Packed full of fluffy white marshmallow "bunny tails" and pastel "eggs," this 10-minute Bunny Chow is a spring-themed twist on the classic Muddy Buddies recipe. Plus, my version can easily be made nut-free for a perfect classroom Easter Snack for Kids!
Can you even believe that Easter is just a few short weeks away?! I know, I know...it comes so early this year that we hardly have time to acknowledge St. Patty's Day before we jump right into the next celebration!
But no worries...I've got a few ideas ready to go and (as usual) they couldn't be easier!
For starters, this snack is so simple my kindergartner can make it! In fact, this was ALL his idea!
A couple of weeks ago Gibbs and his classmates made Puppy Chow at school. His teacher sent the recipe home with the kids, and he's been nagging me to buy the ingredients ever since. Naturally, I put the kid to work as we created our own springtime version of the classic treat!
What are Muddy Buddies?
Also known as "Muddy Buddies," Puppy Chow (or in this case, Bunny Chow) is a sweet snack mix that's made from coating Chex cereal squares in a combination of melted chocolate and peanut butter before dusting with powdered sugar.
We changed it up a little bit by using a nut-free coating to make it safe for school classrooms...because we always seem to need party snacks that everyone can enjoy!
Give These Muddy Buddies and Easter Twist
Our Bunny Chow is made with white chocolate, and the marshmallows are thrown in there to look like bunny tails.
Gibbs picked Peanut M&M's because they are shaped like little Easter eggs (and they're a personal favorite). BUT -- if you want to keep the mix nut-free, you're obviously going to need to choose something other than peanut M&M's!
A great alternative would be those Cadbury chocolate Mini Eggs if you can find them, or just some regular chocolate M&M's. Believe me...it's ALL GOOD.
This snack mix made all of my boys very happy, and we had plenty leftover to share with Gibbs's classmates (who apparently gave it 2 thumbs up as well)!
What You Need to Make it
- Chocolate chips - I used white chocolate chips, but milk or semi-sweet chocolate will also work well!
- Butter
- Vanilla
- Rice square cereal - such as Rice Chex
- Powdered sugar
- Miniature marshmallows
- Pastel colored chocolate candies - we used peanut M&M’s, but you’ll want to use regular chocolate mini eggs or plain M&M’s if you want to keep it nut-free
- Pastel colored sprinkles
How to Make Easter Muddy Buddies
- Place chocolate chips and butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 1 minute; stir until well blended and smooth.
- Add vanilla and stir.
- Place cereal in a large bowl. Pour chocolate mixture over top and toss to coat.
- Once the cereal is coated and has cooled, place in a large zip-top bag. Add powdered sugar to the bag, seal, and gently toss until all of the cereal is coated in sugar.
- Stir in marshmallows and chocolate candies. Store in an airtight container.
- Garnish with pastel-colored sprinkles just before serving.
Top Tips for Making Muddy Buddies
- Use any kind of chocolate chips you like
- You can customize this mix with whatever candy you like, go for your favorite flavors and colors!
- This bunny chow will store well in a sealed container for up to one week.
You Might Also Enjoy these Easy Snack Recipes:
Easter Muddy Buddies - Bunny Chow
Ingredients
- 1 cup chocolate chips I used white chocolate chips, but milk or semi-sweet chocolate will also work well!
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 9 cups crispy rice square cereal such as Rice Chex
- 1 ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 ½ cups miniature marshmallows
- 1 cup pastel-colored chocolate candies we used peanut M&M’s, but you’ll want to use regular chocolate mini eggs or plain M&M’s if you want to keep it nut-free
- ¼ cup pastel-colored sprinkles
Instructions
- Place chocolate chips and butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 1 minute; stir until well blended and smooth.
- Add vanilla and stir.
- Place cereal in a large bowl. Pour chocolate mixture over top and toss to coat.
- Once the cereal is coated and has cooled, place in a large zip-top bag. Add powdered sugar to the bag, seal, and gently toss until all of the cereal is coated in sugar.
- Stir in marshmallows and chocolate candies. Store in an airtight container. Garnish with pastel-colored sprinkles just before serving.
Notes
- Use any kind of chocolate chips you like
- You can customize this mix with whatever candy you like, go for your favorite flavors and colors!
- This bunny chow will store well in a sealed container for up to one week.
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice
I feel like I say this every time, but your boys are just the cutest! What a creative take on puppy chow! I would gladly devour this snack mix (probably all in one sitting) as I love the fun ingredients in here! Delish!
Blair
Aw, thanks Gayle!! They sure like to eat! 🙂
Sara | Life's Little Sweets
This recipe is too cute for words, sharing and pinning!
Blair
Thanks, Sara! We've made many batches of it in the past couple of weeks, and they have all disappeared quickly! 🙂
Gin
So cute!! I love the bunny milk straws too. 🙂
Blair
Thanks so much, Gin!!
Emily
What a fun treat these are and it looks so pretty. It would be great to wrap in little bags for eater parties too!
Brittney
My butter and chocolate did not mix when melted together.
Used Nestle white chocolate chips and butter
Angela
Neither did mine! Luckily I had another bag of chocolate chips and left out the butter entirely. Worked well!
Blair
The mixture might not be totally smooth, but when you combine it with the cereal and coat with the powdered sugar, it should be perfect. 🙂 Glad that you found a different way to make it work too, Angela! 🙂
Angela
Fun treat! We made for my son's class party. Fun to add different combine in it.
Quick and easy! Just left out the butter because it didnt mix well. Microwaved 1 minute, stir, microwave 30 seconds. Came out smooth!
Marion
Good to know that the peanut butter is not essential to the Puppy Chow recipe. I just made my first batch of the standard recipe and, oh, gosh, but the stuff is wickedly good. I'll have to hide it from myself in the freezer! It seems to be that peanut butter doesn't keep in an opened jar as well as it used to. Now, if I have an irresistable craving and my peanut butter has gone west, you will have given me a trick up my sleeve as an alternative. Thanks!
Blair Lonergan
Yes, you've got an alternative! 🙂