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Get ready to catch a lucky break with this easy Leprechaun Bait! This festive St. Patrick’s Day Chex Mix is the ultimate salty sweet snack, with crunchy Rice Chex, salty pretzels, and everyone’s favorite Lucky Charms marshmallows. This no-bake treat comes together in just minutes!
When my daughter was young she would have had no need for this Leprechaun Bait (she was terrified of them). I’d still make it every year and hide it to eat all by myself! Lucky Charms is one of the best cereals in the world so of course I was going to make a snack mix out of it!
Leprechaun Bait is a festive St. Patrick’s Day snack mix made with Rice Chex cereal, Lucky Charms, pretzels, and green candies, all coated in melted white chocolate. This easy, no-bake treat—also known as St. Patrick’s Day Chex Mix—is the perfect salty-sweet snack for school parties or holiday celebrations.
4 Ingredient St. Patrick’s Day Chex Mix
- While I prefer Rice Chex for its light, airy crunch, Corn Chex also works great. Just avoid Wheat Chex for this recipe, as the flavor can be a bit too heavy for the delicate white chocolate. Flavored Chex (like chocolate or honey nut) would be great too.
- Lucky Charms cereal is always a delight. You can also get just the marshmallows online.
- Pretzels for some added crunch and a little salt to temper the sweetness.
- White Chocolate Melts are the best for this (my favorite brand is Ghirardelli). You can also use Candiquik or Almond Bark but I do not recommend white chocolate chips. Melts are formulated for melting so there is less chance of the chocolate seizing, and they’re made for coating (melts in your mouth, not in your hand).
- Make sure your pretzels and cereal are fresh! If you use a bag that’s been open for a while, the moisture from the chocolate will only highlight that staleness.
Click to see the recipe card below for full ingredients & instructions. See below the recipe card for even more information: process shots, variations, FAQ and more.
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St. Patrick’s Day Chex Mix Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups (90g) pretzel twists
- 5 cups (160g) Rice Chex cereal
- 5 cups (191g) Lucky Charms cereal
- 1 (10-ounce/283g) bag white candy melts
Instructions
- Place parchment paper or wax paper on a large cookie sheet. Set aside.
- Slightly crush the pretzel twists so they’re approximately halves, to make them easier to eat.
- Add broken pretzels, Chex cereal, and Lucky Charms to a large bowl.
- Melt white chocolate candy wafers in a microwave safe bowl according to package directions. If needed, add 1 teaspoon vegetable oil to the wafers to help them melt easier.
- Drizzle the melted chocolate over the mix and toss to coat. Spread mixture on cookie sheet and allow to set.
- Break pieces apart and store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.
Recipe Notes
- You can use any flavor Chex cereal
- Optional: add 1 cup peanuts or other nuts to the mixture
- I prefer Ghirardelli Candy Melts (sold in the baking aisle). My second choice would be Candiquik or almond bark.
Recipe Nutrition
How to make No-Bake Snack Mix
- Line a cookie sheet with parchment or wax paper.
- Mix the cereals and pretzels together in a very large bowl.
- Melt your white chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl in 30 second increments, stirring between each.
- Pour chocolate over cereal in bowl and toss to coat.
- Spread on cookie sheet and let set before storing. It’s important to let it Chex Mix cool before storing so the cereal doesn’t get soggy.
FAQs
Yes! You can make this 2–3 days in advance. Just store it in a very airtight container at room temperature so it stays crisp.
You can use white chocolate chips, but white candy melts or high-quality white chocolate baking bars often melt more smoothly and provide a better coating.
Yes, Rice Chex and Lucky Charms are generally gluten-free, but always check your pretzel brand and candy labels to be 100% sure.
This is called “seizing.” It usually happens if a drop of water gets into the chocolate or if it gets too hot. Make sure your bowl is bone-dry!
