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Looking for an easy, fast treat for your Valentine? Red Hots Muddy Buddies are the perfect blend of spicy and sweet!
I’m Red Hot For You Valentine!
Oh Valentine, You Make Me Sizzle.
Valentine, You’re Spicy Sweet!
Okay, sorry. I couldn’t resist. I mean, it’s a Red Hots treat for Valentine’s Day, after all. Believe me, I had a lot more sayings. None of them entirely appropriate for a food blog, either. Ahem.
Have you seen all the muddy buddies (aka puppy chow) around blogland lately? I’ve been inspired! But, with all the inspiration, I had the hardest time coming up with a flavor to make. And then I had it: Red Hots! The ultimate Valentine candy! Well, at least, I remember them being Valentine Candy. Now, you know, they aren’t. And, I guess they aren’t very popular, because I had to go to three stores to find them. (FYI, Walmart and Walgreens carry them, in boxes, movie-theatre style.)
I’m not a huge Red Hots fan; they are too strong for me. So I wondered what would happen when I made these into muddy buddies. And I was very happy with the result!
These are so simple to make. First, you need to crush your Red Hots. I didn’t do this for my first batch and they didn’t melt very much. So, put them in a plastic bag and whack away with a glass. Just be sure to put the bag on a paper plate first – holes appear quickly and you don’t want to clean Red Hot dust out of your grout.
Then you simply melt candy melts and the red hots together with a bit of oil. Be sure to stir it often – the candy hardens quick. Spread the melted mixture over Chex mix, shake it in powdered sugar, and you’re done! Just be sure to pull out any Red Hots that didn’t melt all the way before serving – you don’t want anyone to break a tooth!
The sweetness of the vanilla candy cuts the cinnamon flavor quite a bit. You get a hint of cinnamon, and mingled with the sweetness, this is quite a tasty treat.
So you can serve it up to your Valentine and say, “I think you’re Red Hot!”
Sorry, couldn’t help myself.
Ingredients
- 4 ounces vanilla flavored almond bark or candy melts
- 3 1/2 cups Chex cereal
- 1/3 cup Red Hots, crushed
- 1 teaspoon oil
- 1 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Place Chex in a large bowl. Line a cookie sheet with waxed paper. Place powdered sugar in a large zip-top plastic bag.
- You can crush your Red Hots in a plastic bag. Place the bag on a paper plate and bash the bag with the bottom of a glass.
- Place candy melts, oil, and Red Hots in a microwave safe bowl. Heat for about 2 minutes, stirring well every 30 seconds. The Red Hots will stick to the side of the bowl so be sure to scrape it when you stir.
- Once candy has melted together (there will still be small pieces of Red Hots evident in the candy) pour it over the Chex and stir well. Pour the cereal in the plastic bag. Seal (be sure it’s sealed) and shake vigorously, to coat all the cereal with powdered sugar. Turn out onto cookie sheet and let cool. Pick out any whole Red Hots before serving. Those are too hard to chew!
Notes
I found my Red Hots at Walgreens. They also have them at Walmart.
More snack ideas for your Valentine:
Sweets from Friends:
Nutella Almond Muddy Buddies by Something Swanky
Cookie Butter Muddy Buddies by Kristin’s kNook
Mocha Cappuccino Puppy Chow by Inside BrewCrew Life
This post may be linked to: Chef in Training, Lil’ Luna, Buns In My Oven, Chic-and-Crafty, I’m Lovin’ it Fridays, Strut your Stuff Saturday, Weekend Wrap Up Party, Sundae Scoop Link Party, and all of these too!
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Hi there! I’m Dorothy, the crazy gal behind the blog. If you didn’t already know, I’m crazy for crust…and cookies…and brownies…and pretty much
anything with sugar.
These look so good Dorothy. I love how they’re quite spicy too. I can’t handle spicy things myself (I’m coming around to ‘warming’) LOL but the giant man-baby would love these.
Such a pity we don’t get the Chex or the Red Hots. Maybe I could just use something similar (wholewheat cereal) and throw in a Jalapeño, that’ll blow his socks off.
Lisa {Sweet 2 Eat Baking} recently posted..12 Inspirational Valentine’s Day Desserts
Thanks Lisa! The cinnamon is definitely muted in these, perfect for me! My husband would probably put tapatio sauce (like tabasco) on them if I let him…
Wow, I can honestly say I’ve never seen Red Hots Muddy Buddies before, way to get creative and think outside the box! This would make a fantastic treats for someone who loves cinnamon.
Anna {Herbivore Triathlete} recently posted..Weekly Workout Summary 02.10.2013
Thanks Anna! And they aren’t too strong at all!
This sounds insanely crazy delish!
Thanks Jamie!
OH my goodness…what a fun Muddy Buddy flavor! This is absolutely perfect for Valentines! I love how fun and creative this is! I’m not a huge fan of red hots unless it is in something like this and toned down!
Jocelyn @BruCrew Life recently posted..No Bake Caramel Mud Pie Cups
Same here – and this did the trick!
Thanks Jocelyn!
I want to believe you when you say they’re tasty. I really do. But when I see Red Hots used in desserts..I just can’t handle it. However, I think bloggers are super creative for coming up with desserts using Red Hots (of all the things!)
Kristin recently posted..Pinned. Did. Done.
These are not strong at all – the flavor is so muted! I’m NOT a red hots fan, but I ate buckets of this!
Love this twist on the Muddy Buddies!
Rita recently posted..Guest Posting
YUMMY! I want some now!!!
Diana Rambles recently posted..Chinese New Year Ideas & Crafts
Thanks Diana!
Love Red Hots – right up my alley! I have yet to try Muddy Buddies or Puppy Chow….hmm?
Liz recently posted..Stained Glass Valentine Cookies
You must try! The original version is also quite tasty (pb and chocolate!)
Ha ha, no way I just made some rice krispy treats using red hots today! I guess it’s the season
These look so good. I Love muddy buddies, I could eat that whole bowl myself! Now I know what I’m going to do with my leftover red hots!
Summer @ Mallow and Co recently posted..Cheesecake Rice Krispies
Oh, yum! I’m now in love with red hots in things…instead of by themselves!
You know I love these Dorothy.
I bet this would be good with Cinnamon flavored Chex cereal!
sally @ sallys baking addiction recently posted..red velvet cheesecake swirl brownies.
I know! I was scared to try it, in case it was too strong. But the flavor was muted, so I think that would be good!
Yum! Love the contrast with the red hots!
Michelle recently posted..Geeky Valentines on chocolate sugar cookie bar hearts
Thanks Michelle!
LOL I used to love red hots, we had contests to see who could put the most in their mouth at one time. Now in this version, it would probably taste way better.
sue @ cakeballs, cookies and more recently posted..Philadelphia Chocolate Cream Cheese Review
It totally does! We had those competitions too – with fireballs. *shudder*
My husband loves red hots but I’m not a huge fan. . .I think I could get into eating them in this, though!
Jessica@AKitchenAddiction recently posted..Skinny Fudgy Brownies (Quick & Easy)
I’m not a huge fan of them straight either, but these were really good!
Thanks Jessica!
mmm I love the taste of red hots now as an adult. This would be fabulous!
Katrina @ In Katrina’s Kitchen recently posted..PicMonkey Mondays: Creating a Collage
What a great idea for a snack! We had a machine in culinary school that would coat anything in chocolate, white or dark and I loved making up toppings. Your technique makes it look easy, XOXO
Susan recently posted..Decadent Brownie Cookies with Peanut Butter Butter Cream
I want one of those machines! LOL
Oh my word. I haven’t had Red Hots in yearrrrrrs! Love this!
Karly recently posted..Brown Sugar Glazed Banana Donuts
Neither had I! I need to bake with them more.
Thanks Karly!
My kiddos will go crazy for this!
Mine sure did! Thanks so much!
I definitely remember red hots being a valentines day candy, but now that you mention it– I haven’t seen any yet this year! I tried to buy snow caps last week, too, and had to go ALL OVER to find them! *rant over* I love red hots and puppy chow, so this sounds like an epic combo
Kelly @ Hidden Fruits and Veggies recently posted..Vegan Banana French Toast
I remember my mom buying bagsful and eating them. Weird! Thanks Kelly!
I hated red hots when I was little but now I love them. And this puppy chow is perfect for Valentines Day. If only for the sole reason to say “I think your red hot”
Nicole @ youngbrokeandhungry recently posted..Valentines Day Dinner: Scratch Deli
I know, right?? Thanks Nicole!
that is a perfect flavor for the Red Hot Love Day! =) Thanks for linking at Show Me Your Plaid Monday’s!
Chandra@The Plaid and Paisley Kitchen recently posted..Show Me Your Plaid Monday’s #10
Thanks Chandra!
Everyone in my house loves red hots–straight up!
This sounds so good, Dorothy!
Ashley @ Kitchen Meets Girl recently posted..Chocolate Brownie Waffles
Thanks Ashley!
:)
Dorothy, I LOVE Red Hots! These Muddy Buddies are a must make for me
Thanks for sharing!
Michelle
Thanks Michelle! I cannot. stop. eating them.
What a great idea! I never would have thought of using red hots … great flavor combo
Brenda recently posted..Valentine’s Day Review
Thanks Brenda!
This is genius! I love Red Hots and never would have thought to use them in muddy buddies. Thanks!
Hannah recently posted..Chocolate Covered Strawberry Muddy Buddies
Thanks Hannah!
OMG. I super heart red hots. But sometimes, admittedly, I think they’re way too hot (also, admittedly, sometimes I’m a wimp). But muddy buddies sound like the perf solution to taming the heat and smothering more stuff in powdered sugar
Hayley @ The Domestic Rebel recently posted..Valentine Heart Chow
It totally tones them down. I am addicted to these, and I can’t even eat regular red hots. I guess aging changes things – I used to live on fireballs when I was a kid…
Beautiful pictures! And I love red hots mixed with other sweets. The extra sugar takes that nasty “bite” out!
Katie @ Dip It In Chocolate recently posted..Valentine’s Ombre Drinks
Totally! They are just the right amount of cinnamony.
Oh!! This looks amazing!! I am in love with your site! You have so many delicious things! Would you consider linking this and anything else you want to share, over at my Pinterest Power party?
http://www.thetaylor-house.com/2013/02/14/pinterest-power-party-7.html
Thanks!
Chrissy
Chrissy recently posted..“POP” ular Teacher Valentine Gift
Thanks Chrissy!!
what a fun twist on a classic- we’d love for you to join us on the photo friday linky party. happy weekend!
Thank you Deirdre!
mmm, they r so sweety on pictures )
Nadia recently posted..Billy Bragg – Which Side Are You On? Plans To Release New Album Next Month
Thanks Nadia!
YUM! I love the cute little sayings you came up with…maybe I can make this next year with a printed tag! So fun!
Rachel @ I Love My Disorganized Life recently posted..Sweet {it’s} Friday:
That would be yummy! I am craving them now.
I can’t wait to make these! Every V-day there is a standing order in my house for Red Hot Rice Krispie Treats, and now I can’t wait to add this to V-day recipes. Thanks!
Yay! I really, really liked this mix, way more than I thought I would!