Recipe: Valentine’s Day Puppy Chow
To the uninitiated: Puppy chow is an irresistible, dessert-leaning snack mix with chocolate-coated Chex cereal at its base. It really has everything going for it, with its mix of M&Ms, cinnamon hearts, and white-chocolate coated Chex. This guaranteed crowd-pleaser is made for sharing and comes together without needing to turn on the oven.
Skip the Chips for Candy Melts
I am a big fan of candy melts. They come in a rainbow of colors and, true to their name, they melt like a dream and aren’t prone to scorching, burning, or seizing up. It’s for all of those reasons I think they make a better fit for this festive batch of puppy chow than chocolate morsels. A bag of white and a bag of medium-hued pink candy melts are the duo responsible for the pretty two-toned theme. Add seasonal M&Ms and spicy cinnamon hearts make it a treat to remember.
5 Sweet Ways to Share the Love This Valentine’s Day
There is no better way to spread some love and celebrate Valentine’s Day than with a sweet treat. These five low-effort, high-reward baked goods are made for sharing. They offer a little something for everyone, whether you’re celebrating with your main squeeze, crew of girlfriends, family, officemates, or a classroom full of kiddos.
Valentine’s Day Puppy Chow
Makesabout 5 cups
Serves10
Nutritional Info
Ingredients
- 5 cups
Chex cereal, preferably corn, divided
- 5 ounces
white candy melts
- 5 ounces
pink candy melts
- 1 cup
powdered sugar, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon
salt, divided
- 3/4 cup
Valentine M&Ms (about 6 ounces)
- 1/2 cup
cinnamon imperial heart candies (about 4 ounces)
Instructions
Place 2 1/2 cups of the cereal in a large bowl; set aside. Place the white candy melts in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring between bursts, until melted. (If you don't have a microwave, melt in a double boiler instead.) Immediately pour over the cereal and stir gently until evenly coated. Add 1/2 cup of the powdered sugar and 1/4 teaspoon of salt and stir gently until evenly coated. Transfer to a rimmed baking sheet, spread into an even layer, and cool completely at room temperature, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, coat the remaining cereal.
Place the remaining cereal in the same bowl; set aside. Place the pink candy melts in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring between bursts, until melted. (If you don't have a microwave, melt in a double boiler instead.) Immediately pour over the cereal and stir gently until evenly coated. Add the remaining powdered sugar and remaining salt and stir gently until evenly coated. Transfer to a separate rimmed baking sheet, spread into an even layer, and cool completely at room temperature, about 30 minutes.
Transfer the white and pink cereals to a large bowl. Add the M&Ms and heart candies and stir to combine.
Recipe Notes
Storage: Puppy chow tastes best within 1 to 2 days of making it, but will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.