Valentine’s Day snack mix, also called Cupid’s crunch, is a fun and festive snack for February that’s sweet and salty, crunchy and nutty.
Happy hump day!
I've got a sick kid at home and a busy day of work so that should be an interesting juggling act. Luckily, she's pretty low-key and I should be able to sneak in some snuggles and stories with her between deadlines.
So earlier this week I shared some healthy chocolate recipes for February so we can celebrate Valentine’s Day ALL the ways.
And last year I shared 33 ideas for healthy Valentine’s Day snacks, which includes tons of easy recipes as well as “assembly” types of ideas to add a little fun to the holiday.
In that post was a teaser for today’s recipe for this Valentine’s Day snack mix, which is ALL kinds of festive. ❤️
This easy snack mix is also sometimes called Cupid’s crunch, which is just adorable if you ask me.
(For a different twist, check out this reindeer chow, aka Christmas muddy buddies, that's perfect for the holidays.)
And it can be made with a variety of mix-ins, but I love the combination here for the combination of crunchy, savory, sweet, nutty and chocolatey.
It’s pretty irresistible!
And just plain pretty too - I mean, look at this! Who wouldn’t want to dig in?
You can also check out my Google web story on this Valentine's Day snack mix recipe.
Now, I’ve got some notes, tips and substitutions coming up below on how to make Cupid’s Crunch snack mix. Just tryin’ to be helpful.
If you want to jump on down to the recipe, simply scroll right on through the rest of the text. The recipe card is near the bottom of the page, above the comments section.
(Oh, and if you love the traditional kind, check out this homemade chex mix. So easy and so addictive!)
What’s in Valentine’s Day snack mix?
- This mix is a combination of Chex cereal (or Crispix cereal), plain popcorn, pretzel sticks, peanuts, and red, white and pink M&M candies.
- You can serve as is or coat the mixture in melted white chocolate for an extra special treat.
The white chocolate makes everything kinda stick together and it looks really lovely too. It’s like the whole thing got lightly frosted.
I used white melting wafers, but you could use white chocolate chips.
Be sure to go slowly with melting it in the microwave and definitely use 50% power. You want to microwave in intervals until it’s more than halfway melted. Then you can stir the chocolate at the end to get all the chips completely melted and smooth.
If you go too long or you cook them at a higher power, the white chocolate can seize up and then it’s pretty much unusable. And that’s no fun.
Notes on Valentine’s Day snack mix:
- For the cereal, you can opt for rice or corn Chex cereal (or a combination of the two) or use Crispix cereal, which is what I had on hand.
- I love the nutty addition from the peanuts, but you could leave this out or substitute another nut if you have allergies or are taking them to school.
- About the popcorn in this snack mix... I make popcorn from kernels at home all the time - it’s really easy to do in the microwave - but if you didn’t want to do that, you can use a plain store-bought popcorn.
- Or just substitute more Chex or use another cereal as an add-in instead.
It’s all about keeping it easy and fun with this recipe today, so use what you like!
This Valentine’s snack mix is perfect for putting out at a party or sending in to a school party. You’ll likely want to make a triple batch or more, depending on the class size and age of the kids.
You can also just leave it out for snacking at home and enjoy a handful here and there. Though you may find yourself drawn to the spot where you’ve left it because it’s SO good!
If you are also looking for a dessert to celebrate Valentine's, check out this strawberry cheesecake with brownie crust. So decadent and delicious!
Last note: Stay tuned because I have another version of this snack mix coming up tomorrow. (Spoiler alert: It’s a lighter, healthier version that’s perfect for toddlers and younger kids.) Update: here's the link for toddler Valentine's Day snack mix.
You can also sign up for free e-newsletter to get all of my new recipes delivered straight to your inbox so you never miss a thing. I’ll even send you my free e-cookbook, Healthy Weeknight Dinners, as a thank you!
And if you do make this, definitely tag me on Instagram. I love to see your creations!
Happy snacking!
XO,
Kathryn
P.S. You may want to check out my mini chocolate strawberry pretzel fudge cups. They are really fun to make - and eat! And chocolate Rice Krispies are super simple but have big chocolate flavor.
Valentine’s Day snack mix
Ingredients
- 1 cup Crispix or Chex cereal
- 1 cup plain popcorn (see notes)
- 1 heaping cup pretzel sticks
- ½ cup lightly salted peanuts
- ½ cup Valentine’s M&Ms (pink, red and white)
- Optional: 1 cup white chocolate melting chips (or white chocolate chips)
Instructions
- Combine the cereal, popcorn, pretzel sticks, peanuts and M&M candies in a medium bowl and stir to combine.
- If using, place the white chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on 50% power for 1 minute, then stir and microwave in 30-second intervals until the chips are more than halfway melted. Stir well to melt completely. (Be careful not to microwave too long or the white chocolate can seize up and then it’s unusable.)
- Drizzle the melted white chocolate over the snack mix and stir well to get it evenly coated on all the pieces.
- Let cool and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Leave a Reply