Easter Puppy Chow Recipe (Bunny Bait)

Extra crunchy and delicious Easter Puppy Chow made with white chocolate and peanut butter. This recipe is really easy to make and perfect for snacking!

Easter is a time for celebration, where family members come together at the Easter table and bond over delicious food. Although most people have different preferences and taste, one thing is for certain – everyone loves puppy chow!

This playful Easter Puppy Chow or Easter Bunny Chow is extra crunchy, but also incredibly tasty. Made with silky smooth white chocolate and creamy peanut butter, this snack is seriously addictive! Decorated with pastel M&M’s and chocolate eggs, this fun Easter treat is guaranteed to be a hit with both adults and kids.

Planning your Easter dessert menu? Try out this extra colourful Easter Poke Cake, festive and delicious Mini Carrot Cake or playful and fun Chimney Cone Carrots.

What is puppy chow?

Also known as muddy buddies or monkey munch, puppy chow is a classic American sweet snack. It’s usually made using Chex cereal, which gets coated in a sweet mixture of white chocolate and peanut butter. The treats are then coated in powdered sugar, making a sweet, crunchy and nutty snack that’s hard to resist.

The origins of puppy chow are unclear, but it’s commonly assumed to come from Midwest during the 40s and 50s. The name ‘puppy chow’ is probably inspired by its resemblance to dog food. Despite the funny resemblance, this recipe tastes nothing like dog food, as it’s sweet, tasty and flavourful. Word of caution – this recipe is not suitable for dogs, as it contains chocolate.

The mixture of peanut butter and white chocolate gives this delicious treat a nutty and creamy flavour. There are endless options for toppings, but most people keep it simple and add in M&Ms or other types of chocolate candy and sprinkles.

Easter puppy chow is a variation of the original recipe, which has colourful chocolate Easter eggs as a topping. Not only do they add flavour, but they also make this snack extra colourful and festive.

Why this recipe is great

• Easy to make: This Easter puppy chow recipe is so simple to prepare that even kids can have a go at making it! You only need a few minutes and a few plain ingredients. There’s also no cooking involved, only some quick microwaving.  
• Delicious and crunchy: Muddy buddies is so popular because it’s really delicious and super crunchy – basically all you need for a good snack. The combination of crunchy cereals, smooth chocolate and nutty peanut butter make this snack perfect for all occasions.
• Customisable: Switch up this recipe by adding your favourite flavours, toppings and more. You can easily make this recipe your own by changing up some simple ingredients, making it perfect for everyone.  
• Perfect for Easter: This Easter bunny chow recipe is great for Easter because it brings festive and colourful flair! Add in your favourite Easter chocolate eggs, bunny shaped candy and paste sprinkles to make this treat perfect for kids. You can even use it as an incentive in an Easter egg hunt!
• Portable: Once dried, muddy buddies is really simple to transport. You can put it in ziplock bags, plastic containers or lunch boxes and take it with you! Plus, they can hold at room temperature for a while, so no need to worry.  
• Good for making ahead: Easter puppy chow can last for up to 2 weeks in the fridge or even longer in the freezer. It’s really convenient for making ahead and storing, so you don’t need to be stressed about last minute cooking!
• Crowd-pleaser: Everyone, from kids to adults will love this sweet treat! Whether you eat it at the Easter dinner table, add it in Easter baskets or instead a popcorn while watching a movie, this snack is great every time!

Ingredient round-up

All ingredients used in this Easter Muddy Buddies recipe are simple and can be found in most pantries or during a short trip to the stores. Here’s what you will need:

• Cereals: Typically, puppy chow is made using Chex cereals, but you can use any type of cereal you like. However, I recommend using plain cereals that do not contain added sugar. We will be adding sugar and chocolate, so it’s best to keep the cereal plain to avoid overly-sweet snacks.
• Peanut butter: I recommend using creamy peanut butter, so the coating mixture comes out extra smooth and velvety. You can replace peanut butter with any other type of nut butter, like almond, hazelnut or cashew. If you have a nut allergy, replace nut butter with plain unsalted butter or soy butter.
• White chocolate: You can use any type of white chocolate you like, including chocolate bars and white chocolate chips. If you want a more chocolatey flavour, replace it with semi-sweet or milk chocolate.
• Butter: is added for creaminess and to create a smoother coating. I recommend using plain unsalted butter. However, if you’re using salted butter, make sure to leave out the extra salt.
• Salt: a pinch of salt helps bring out the flavour of the peanut butter. Only a little is needed, so don’t go overboard.
• Vanilla: adds depth of flavour and a lovely aroma. I recommend using vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste.
• Sugar: powdered sugar is needed to coat the puppy chow. Without sugar coating, the snack mix will be sticky and stick together in lumps. Granulated sugar cannot be used, as it’s not fine enough for coating.
• Easter eggs: are needed to turn regular puppy chow into a festive Easter snack. I like using pastel coloured chocolate Easter eggs, but you can use any other kids. Whether it’s Cadbury chocolate eggs or mini eggs, anything goes!

How to make this recipe

Flavour Variations

There are many different ways to switch up this Easter bunny chow recipe and make it fit your own taste. Here are some of my favourite additions and toppings:

Cereals – use instead of Chex cereals

• Cheerios (sugar free if possible)
• Corn Chex or Chex Mix
• Corn Flakes
• Corn Pops
• Special K
• Rice Krispies
• Cinnamon Crunch
• Cap’n Crunch
• Golden Grahams

Chocolate – replace the white chocolate in the coating

• Milk chocolate
• Semi-sweet chocolate
• Dark chocolate
• Ruby chocolate

Nut butter – use instead of peanut butter

• Hazelnut spread or Nutella
• Almond butter
• Cashew butter
• Tahini (sesame seed butter)
• Pistachio butter
• Soy butter (nut free)

Flavours – to replace vanilla extract

• Almond extract
• Lemon or orange extract
• Mint extract
• Butterscotch extract  

Spices – add into the chocolate peanut butter coating mixture

• Cinnamon
• Nutmeg
• Ginger
• Pumpkin pie spice
• Gingerbread spice

Garnishes – add at the end before serving

• Cadbury eggs or Cadbury mini eggs
• Peanut M&M
• Mini marshmallows
• Mini Oreos or crushed Oreos
• Pretzels or Reese’s peanut butter chocolate Pretzels
• Coconut flakes
• Dried or candied fruit
• Whole nuts like peanuts, walnuts, hazelnuts or almonds.

How to store

As I mentioned earlier, Easter bunny chow is amazing because it can be made ahead of time. Here’s how you can store it:

Room temperature – Store it in an airtight container or ziplock bag for up to 1 week at room temperature. Keep in mind that the longer it sits at room temperature, the softer it gets.

Fridge – ideal for storing muddy buddies for longer. Place in an airtight container or ziplock bag and store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. This keeps the texture firmer and makes for a crunchier texture.

Freezer – perfect for long-term storage. Store in a ziplock bag or airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. To thaw, place in the fridge overnight. Don’t be alarmed if the sugar coating seems less powdery after thawing, this is normal. Refresh the look by adding 1-2 teaspoons extra powdered sugar into the bag and shaking well to re-coat.

Frequently asked questions

Recipe

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