Leprechaun Bait is a crunchy and delicious green candy-coated snack mix that’s perfect for St. Patrick’s Day. Some even say it’s magic!
Leprechaun Bait (St. Patrick’s Day Puppy Chow)
Puppy chow is one of my favorite sweet treat recipes because it is so easy to make and you can customize it for any occasion. We’ve made red and green Christmas Puppy Chow, “Scarecrow Crunch” for fall, and even Valentine’s Day puppy chow. So of course we had to make a green puppy chow for St. Patrick’s Day too!
A fun tradition that some of my friends do is to make and leave out “Leprechaun Bait” before St. Patrick’s Day and then see what it brings. Sometimes the next day kids find little green footprints and glitter in the house, evidence of a magical visitor. How fun is that?!
This Leprechaun Bait is a spin on the classic puppy chow recipe, also called Muddy Buddies, which is Chex mix coated in a blend of chocolate and peanut butter. For this recipe we used white chocolate and swapped out the peanut butter for frosting. The frosting gives us bright colors for our candy coating, without needing to add any extra food coloring.
Leprechaun crunch is Chex mix cereal that’s tossed in a mixture of melted chocolate and frosting. This melt-in-your-mouth candy coating and crispy cereal center makes an irresistible snack mix that both kids and grown ups…and leprechauns…will love!
Let’s find some Leprechauns!
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Ingredients
- 1/2 cup white frosting
- 1/2 cup green frosting
- 1/2 cup white candy melts or white chocolate chips, divided
- 1 Tablespoons shortening, if needed
- 4 cups Chex cereal (Feel free to use either Rice Chex cereal or Corn Chex – both work!)
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- Mint M&Ms
- Shamrock sprinkles
Helpful Kitchen Tools
- Large Bowl
- Microwave-safe Bowl
- Large Freezer Bag
- Large Baking Sheet
- Green Cauldron – this is what we used in our photos and is such a cute way to serve your St. Patrick’s Day puppy chow!
- Chocolate Gold Coins – we also put these on top of our snack mix for a festive and sparkly touch
Instructions
To Prep: Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or a non-stick silicone baking mat.
- Combine white frosting and 1/4 cup white chocolate chips (or white candy melts) in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat in 20 second intervals, stirring between, until melted and smooth. If needed, you can add a teaspoon of shortening or coconut oil to soften the mixture.
- Fold 2 cups of Chex cereal into the bowl and stir until all cereal pieces are coated in the white chocolate frosting mixture.
- Pour 1/2 cup confectioner’s sugar into a large gallon zip-top bag, then scoop in the white candy-coated cereal. Seal the bag and shake well until all of the cereal is coated with sugar.
- Open the bag and shake out the cereal onto your prepared baking sheet, then repeat the process with green frosting to make the same amount of green Chex mix.
Prep Tips
- Allow your St. Patrick’s Day snack mix to air dry on a baking sheet for at least an hour, or until completely dry, before serving or storing.
- We used shamrock sprinkles and white and green M&Ms as mix-ins for our puppy chow, but feel free to swap out with your favorite candies or sprinkles. Lucky Charms marshmallows would be fun too! This candy coated snack mix is also delicious on its own!
- We love these silicone baking mats because you can wash and re-use them over and over again. Because they’re non-stick, you don’t need any non-stick spray – the snack mix just slides right off the mats!
- Instead of microwaving, you can also melt the white chocolate in a double boiler over medium heat OR by making your own double-boiler with a saucepan of water and a metal bowl on top.
- I’ve linked to some of the products we used in the ingredients list near the top of the blog post, but you can also find a lot of fun ingredients at craft stores!
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do You Store Puppy Chow?
Once the candy coating on your snack mix is completely dry, scoop it into a sealed airtight container or ziplock freezer bag and store at room temperature. Refrigeration is not necessary, but you can keep the container in the fridge if you like. Your snack mix will stay fresh up to a week or so either way.
Can You Freeze Puppy Chow?
Yes, your snack mix can stay in the freezer for up to 3-6 months in a freezer safe food storage container or bag. When you’re ready to enjoy it, pull the bag out of the freezer and allow the puppy chow to thaw slowly to room temperature. Do not use the microwave or oven to reheat, as this could melt the candy coating.
More St. Patrick’s Day Desserts and Recipes To Try:
- Shamrock Pancakes
- “Pot of Gold” St. Patrick’s Day Cookie Cups
- Stovetop Corned Beef and Cabbage
- Guinness & Honey Glazed Chicken
- Beer Skillet Potatoes with Grilled Chicken
- Leprechaun Bark
- Leprechaun Punch (Lime Sherbet Punch)
- Rainbow Graham Crackers
- Lucky Charms Cake
- Lucky Charms Marshmallow Treats
- Lucky Charms Hot Chocolate Bombs
- Copycat McDonald’s Shamrock Shake
Leprechaun Crunch Recipe (Printable Recipe Card)
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Leprechaun Bait
Equipment
- large bowl
- microwave safe bowl
- Large Freezer Bag
- Large Baking Sheet
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup white frosting
- 1/2 cup green frosting
- 1/2 cup white candy melts or white chocolate chips divided
- 1 Tablespoons shortening if needed
- 4 cups Chex cereal Feel free to use either Rice Chex cereal or Corn Chex – both work!
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- Mint M&Ms
- Shamrock sprinkles
Instructions
- To Prep: Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or a non-stick silicone baking mat.
- Combine white frosting and 1/4 cup white chocolate chips (or white candy melts) in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat in 20 second increments, stirring between, until melted and smooth. If needed, you can add a teaspoon of shortening or coconut oil to soften the mixture.
- Fold 2 cups of Chex cereal into the bowl and stir until all cereal pieces are coated in the white chocolate frosting mixture.
- Pour 1/2 cup confectioner’s sugar into a large gallon zip-top bag, then scoop in the white candy-coated cereal. Seal the bag and shake well until all of the cereal is coated with sugar.
- Open the bag and shake out the cereal onto your prepared baking sheet, then repeat the process with green frosting to make the same amount of green Chex mix.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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