Red Velvet Muddy Buddies

The past few days I have been making a lot of treats for Valentine's Day.  I really love all the Valentine's Day flavors, especially anything with chocolate.  One of my favorite Valentine's Day flavors is red velvet, I love the rich chocolate flavor of red velvet.  

I decided to make one of my favorite treats and combine it with one of my favorite Valentine's Day flavors to make a fantastic treat.  These Red Velvet Muddy Buddies or Puppy Chow are so good and have a great flavor. Even though these don't have the same deep red color of red velvet, they still have the same great taste.  I used red sprinkles to make the muddies buddies more festive.  These use Red Velvet cake mix, powdered sugar, chocolate, and Chex to create a fantastic treat.  

This Red Velvet Puppy Chow was so delicious, I really loved the red velvet flavor. Also, one of my favorite things about muddy buddies is that they are so easy to make and can be made in a matter of minutes.  These would be great for any Valentine's Day party or for any celebration.

Red Velvet Muddy Buddies

5 cups rice Chex cereal 

1 1/2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips, melted

1 1/2 cups red velvet cake mix

1/2 cup powdered sugar

Red sprinkles (optional)

1.  Add the powdered sugar and the red velvet cake mix into a plastic bag and shake to combine.  

2.  Put the Chex cereal in a large bowl.

3.  Melt the semi sweet chocolate chips in the microwave for 45 seconds and stir until smooth.  If not melted, microwave for additional 10 second increments until melted and smooth.

4.  Pour the melted chocolate over the Chex cereal and mix until the cereal is coated. Add the cereal to the plastic bag with the powdered sugar and red velvet mixture and shake until the cereal is completely covered.  

5.  If desired, add the sprinkles on top of the muddy buddies.  

*Alyssa*

 Linked to these parties

Try these other great Muddy Buddies:

Biscoff Muddy Buddies

Pumpkin Pie Muddy Buddies

Candy Cane Muddy Budddies   

Showcase Your Talent Thursday #44

Welcome to 

Showcase Your Talent Thursday!!

I hope everyone is having a good week.  I'm excited about the Superbowl this weekend!  I love seeing all the commercials and the half time show especially.  We are not having a party, but will just watch the game here at home.  I haven't decided which team to root for yet, as my brother-in-law lives in Baltimore and its only an hour and a half from where I live.  I like San Francisco though, so that's why I am torn.  Either way it will be a good game.  I hope that everyone has a great time watching the game!

Thanks to everyone that linked up last week! There are so many great ideas, I always have a hard time picking the features! I can't wait to see what you have to share this week!!  

Most Viewed Links:




Tigger Tails by Chatting Over Chocolate.  These are such a cute treat! I think they would be great for a Winnie the Pooh themed party!




How to Make a Scarf Using Sashay Yarn and Your Fingers by Adventures of a DIY Mom.  This scarf is so pretty.  Plus, I really love this method as I can't sew!


My Favorites:




Cheesy Bacon Spinach Dip by Who Needs a Cape?  Wow this dip look fantastic, this would be great to serve at the Superbowl!




Hershey Kiss Cookies by Life Is Sweets.  These cookies are so adorable and would be good for Valentine's Day!




Strawberry Custard Powder Cake by Simply Sweet 'n Savory.  This cake looks great and it is such a pretty color.




Chocolate Malt Whoopie Pies by Food Babbles.  These whoopie pies look almost too good to eat, almost! I love he malt flavoring on them!

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Chocolate Cherry Magic Bars

I have been seeing Magic Bars all over the Internet.  I have had Magic Bars before, but never made them myself.  Once I saw these Brownie Peanut Butter Magic Bars with a Brownie Crust by Crazy for Crust, I knew I needed to try Magic Bars.  

I decided to make a variation of Magic Bars for Valentine's Day using the seasonal Cherry M&M's.  I was able to find the M&M's at Target, but if you cannot find them you can always use regular M&M's.  Chocolate and fruit combinations are always great for Valentine's Day and Chocolate and Cherries are no exception. 

These Magic Bars are so good.  They start with a brownie crust, then a layer of maraschino cherries, a layer of milk chocolate chips, a layer of dark chocolate chips, a layer of Cherry M&M's, and sweetened condensed milk poured all over the layers.  

These bars were so delicious, I really love the combination of all the cherry flavors and the chocolate.  These were so ooey and gooey, but were also good cold.  These bars were really rich, so I recommend just a small piece at a time.  I hope you enjoy these great Valentine's Day treats.  

Chocolate Cherry Magic Bars

1 box Brownie mix (19 ounces), dry 

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 egg

1 tablespoon maraschino cherry juice

1/2 cup maraschino cherries, quartered and patted dry

1 cup milk chocolate chips

1 cup dark chocolate chips

1 cup cherry M&Ms

1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk

1.  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2.  Line a 9x13 inch pan with foil and spray the foil with cooking spray.

3.  Beat the brownie mix, butter, egg, and maraschino cherry juice until combined.  The mixture will be thick.  Press the mixture into the bottom of the 9x13 inch pan.

4.  Evenly sprinkle the maraschino cherries, milk chocolate chips, dark chocolate chips, and cherry M&M's on top of the brownie crust.  Pour the sweetened condensed milk on top.  

5.  Bake for 30 minutes or until the edges of the brownie begin to brown.  Let the bars cool completely before slicing.  If desired, refrigerate  to cool the bars faster.  

*Alyssa*
Linked to these parties

Here are some other Valentine's Day treats:

Chocolate Strawberry Dip

Chocolate Strawberry Fudge

Chocolate Raspberry Pretzel Bites

Chocolate Raspberry Pretzel Bites

When it gets close to a holiday, I always like to look for all the seasonal candy.  I love seeing new flavors of my favorite candy. These Hershey Raspberry Hugs are no exception, i love the combination of the white chocolate, chocolate, and raspberry flavors.  

I decided to make Pretzel Bites with the Raspberry Hugs.  I topped them with Valentine Colored M&M's.  These are delicious treats for Valentine's Day and are great for any Valentine's Day party.  It would be even great to bag some of these up and give them to your Valentine. Plus, I think that the pretzels kind of look like hearts.  The flavor of the M&M, Raspberry Hug, and the Pretzel was really great.  These are a really great spin on the traditional Pretzel Bites.  

 Chocolate Raspberry Pretzel Bites

Small twisted pretzels
Hershey Raspberry Hugs
Valentine Colored M&M's

1.  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2.  Place the pretzels on an ungreased cookie sheet.  Place a Raspberry Hug on top of each pretzel.

3.  Bake the pretzels for 2-3 minutes or until the chocolate softens.

4.  Once you remove form the oven gently place a M&M on top of the Raspberry Hug.  Then cool and serve.  To cool faster refrigerate the pretzel kisses. 

(I can usually fit about 35 pretzels on one cookie sheet)

*Alyssa*

Linked to these parties

Here are some other great treats:

Chocolate Strawberry Dip

Chocolate Strawberry Fudge

Patriotic Pretzel Hugs

Chocolate Strawberry Dip

I can't believe how soon Valentine's Day is, I think that this year is going really fast so far.  

The first flavor combination I think of when I think of Valentine's Day is chocolate and strawberry.  I mean how can you go wrong with chocolate covered strawberries?  

With the Superbowl coming up, I decided to make a Valentine's Day dip, that would be good for either Valentine's Day, the Superbowl, or any occasion.  The strawberries give the dip a great flavor.  Along with the chopped strawberries in the dip, this dip also contains chocolate pieces.  Yum!

The combination of chocolate and strawberry in this dip is fantastic.  This dip is great served with graham crackers, vanilla wafers, or fruit.  I really liked all the chocolate and strawberry goodness on top of the dip! I hope that you enjoy this fantastic dip!

Chocolate Strawberry Dip

1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup powdered sugar

1 container (8 ounces) of Cool Whip 

1 Hershey's Chocolate Candy Bar, chopped (about 1/4 cup)

1/2 cup strawberries, chopped

Optional Topping

3 pieces of Hershey's Chocolate Candy Bar, chopped

1/8 cup strawberries, chopped. 

1.  Mix the cream cheese and powdered sugar together.  Then gradually stir in the Cool Whip and strawberries until combined.  Then gently stir in the chopped chocolate bar until combined.

2.  Add the additional strawberries and chopped chocolate bar on top.  Chill before serving.  Serve with graham crackers, vanilla wafers, or fruit.  

*Alyssa*

Linked to these parties 

Try these other great dessert appetizers:

 

Reese's Dip

Nutella Dip

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake Cheese Ball

Showcase Your Talent Thursday #43

 Welcome to 

Showcase Your Talent Thursday!!

I hope everyone is having a good week.  I can't wait for spring to get here, this cold winter weather is depressing.  When I left the house this morning my car said that it was 11 degrees outside.  I want this cold weather to end, I love the spring weather.  Its getting closer though, I can't believe that Valentine's Day is almost here! I can't wait to see all your great winter and Valentine's Day recipes.  

Thanks to everyone that linked up last week! There are so many great ideas, I always have a hard time picking the features! I can't wait to see what you have to share this week!!  

Most Viewed Link:




Chocolate Shortbread by Pint Sized Baker.  I love these, they are so cute! The piping of the frosting is beautiful!


My Favorites:




Cubcakes by The Seven Year Cottage.  These are so adorable and are great for winter!




Chocolate Chocolate Cherry Muffins by I Heart Eating.  I always love the combination of chocolate and cherries.  These muffins look so delicious!




Football Fudge on a Marshmallow Field by Hoopla Palooza.  These are so cute! They would be great to serve at a Superbowl party!




New "Pop" Gift Basket by Pretty Providence.  This is such a good gift for any dad to be.  I think its a great idea to get a gift for the dad, as well as the baby and mom! 

Thanks for linking up and feel free to grab a button if you were featured.

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Link up as many of your recipes, crafts, tutorials, ideas, projects, or fun posts as you would like to share.

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Link up to your post and not your main blog.

Make sure to visit some of the other links and most of all HAVE FUN!!!

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Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake Cheese Ball

I always look forward to watching the Superbowl. I think the match up of the Ravens versus the Niners will be a really good game.  I like watching football but I am usually more excited for the commercials, the half time show, and of course the food.  We always make a bunch of appetizers, even if it is just our little family watching the game together.  

The appetizer that I am most excited about is this Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake Cheese Ball. I thought of the idea to make a cheese ball when I saw this fantastic looking Red Velvet Cheese Ball from Taste and Tell.   We made this for watching a football game a few weeks ago and we loved it.  The Cheese Ball (the cheese being cream cheese) has a great chocolate and peanut butter flavor.  It reminds me of chocolate peanut butter cake with the peanut butter chips on the outside, similar to the peanut butter frosting on a cake.  

This dessert ball was amazing and I can't wait to make it again for this Superbowl.  It tasted great with Vanilla Wafers.  It can also be served with graham crackers or fruit. I really liked that you can make this the night before and have it ready for the big party the next day.  You can't go wrong with an appetizer that tastes like Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake!!

 Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake Cheese Ball

1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups chocolate cake mix, dry
1/2 cup peanut butter
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 cup peanut butter chips
Vanilla Wafers, graham crackers, fruit, or other cookies for dipping

1.  In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and butter together until combined.  Then add in the chocolate cake mix, peanut butter, brown sugar, and powdered sugar and beat until combined.

2.  Place the mixture on a large piece of plastic wrap.  Bring up all the corners of the plastic wrap and wrap into a ball.  Freeze the ball for about 1 1/2 hours or until it is firm enough to keep its shape.

3.  Place the peanut butter chips on a flat plate and roll the unwrapped cheese ball in the peanut butter chips. Make sure to press the peanut butter chips into the cheese ball until it is fully covered.

4.  Place the ball on a serving dish, cover with plastic wrap and freeze the cheese ball for another 2 hours or overnight.  If frozen overnight, thaw for 20-30 minutes before serving.  Serve with Vanilla Wafers, graham crackers, fruit, or other cookies.

*Alyssa*

Linked to these parties 

Try these other great dessert appetizers:

Reese's Dip

Nutella Dip