Let me tell you about the first time I made Easter Bunny Chow. I put out a big bowl of it about an hour before our Easter gathering. By the time everyone arrived there was maybe a third of it left. My nephew had been sneaking handfuls every five minutes and had the powdered sugar all over his face to prove it. I am not even mad about it because honestly I had done the same thing while making it.
This is that recipe. The one that looks effortless because it is effortless. The one that gets passed around in zip-lock bags as take-home gifts because nobody wants to leave without more.
Crispy Chex cereal completely coated in a melted white chocolate and peanut butter mixture, shaken in a bag of powdered sugar until every single piece is covered in that snowy white coating, then tossed with pastel M&Ms in pink, purple, blue, and green. It is crunchy, sweet, a little salty, completely addictive, and ready in 15 minutes flat.
Ever wondered why some recipes just hit different? This is one of them. It is the combination of textures and flavors that makes it impossible to stop at one handful.
The crunch of the cereal, the richness of the white chocolate, the peanut butter running through the whole thing, and then those pastel M&Ms adding little pops of color and chocolate throughout. It is Easter in a bowl and I am not apologizing for how fast it disappears.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Ready in 15 minutes start to finish. No baking, no chilling, no waiting around. You can make this the morning of Easter and still have plenty of time for everything else on your list.
- Completely no-bake. The only heat involved is melting chocolate in the microwave. That is it. If you can stir a bowl you can make this recipe.
- Wildly addictive. The white chocolate and peanut butter coating on crispy Chex is a combination that is genuinely hard to stop eating. Consider yourself warned.
- Kids absolutely love making it. The shaking step — putting everything in a bag and shaking it until the cereal is coated in powdered sugar — is the kind of thing kids beg to help with. It is hands-on, fun, and the results are immediate.
- Easy to customize. Swap the peanut butter for almond butter or sunflower seed butter to make it nut-free. Use different M&M colors for different holidays. Add different mix-ins. The base recipe is endlessly flexible.
- Perfect for gifting. Pack it into cellophane bags tied with a ribbon or into small mason jars and you have the most charming homemade Easter gift that costs next to nothing and tastes incredible.
Ingredients
For the Chow Base
- 9 cups Rice Chex cereal — Rice Chex is the classic choice and for good reason. The light, crispy squares hold up to the coating without getting soggy and their mild flavor lets the white chocolate and peanut butter shine. Corn Chex works just as well. Avoid wheat Chex — it has too strong a flavor that competes with the coating.
- 1 cup white chocolate chips or white chocolate melting wafers — melting wafers melt more smoothly and give you a cleaner coat on the cereal. If you use white chocolate chips, they work fine but make sure you do not overheat them. White chocolate is notoriously temperamental in the microwave.
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter — use a standard processed peanut butter like Jif or Skippy rather than natural peanut butter. Natural peanut butter has too much oil separation and can make the coating greasy and uneven. The processed stuff melts into the chocolate beautifully and gives you that perfect coating.
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter — adds richness to the coating and helps it adhere evenly to every piece of cereal.
- 1 tsp vanilla extract — rounds out the flavor of the white chocolate coating and adds warmth.
- 1/4 tsp salt — just a pinch. It cuts through the sweetness and makes every other flavor more pronounced. Do not skip it.
- 2 cups powdered sugar — this is what gives bunny chow that signature snowy white coating. Make sure you have enough — you want every single piece of cereal completely coated. Sift it first if it is lumpy for a smoother, more even result.
For the Mix-Ins
- 1 1/2 cups pastel M&Ms — the Easter pastel M&Ms in pink, purple, blue, green, and yellow are what give this recipe its Easter identity. You can find them at most grocery stores and big box stores starting a few weeks before Easter. Add them after the powdered sugar step so they do not get coated and lose their color and shine.
- Easter sprinkles (optional) — a handful of pastel Easter sprinkles tossed in at the end adds extra color and festivity. Totally optional but they make the whole bowl look even more celebratory.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Measure and Prep Everything First
- Measure out your Chex cereal into a very large mixing bowl. You need a bowl that is bigger than you think — you will be stirring and folding a lot and you do not want cereal flying everywhere. A large pot or stockpot actually works great for this step.
- Measure out your powdered sugar and set it aside in a large zip-lock bag or a very large bowl with a tight fitting lid. You will need it ready to go quickly once the chocolate is melted.
- Have your M&Ms and sprinkles measured and ready in a small bowl on the side. Everything moves fast once the chocolate is melted so having it all prepped is the move.
Step 2: Melt the Chocolate and Peanut Butter
- Combine the white chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter in a large microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring well between each interval, until completely smooth and combined. This usually takes about 60 to 90 seconds total. Do not rush it — overheated white chocolate seizes and turns grainy and there is no saving it at that point.
- Remove from the microwave and stir in the vanilla extract and salt. Give it a good stir until everything is uniform and glossy. Taste it. Try to remember it is for the recipe and not just for you.
Step 3: Coat the Cereal
- Pour the melted chocolate and peanut butter mixture directly over the Chex cereal in your large bowl. Work quickly — the mixture starts to set as it cools.
- Gently fold and stir the cereal using a rubber spatula, turning it over and over until every single piece of cereal is coated in the chocolate mixture. Be gentle — you want to coat the cereal not crush it. Take your time and get into the corners of the bowl.
Step 4: Dust with Powdered Sugar
- Transfer the coated cereal immediately into your large zip-lock bag with the powdered sugar. If you are using a bowl with a lid, pour the coated cereal in and add the powdered sugar on top.
- Seal the bag and shake vigorously for about 30 to 45 seconds until every piece of cereal is completely coated in powdered sugar. Open the bag and check — if you see any chocolate-colored pieces that are not fully white, seal it back up and keep shaking. Every piece should be completely covered.
- Spread the coated cereal out onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet in a single layer and let it cool and set for about 5 minutes. This prevents clumping and lets the coating firm up properly.
Step 5: Add the Mix-Ins
- Transfer the cooled bunny chow to a large serving bowl. Add the pastel M&Ms and Easter sprinkles if using and toss gently to distribute them throughout the chow.
- Taste it. Adjust nothing because it is already perfect. Serve immediately or store for later — though if you leave it out on the counter it will not last long. Consider that a warning and a promise.
Serving Suggestions
Easter Bunny Chow is incredibly versatile when it comes to how you serve and present it. Here are some ideas:
- Pile it high in a large turquoise or white bowl as a centerpiece snack on your Easter table. The pastel M&Ms and white powdered coating look incredibly festive and colorful piled up together.
- Set out a scoop and let people serve themselves. This works great at parties and gatherings where you want a casual, grab-and-go snack that keeps people happy between the main meal courses.
- Pack individual portions into small cellophane bags tied with a pastel ribbon for the most charming Easter party favor or gift bag addition. Kids especially love getting their own little bag to take home.
- Fill small mason jars with bunny chow and tie a ribbon around the lid for a rustic, giftable Easter treat that looks like it came from a boutique candy shop.
- Add it to an Easter dessert board alongside the Oreo Egg Balls and other Easter treats for a spread that looks completely over the top in the best possible way.
- Let kids scoop their own portions into individual cups during an Easter egg hunt or party. It keeps little hands busy and happy and is endlessly fun as a self-serve snack station.
Storage Tips
- Room Temperature: Store Easter Bunny Chow in an airtight container or zip-lock bag at room temperature for up to 5 days. Keep it away from heat and humidity which can make the cereal go soft and the coating sticky.
- Refrigerator: You can refrigerate it in an airtight container for up to 1 week but bring it to room temperature before serving for the best texture. Cold bunny chow loses some of its crunch.
- Freezer: This freezes surprisingly well. Store in a freezer-safe zip-lock bag for up to 6 weeks. Thaw at room temperature for about 30 minutes before serving. The texture holds up well after freezing.
- Make-Ahead Option: This is one of the best make-ahead Easter recipes out there. Make it up to 3 days before Easter, store in an airtight container, and it will be perfectly fresh and crunchy when you need it. One less thing to think about on Easter morning.
- Gifting Tip: If you are packing it into bags or jars as gifts, add a small silica gel packet to keep moisture out and maintain crunch for longer. Most craft stores sell them inexpensively.
Make a Bowl of This and Watch It Vanish
Some recipes are impressive because they are complicated. This one is impressive because it is not — and it still disappears faster than anything else on the table. That is the magic of Easter Bunny Chow. Fifteen minutes, a handful of ingredients, zero oven time, and you have got the most crowd-pleasing Easter snack of the season sitting in front of you.
Make it for your Easter gathering. Pack it into little bags as party favors. Put a bowl of it out the night before and see how long it lasts. Whether you are making this for a crowd of kids, a table full of adults, or just for yourself on a quiet Easter afternoon — it hits every single time.
Drop a comment below and let me know how yours turned out. And if you make it, tag me on Pinterest or Instagram — especially if you catch someone sneaking handfuls before the party starts. That is my favorite kind of photo.
Happy snacking.
— Kip
Easter Bunny Chow (The No-Bake Snack Nobody Can Stop Eating)
Description
Chex cereal coated in a melted white chocolate and peanut butter mixture, shaken in powdered sugar until every piece is fully covered, then tossed with pastel Easter M&Ms and sprinkles. No baking, no cooking, no stress. Just the most addictive Easter snack you have ever made.
Ingredients
For the Chow Base:
For the Mix-Ins:
Instructions
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Measure Chex cereal into a very large bowl. Set powdered sugar in a large zip-lock bag. Have M&Ms and sprinkles ready.
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Combine white chocolate, peanut butter, and butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until smooth. Stir in vanilla and salt.
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Pour chocolate mixture over cereal. Gently fold until every piece is coated.
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Transfer coated cereal to the zip-lock bag with powdered sugar. Seal and shake vigorously until every piece is fully coated.
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Spread onto a parchment lined baking sheet and let set for 5 minutes.
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Transfer to a serving bowl. Add pastel M&Ms and sprinkles and toss gently.
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Serve immediately or store in an airtight container.
