Easter Puppy Chow
If you’re looking for a sweet Easter treat that’s as easy to make as it is eye-catching, you’re going to love this Easter Puppy Chow. It’s bright, colorful, and totally addictive—perfect for filling up treat bags, adding to dessert tables, or just snacking straight from the bowl. No judgment here!
This recipe is a fun twist on the classic muddy buddies (a.k.a. puppy chow), but with a pastel makeover that screams spring. We’re swapping out the usual chocolate and creamy peanut butter for vibrant Wilton candy melts in pretty pink, purple, and blue. The result? A sugary snack mix that’s equal parts festive and delicious.
Plus, it’s a no-bake recipe—so it’s great for making with kids or whipping up last minute before an Easter gathering.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It’s super easy: No baking, no fancy equipment, and just a few simple steps. If you can stir and shake a bag, you can make this!
- Perfect for Easter: The pastel colors are made for springtime celebrations. It looks adorable in treat bags, mason jars, or just in a big bowl on the table.
- Kid-friendly fun: Little hands love helping with this one—especially the part where you shake the bag full of cereal and powdered sugar. Messy? Maybe. Fun? Definitely.
- Customizable: Swap the colors, add sprinkles, mix in some mini eggs or M&Ms—this recipe is easy to make your own.
- Totally snackable: Sweet, crunchy, and hard to resist. Just a warning: once you start munching, it’s really hard to stop.
Ingredients
The full printable recipe card with measurements and instructions is found at the bottom of the post.
- Pink, purple, and blue Wilton candy melts: These give the mix its fun Easter colors. You can use any pastel shades you like—just stick with candy melts so they melt smoothly.
- Shortening (like Crisco): Helps thin out the candy melts so they coat the cereal evenly without clumping. Don’t skip it!
- Chex Rice Cereal: The classic base for puppy chow. Its little pockets hold onto the candy coating perfectly.
- Confectioner’s sugar: This gives the mix its signature powdery finish. Use a sifter for the lightest, most even coating.
- Sprinkles or colored sugar (optional): Add extra flair before the powdered sugar step for a fun, festive touch.
How to Make This Easter Puppy Chow Recipe
- Step One: Divide the Wilton candy melts into three microwave-safe bowls.
- Step Two: Heat for 45 seconds, then stir. Put it back into the microwave and heat it for 30 seconds. Remove and stir, then heat again for 30 seconds.
- Step Three: Add ¼ teaspoon of shortening and stir. This helps liquefy the candy melts and makes it easier to coat the rice cereal without it getting too thick and bumpy. Repeat this process with each color.
- Step Four: In a large Ziploc bag, pour 2 cups of Chex Rice Cereal and coat with one bowl of the melted candy melts. Repeat this process with two more Ziploc bags with the remaining colors. Gently shake the bag, rolling slowly, to completely coat the rice Chex cereal with the melted candy melts. Repeat with each color.
- Step Five: Line a baking sheet with waxed paper or parchment paper. Empty one bag of rice cereal mixture onto the cookie sheet. Spread the cereal mixture out as flat as possible.
- Step Six: Using a sifter, sift confectioner’s sugar over the rice cereal mixture, evenly coating the entire mixture. Pick up the waxed paper by the edges and gently roll the mixture around so that the confectioner’s sugar completely coats the warm candy. Repeat this process as many times as necessary to get the desired coating.
- Step Seven: Place the waxed paper in the fridge for about five minutes to harden. Repeat this process with the remaining two colors of melted Wilton candy melts. Note: You can also sprinkle the candy-coated rice cereal with sprinkled or colored sugar before coating it with confectioner’s sugar for extra effect!
What to Serve with It
Easter Muddy Buddies are a sweet snack all on its own, but if you’re putting together a full Easter spread or treat table, it pairs perfectly with:
- Mini chocolate eggs or jellybeans: Scatter them around the bowl or mix them right in for extra color and crunch.
- Fruit platters: Think strawberries, pineapple, or melon for a pop of spring flavor.
- Cupcakes or cookies: Especially ones decorated in pastel colors or topped with Easter sprinkles. It all ties together!
- Lemonade or fruit punch: A light, refreshing drink is the perfect match for this sugary snack mix.
- Easter baskets or favor bags: Puppy chow makes a cute and tasty addition to gift bags or party favors—just portion it into little cellophane bags and tie with a ribbon!
Variations and Substitutions
- Change up the colors: Don’t feel limited to pink, purple, and blue. Use whatever colors fit your celebration—pastels for spring, or go bold for birthdays or baby showers.
- Use white chocolate or candy bark: If you don’t have candy melts, white chocolate chips, or vanilla candy bark work too. Just add a bit of shortening to help it melt smoothly.
- Swap the cereal: Chex is classic, but you can use Crispix or even mini pretzels for a fun twist. Just aim for something that holds up well to coating.
- Add-ins: Mix in mini chocolate eggs, pastel M&Ms, or even mini marshmallows after the powdered sugar step for extra texture and flavor.
- Gluten-free option: Most Chex cereals are gluten-free, but double-check the label to be sure.
- No shortening? A small amount of coconut oil can work in a pinch, though it may slightly change the flavor and texture.
- Dairy-free? Use dairy-free candy melts or white chocolate alternatives to make it work for everyone.
Storage Instructions
Once your Easter Puppy Chow (also called Bunny Bait) has cooled and the coating is set, transfer it to an airtight container or resealable bag. It’ll stay fresh at room temperature for up to 1 week—if it lasts that long!
If you want to make it ahead, you can prep it a few days early and just keep it sealed in a cool, dry place. No need to refrigerate unless your kitchen is really warm, in which case the candy coating might get a little melty.
Tip: If you’re gifting it or using it for party favors, portion it out right away so you’re not tempted to snack on the whole batch. (Speaking from experience here!)
If you need to keep it for a longer period, you can freeze it for up to 3 months. Just be sure to use a freezer-safe container and let it thaw completely before serving.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Work quickly: Candy melts harden fast once they’re melted, so have everything ready to go before you start—cereal measured, bags opened, and waxed paper lined.
- Use separate bowls and bags: Keep the colors vibrant by coating each batch in its own bowl and Ziploc bag. Mixing too early can create a muddy color mess.
- Thin the candy melts: Don’t skip the shortening—it makes the melted candy easier to work with and helps it coat the cereal evenly without getting clumpy.
- Sift the sugar: For the prettiest finish, use a sifter or fine mesh strainer to dust the powdered sugar evenly over the candy-coated cereal.
- Let it cool before storing: Warm candy melts can make your mix sticky if you rush the process. Give it a few minutes in the fridge so everything sets up nicely.
- Double (or triple!) the batch: This stuff disappears fast, especially if you’re serving a crowd. It’s easy to scale up, so go big if you need to!
Easter Treats
- Leftover Easter Candy Rice Krispies
- Italian Easter Cookies
- Cream Cheese Mints
- Easter Bark
- Krispie Easter Nests
You’ll also like S’mores Puppy Chow.
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Easter Puppy Chow
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Ingredients
- ½ bag pink Wilton Candy Melts
- ½ bag purple Wilton Candy Melts
- ½ bag blue Wilton Candy Melts
- ¾ tsp shortening (like Crisco) ¼ tsp for each color candy melt
- 6 cups Chex Rice Cereal
- 3 cups confectioner's sugar more or less depending on your desired result
Instructions
- Divide the Wilton candy melts into three different microwave safe bowls.
- Heat for 45 seconds, then stir, put back into the microwave and heat an additional 30 seconds. Remove and stir, then heat again for 30 seconds.
- Add ¼ teaspoon shortening and stir – this helps liquefy the candy melts and makes it easier to coat the rice cereal without getting too thick and bumpy.
- Repeat this process with each color.
- In a large sized Ziploc bag, pour 2 cups Chex Rice Cereal and coat with one bowl of the melted candy melts. Repeat this process with two more Ziploc bags with the remaining colors. Gently shake the bag, rolling slowly, to completely coat the Rice Cereal with the melted candy melts. Repeat with each color.
- Line a cookie sheet with waxed paper and empty one bag of rice cereal mixture on a cookie sheet. Spread the cereal mixture out as flat as possible.
- Using a sifter, sift confectioner sugar over the top of the rice cereal mixture, evenly coating the entire mixture. Pick up the waxed paper by the edges and gently roll the mixture around so that the confectioner sugar completely coats the warm candy. Repeat this process as much as you need to get the desired coating.
- Place the waxed paper in the fridge for about five minutes to harden. Repeat this process with the remaining two colors of melted Wilton candy melts.
- Note: you can also sprinkle the candy-coated rice cereal with sprinkled or colored sugar before coating in confectioner sugar for extra effect!
Notes
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
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