Things to know
  • 👩‍🍳 FAQs
  • 📚 Related recipes
  • 🍽️ Serve with...
  • 🥄 Restless Chipotle recommends
  • 📞 The last word
  • Red Velvet Puppy Chow

❤️ Why you'll love it

  • Fun sweet treat and an awesome edible gift idea
  • Great recipe is more unique than classic puppy chow
  • So many different ways to customize it

A festive, Valentine's day twist on muddy buddies, red velvet puppy chow is always a huge hit. With simple ingredients, it's easy to make (a win for you!) and it's such a satisfying, crunchy snack (a win for everyone who gets to eat it!)

🧾 Ingredients

This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.

Ingredients for the snack mix.

🔪 Instructions

This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page.

Step by step images illustrating how to make this recipe.
  1. Break the chocolate into pieces and place in a large bowl.
  2. Melt the chocolate in 30-second increments, then stir in the cream.
  3. Pour the chocolate mixture over the Chex cereal and combine.
  4. In a Ziplock bag, shake together the cereal mixture, cake mix, and powdered sugar. Let dry on wax paper, then toss with candy and serve.

🥫 Storage

Store red velvet puppy chow at room temperature in a large airtight container, or separate it into plastic gift bags. As long as the container or bag seals for storage, the great treat will keep for 1-2 weeks.

I like to keep it out on the counter in a clear glass apothecary jar because it's just so pretty!

For best results, keep the snack out of direct sunlight and away from any heat sources. White chocolate puppy chow can get sticky and melty if it's too warm!

It doesn't freeze well, y'all. Be sure to eat it all!

A bowl of red velvet Muddy Buddies on a white table.

📖 Variations

There are plenty of ways you can adapt this easy recipe to make a personalized, delicious treat.

  • Use semi-sweet and white chocolate chips, instead of chocolate bar pieces. Be aware that I've noticed they don't melt quite as easily.
  • Feel free to stir in whichever type of cereal pieces you prefer. Traditional puppy chow uses half corn Chex and half rice Chex.
  • You can add a teaspoon or so of vanilla extract to the cream before stirring it into the chocolate. It's not necessary, but is a yummy touch!
  • Like a bit of salt with your sweets? Add mini pretzels or salty peanuts.
  • Try adding dried fruit (like craisins!) to your sweet snack mix.
  • Use a red and green M&M or sprinkle mixture during the holiday season. We call this "reindeer chow," and it's great at Christmas parties.
  • You can make this puppy chow recipe gluten-free by using a GF red velvet cake mix and any Chex cereal variety except wheat Chex.

💭 Things to know

Expert Tip: Try to use a light hand when stirring the chocolate and Chex mixture together—too tough and you'll smash the cereal into bits!

  • Melted chocolate burns quickly, especially on the bottom. So be sure to stir in between each of the 30-second intervals, scraping all around the microwave-safe bowl with a spatula.
  • Don't like to use the microwave? You can melt the chocolate in a double-boiler, instead. Watch carefully so it doesn't burn.
  • If you don't have any wax paper, you can line your cookie sheet with parchment paper—the smooth side facing up, of course!
  • Forgot to pick up some large Ziplock bags? That's okay. You can shake up the puppy chow in a big Tupperware container or even a large mixing bowl covered tightly with plastic wrap.
  • Let the coated cereal pieces dry fully before mixing them in with the candy. This way, the M&Ms and sprinkles stay colorful and bright.

👩‍🍳 FAQs

Why do you bake the cake mix first?

The cake mix is considered a raw product and bacteria can still reside in it—although, that's very rare. Baking the cake mix ensures that any potential bacteria is killed before someone eats it.

Why are Muddy Buddies called puppy chow?

Some people think this yummy twist on the popular Chex mix resembles puppy kibble.

Why did my puppy chow get soggy?

You didn't let it cool long enough after it was coated. Be sure to let it cool all the way—about an hour.

Is the peanut butter missing from this recipe?

Nope, it's omitted on purpose! Regular homemade puppy chow does use a chocolate/peanut butter mixture, but red velvet puppy chow just doesn't need it. It's the perfect snack as is, a real crowd-pleaser, and allergy-friendly, too.

Closeup of the snack mix showing the different components.

📚 Related recipes

  • Sweet and salty Valentine's Day Popcorn is a fun, no-bake snack mix, perfect for school holiday parties and family movie nights.
  • Featuring drool-worthy Nutella and crispy Golden Grahams cereal, S'mores Puppy Chow is a fun treat that changes up the classic recipe!
  • These No-Spread Red Velvet Cookies make the perfect Valentine's day snack for all of your family and loved ones—plus, they're SO yummy!
  • Nutter Butter Easter Chicks
  • Jezebel Sauce Recipe: Spicy Sweet Dip
  • Rotel Sausage Dip
  • Buffalo Chicken Dip

🍽️ Serve with...

  • Romantic Oven-Roasted Quail Dinner
  • Pink Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
  • Red Velvet Martini (an after-the-kids-go-to-bed treat!)

🥄 Restless Chipotle recommends

The following are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

You'll need the following items to make this recipe successfully.

  • baking sheet
  • parchment paper
  • large mixing bowl

📞 The last word

Since there's no peanut butter in this pretty Valentine's Day snack it's perfect for sending to your kiddos school Valentine's Day party or your teen's weekend sleepover.

Sometimes I add white chocolate mini chips to the mix, too. I love white chocolate and it adds a great pop of flavor to this red velvet puppy chow recipe.

Love red velvet as much as we do? Check out this collection of red velvet recipes.

If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need. Don't forget that you can click on "add to collection" to save it to your own, private recipe box!

If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Close up of the snack mix showing pink, red, and white candy and red velvet covered Chex.
5 from 1 vote

Red Velvet Puppy Chow

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Red Velvet Puppy Chow is the perfect snack for Valentine's Day! Since there's no peanut butter in this recipe it's fine for school parties, too.
Course Appetizer/Snack
Cuisine American
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Setting: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
Servings:22
Calories:375
Author:Marye Audet-White
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Equipment Needed

  • Baking Sheet

Ingredients

  • 15.25 ounces red velvet cake mix
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 12 ounces white chocolate
  • 8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate
  • 2 tablespoons heavy cream, room temperature
  • 12 ounces Chex cereal
  • 10 ounces Valentine M&M’s
  • ⅛ Cup Valentine colored sprinkles

I earn a commission from Instacart from qualifying purchases.

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 350°F.
  • Spread the red velvet cake mix over a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  • Bake in the oven for 5-8 minutes (until you start to smell the sweetness baking).
  • Remove from the oven and allow to cool.
  • Add the cake mix and powdered sugar to a resealable bag (ziplok bag) and shake to mix well. Put to one side.
  • In a bowl, break up the chocolate then heat in the microwave in 30 second increments, stirring in between, until the chocolate is completely melted.
  • Stir in the cream.
  • Add the Chex cereal to another large mixing bowl and pour the chocolate over the top.
  • Carefully stir the cereal together with the chocolate until evenly coated then, working in batches, add the chocolate covered cereal to the bag with the cake mix and sugar and shake until fully coated.
  • Remove the cereal pieces onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  • Repeat with the remaining cereal, then allow the pieces to dry for about an hour.
  • Mix with the M&Ms and sprinkles and place in a bowl to serve.

Notes

Storage:
Store at room temperature in a large airtight container, or separate it into plastic gift bags. As long as the container or bag seals for storage it will will keep for 1-2 weeks.
Keep out of direct sunlight and away from any heat sources or it can get melty.
This recipe doesn't freeze well.
Tips:
  • Try to use a light hand when stirring the chocolate and Chex mixture together—too tough and you'll smash the cereal into bits!
  • Melted chocolate burns quickly, especially on the bottom. So be sure to stir in between each of the 30-second intervals, scraping all around the microwave-safe bowl with a spatula.
  • Don't like to use the microwave? You can melt the chocolate in a double-boiler, instead. Watch carefully so it doesn't burn.
  • If you don't have any wax paper, you can line your cookie sheet with parchment paper—the smooth side facing up, of course!
  • Forgot to pick up some large Ziplock bags? That's okay. You can shake up the puppy chow in a big Tupperware container or even a large mixing bowl covered tightly with plastic wrap.
  • Let the coated cereal pieces dry fully before mixing them in with the candy. This way, the M&Ms and sprinkles stay colorful and bright.

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 0.5cup | Calories: 375kcal | Carbohydrates: 57g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 7mg | Sodium: 274mg | Potassium: 226mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 36g | Vitamin A: 224IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 115mg | Iron: 6mg

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    About Marye

    With a 40 year focus on the importance of family and a passion for southern comfort food, Marye Audet-White is an expert in melding the two together effortlessly. Marye's a NY Times Bestselling author with 10 cookbooks under her belt and her recipes have been featured in Good Housekeeping, Country Living, Today, House Beautiful, Texas Living, Food & Wine, and many more.

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    Marye Audet-White, founder of Restless Chipotle Media

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    NY Times bestselling author. 10 cookbooks. Mom of 8 kids. Homeschooling mom for 22 years. Addicted to Hallmark Christmas Movies.

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