Valentine Puppy Chow (Cupid Chow)
Cupid Chow is a pink-and-red Valentine’s puppy chow made with Chex cereal, candy melts, and a sweet strawberry cake mix coating. It’s made without peanut butter, needs no oven, and scoops neatly into treat bags for class parties.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes (includes 20 minutes of setting time)
- Yield: 12 treat bags 1x
- Category: Snack
- Method: No-Bake
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
For the Coating
- 1 cup strawberry cake mix
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
For the White Batch
- 2 1/2 cups Rice Chex cereal
- 5 oz white candy melts or white chocolate
- 1/2 teaspoon shortening
For the Red Batch
- 2 1/2 cups Rice Chex cereal
- 5 oz red candy melts
- 1/2 teaspoon shortening
For Mixing In
- 1 cup Valentine’s candy, such as Valentine M&M’s or conversation hearts
- 2 tablespoons Valentine’s sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
- Heat-treat the cake mix: Put the cake mix in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high in 30-second intervals, stirring between each one, until it reaches 165°F on an instant-read thermometer, about 1 to 1 1/2 minutes. Let it cool completely, then whisk or sift to break up any clumps.
- Set up: Whisk the cooled cake mix and powdered sugar together, and divide it evenly between two 1-gallon zip-top bags. Line two baking sheets with parchment or wax paper. Put the cereal for each batch in its own large bowl.
- Make the white batch: In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the white candy melts with 1/2 teaspoon of shortening at 50% power in 30-second intervals, stirring between each one, until smooth. Pour it over one bowl of cereal and fold gently with a rubber spatula until every piece is coated.
- Coat it: Pour the coated cereal into one of the bags, seal it with some air inside, and shake until the cereal is evenly covered. Spread it out on one of the lined baking sheets.
- Make the red batch: Repeat with the red candy melts, the remaining 1/2 teaspoon of shortening, the second bowl of cereal, and the second bag. Spread it on the other baking sheet.
- Let it set: Let both batches sit for 15 to 20 minutes, until the coating is firm and no longer tacky.
- Combine: Toss both batches together in a large bowl with the Valentine’s candy and sprinkles.
- Bag it up: Scoop 1/2-cup portions into treat bags and seal or tie them closed.
Notes
- Why heat-treat the cake mix: Cake mix is uncooked flour, which can carry harmful bacteria. Heating it to 165°F makes it safe to eat without baking, which matters most when you’re feeding kids.
- Melting tips: Candy melts melt smoother and set firmer than white chocolate chips, which can seize. If the melted candy is too thick to coat the cereal, stir in another 1/2 teaspoon of shortening or coconut oil. Keep water away from it, since even a drop can make it seize.
- Cereal: Rice Chex stays crisp and holds the coating best. Corn Chex works too.
- For a whole class: One batch makes 12 treat bags, so double it for a class of 20 to 24 kids. Heat-treat the doubled cake mix in the same way; it will just take a little longer.
- Allergies and school rules: This recipe doesn’t use peanut butter, but candy melts and Valentine’s candies often carry “may contain peanuts or tree nuts” warnings, so check labels if a classmate has a nut allergy. The cake mix contains wheat. Some schools only allow store-bought treats, so check before you make these, and consider labeling each bag with its ingredients.
- Flavor swaps: Try red velvet or vanilla cake mix instead of strawberry, or use pink candy melts in place of the red.
- Make ahead and storage: Make these up to 2 days before the party. Store in an airtight container or sealed treat bags at room temperature for up to 1 week, away from heat and humidity, which make the coating sticky.