Valentine's Day Muddy Buddies

close up view of finished muddy buddy mix.

Print Recipe

A fun, sweet, and colorful mix that your kids will ask for every February.

Prep Time15

Total Time15

Course: Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: animal cracker muddy buddies, Valentine's Day, valentine's day muddy buddies

Servings: servings

Calories: 529kcal

Author: Katie

Equipment

Large mixing bowl
Microwave safe bowl
Resealable 2-gallon plastic bag (or two 1-gallon bags)
Spatula
Wax paper or parchment paper
Measuring cups and spoons

Ingredients

9 cups Rice Chex cereal
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
½ cup creamy peanut butter
¼ cup butter
1¾ cups powdered sugar
2 cups Valentine’s M&Ms
2 cups frosted animal crackers
Valentine sprinkles

Instructions

Prepare the cereal. Place the Rice Chex cereal in a large mixing bowl and set aside.
Make the chocolate coating. Combine the chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Then, microwave on high for 90 seconds, pausing halfway to stir. Once fully melted, stir until smooth.
Coat the cereal. Pour the chocolate mixture over the cereal. Gently fold with a spatula until all pieces are evenly coated.
Shake with powdered sugar. Add the powdered sugar to a 2-gallon resealable plastic bag. Transfer the chocolate-coated cereal into the bag, seal it tightly, and shake vigorously until all pieces are evenly coated. If you don’t have a 2-gallon bag, divide the cereal and powdered sugar into two smaller bags and shake them in batches.
Cool the mixture. Spread the coated cereal on a sheet of wax paper or parchment paper. Let it cool for 5–10 minutes.
Add mix-ins. Once the coated cereal is cool, transfer it back into the plastic bag or a large bowl. Add the Valentine’s M&Ms, frosted animal crackers, and sprinkles. Shake or stir gently to combine.
Serve and enjoy. Transfer the mixture to a decorative serving bowl or portion it into individual Valentine’s-themed gift bags for a festive touch.

Notes

When you shake the powdered sugar, close the plastic bag tightly to prevent sugar from getting everywhere, and check it again before you start shaking!

Let the cereal cool completely on wax paper before you add any mix-ins. The M&Ms and frosted animal crackers might melt or lose their crunch if it's still warm.

Make sure the coated cereal feels dry and cool before you mix in anything. This will help keep everything crunchy and avoid sticking or melting.

If you don’t have Valentine’s M&Ms or frosted animal crackers, you can use whatever you have, like mini marshmallows or pretzels, for something different.

Want it less sweet? Use a little less powdered sugar. Want more chocolate flavor? Toss in some mini chocolate chips after the cereal has cooled.

This is a great recipe for kids to help with. They’ll enjoy shaking the bag to coat the cereal and adding sprinkles—just remember to seal the bag first!

Put the Muddy Buddies into individual bags or cups if you're serving this at an event. This keeps everything neat and adds a festive touch.

Nutrition