There is no better way to spread some love and celebrate Valentine's Day than with a sweet treat. The following recipe offers a little something for everyone, whether you're celebrating with your main squeeze, crew of girlfriends, family, officemates or a classroom full of kiddos.
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.
Valentine's Day Puppy Chow
Serves 10; makes about 5 cups
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)
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: Puppy chow tastes best within one to two days of making it, but will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
This article is written by Kelli Foster from The Kitchn and was legally licensed via the Tribune Content Agency through the NewsCred publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@newscred.com.
