This Strawberry Puppy Chow recipe is the ideal treat for Valentine’s Day or a pink-themed party! Quick and easy to make, this adorable strawberry muddy buddies recipe is colored naturally and only uses 5 ingredients. Ready in under 10 minutes, it’s wonderful for parties, gifting, or surprising your favorite Valentine.
As someone who’s developed over 60 dessert recipes for this website and has been making no-bake treats for more than 30 years, I have a special connection to puppy chow as a lifelong Midwesterner who grew up with this classic treat. This strawberry version has become one of my most-requested recipes on the site, especially by my kiddo who asks for it constantly! I’ve been experimenting with different variations for years, and what makes this recipe special is using freeze-dried strawberries instead of artificial coloring or candy melts, which gives it real strawberry flavor along with that gorgeous pink hue.
I’ve tested this recipe multiple times to get the strawberry flavor just right so it’s noticeable but not overpowering, and the texture stays perfectly crunchy. Whether you call it puppy chow, muddy buddies, muddy munch, or monkey munch, this Valentine’s twist on the classic peanut butter and chocolate variety always disappears fast at parties.
Jump to:
- Why You’ll Love This Strawberry Puppy Chow Recipe
- Strawberry Puppy Chow Ingredients
- How to Make Strawberry Puppy Chow for Valentine’s Day
- Valentine Puppy Chow Variations and Substitutions
- Strawberry Muddy Buddies Storage
- Recipe FAQs
- More like this Valentines Puppy Chow
- Strawberry Muddy Buddies (Valentines Puppy Chow)
Why You’ll Love This Strawberry Puppy Chow Recipe
Quick and easy to make! Ready in less than 10 minutes, this strawberry puppy chow can be made last minute and still wow your guests!
Natural, strawberry flavor. Thanks to freeze dried strawberries, this Valentine’s puppy chow is an adorable shade of pink and has a wonderful hint of strawberry flavor.
It’s a crowd pleaser! This treat will disappear fast, and is sure to be the hit of any get together you’re having! For larger groups, be sure to make a double batch so you can replenish your snack bowls!
Strawberry Puppy Chow Ingredients
- Rice Chex Cereal. this is the base for most muddy buddies recipes. Their checkerboard texture creates the perfect pockets to capture and hold chocolate and the powdered sugar mixture.
- White Chocolate / Vanilla Melting Wafers. This is used to coat the Chex cereal, and give the powdered sugar coating something to stick to. I personally like the Ghirardelli white chocolate melting wafers because they are high quality, melt like a dream, and are easy to find at grocery stores.
- Freeze Dried Strawberries. Used for color, flavor, and sweetening. Using freeze dried strawberries also allows us to reduce the amount of powdered sugar needed… so, I can tell myself this is a little healthier (at least a little, right?).
- Powdered Sugar. A must for coating muddy buddies! Powdered sugar sweetens this treat, and coats the chocolate to help prevent the squares from sticking together.
- Valentine m&m milk chocolate candies. Not only do the red, pink, and white m&ms add to the cuteness factor, strawberries and chocolate is a classic combo!
See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
Expert Tip for Melting White Chocolate
Add a small amount of oil. This keeps your chocolate from drying out, helping to prevent the chocolate from seizing up. Use a very small amount (like ⅛ teaspoon small) of a neutral oil, like grapeseed or canola oil. Coconut oil is also a popular option, as it is a solid when cooled.
Helpful Equipment
A high-quality blender or food processor will be helpful to finely crush the freeze dried strawberries.
If you don’t have access to one of these, you can always do this by hand by placing the strawberries into the gallon zip-top bag and crush them with a rolling pin.
How to Make Strawberry Puppy Chow for Valentine’s Day
Add powdered sugar and freeze dried strawberries to a blender or food processor.
Blend until the strawberries have been crushed into a fine powder. If a few small strawberry pieces remain in tact, that is a-ok! Transfer to a gallon-sized zip top bag and set aside.
Melt the white chocolate melts in the microwave in 30-second increments, stirring in between, until smooth. Pour over Chex cereal.
Stir the chocolate and Chex mixture until all of the cereal is well-coated.
Place the chocolate coated cereal into the zip top bag with the powdered sugar and strawberry mixture.
Close the top tightly and shake to coat the cereal with the powdered sugar and strawberry mixture.
Add the m&ms and pieces of freeze dried strawberries into the bag and give it a shake to distribute throughout the mixture.
Pour Valentine puppy chow onto a wax lined baking sheet and spread into an even layer. Allow to dry.
Valentine Puppy Chow Variations and Substitutions
- Add sprinkles. Heart shape sprinkles, Valentine jimmies… add your favorite holiday sprinkles to the mix for another pop of color! Add 2-3 tablespoons of sprinkles to your final mixture if desired.
- Add pretzels. If you love a good salty sweet combo, adding pretzels to your puppy chow mixture is a great option! Toss in a handful or two of mini-twists when ready to serve and stir to spread throughout.
- Mix in some Wheat Chex. If you’d like to mix things up, you could use half rice and half Wheat Chex cereal in this recipe! Note that this will alter the texture a bit, as the wheat chex are a little tougher / crunchier.
- Use chopped up white chocolate or white chocolate chips. Don’t have melting wafers? A chopped up white chocolate baking bar is the next best option! Don’t have that? White chocolate chips can work too. See the tip below if you’re using white chocolate chips.
Possible Dietary Restrictions?
This Valentine’s puppy chow recipe is vegetarian as written.
Make this into a gluten free puppy chow by selecting gluten free Chex cereal. It would also be wise to verify the white chocolate or melting wafers you’re using are certified to be gluten free if you are serving this to someone with celiac disease.
Strawberry Muddy Buddies Storage
Puppy chow tastes best in the first 1-2 days after being made. However, if stored properly in an air-tight container or zip top bag, puppy chow can be stored for up to 1 week at room temperature and up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator.
Recipe FAQs
Muddy buddies and puppy chow refer to the same thing! Also known as monkey munch, muddy munch, or reindeer chow. This treat is typically made with Chex cereal, peanut butter, chocolate, and powdered sugar and is popular in the Midwest.
Puppy chow is a popular Midwestern treat that is typically made with Chex cereal, peanut butter, chocolate, and powdered sugar. It is often made during the holidays, but is enjoyed year round by kids and adults alike! This treat is also known as muddy buddies, monkey munch, muddy munch, or reindeer chow.
Puppy chow tastes best in the first 1-2 days after being made. However, if stored properly in an air-tight container or zip top bag, puppy chow can be stored for up to 1 week at room temperature and up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator.
More like this Valentines Puppy Chow
Strawberry Muddy Buddies (Valentines Puppy Chow)
Ingredients
- ½ C powdered sugar
- 1 C freeze dried strawberries, divided
- 5 C Rice Chex Cereal
- 10 oz white chocolate melting wafers (like Ghirardelli)
- ½ C Valentine m&ms
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with wax paper and set aside.
- Place powdered sugar and ½ cup of freeze dried strawberries into a blender or food processor and blend until the strawberries have been crushed into a fine powder. Transfer the mixture to a gallon sized zip top bag.
- Place melting wafers in a microwave safe bowl and microwave in 30-second increments, stirring in between, until smooth.
- Pour the melted chocolate over the Chex cereal. Stir the chocolate and Chex together until all of the cereal is well-coated.
- Transfer the chocolate coated cereal into the zip top bag with the powdered sugar and strawberry mixture. Close the top tightly and shake to coat the cereal with the powdered sugar and strawberry mixture.
- Break up the remaining ½ cup of freeze dried strawberries, and place them and the m&ms into the zip top bag with the coated cereal and give it a shake to distribute throughout the mixture.
- Pour Valentine puppy chow onto a wax lined baking sheet and spread into an even layer. Allow to dry.
- Serve and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Add sprinkles. Heart shape sprinkles, Valentine jimmies… add your favorite holiday sprinkles to the mix for another pop of color! Add 2-3 tablespoons of sprinkles to your final mixture if desired.
- Add pretzels. If you love a good salty sweet combo, adding pretzels to your puppy chow mixture is a great option! Toss in a handful or two of mini-twists when ready to serve and stir to spread throughout.
- Mix in some Wheat Chex. If you’d like to mix things up, you could use half rice and half Wheat Chex cereal in this recipe! Note that this will alter the texture a bit, as the wheat chex are a little tougher / crunchier.
- Use chopped up white chocolate or white chocolate chips. Don’t have melting wafers? A chopped up white chocolate baking bar is the next best option! Don’t have that? White chocolate chips can work too. See the tip below if you’re using white chocolate chips.
Alison Narveson says
I made a batch of this for a little girl birthday party. It was a great addition to the dessert table and on theme with its pink color. It was also great as it was a simple allergy friendly treat.
Meredith says
I’m so happy to hear this was a hit at your daughter’s birthday! Thanks for giving the recipe a try.
Sarah says
This puppy chow is SO GOOD! The strawberries provide a beautiful, festive color, and a bright flavor to a classic treat. The perfect and most beautiful sweet treat. My kiddos were thrilled!
Meredith says
I’m so happy to hear everyone loved this Sarah! Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try!
Sonia says
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Just made this and can attest that this recipe is so good and easy to make! My kids devoured this!
Meredith says
Thanks so much for giving this Valentine’s puppy chow a try Sonia! So happy to hear the kiddos devoured it!
Maren says
Made this for a coworker’s baby shower and it was amazing! Easy, delicious and perfect for celebrating her baby girl.
Meredith says
Aw, I love that you made this for a baby shower, such a great idea!! Happy to hear everyone loved it 🙂
Anuj Dubey says
This was so good. Loved it!
Meredith says
So happy to hear you loved it Anuj!
Denzel says
This is a great recipe. It’s better than the “traditional” puppy chow!
Meredith says
I’m so happy to hear you think it’s even better than the original! Thanks Denzel 🙂
David says
Made two batches in two days. Can’t stop eating it. Send help please.
Meredith says
hehe, so happy to hear that you’re loving this valentines puppy chow!!