Bunny Bait is one of those Easter treats that takes about 15 minutes to make and disappears just as fast. This easy Easter Chex mix is a no-bake snack mix made with popcorn, pretzels, Rice Chex, pastel M&Ms, and melted white candy coating — and it’s the perfect thing to throw together for Easter baskets, classroom parties, or just because you want something festive and fun on the counter.
Easter Bunny Bait
What I love most is that Bunny Bait requires zero baking and the kids can absolutely help make it, which makes it a go-to in our house every spring.
It also works great for gifting! Bag it up in a clear treat bag with a ribbon and you have an adorable neighbor gift or classroom treat in minutes.
Ingredients & Equipment
- Microwave popcorn
- Pretzels
- Rice Chex cereal
- Pastel M&Ms
- Vanilla almond bark or white candy melts
Full measurements for each ingredient can be found in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
You’ll also need a few things from your kitchen:
- Large bowl
- Microwave-safe bowl
- Silicone spatula
- Wax paper or parchment paper
- Measuring cups
- Baking sheet
Step By Step Directions
This recipe makes about 10 servings. It takes 10 minutes of prep time and 1 hour of cooling time.
Step 1. Pop the popcorn according to the directions on the packaging. Pour into a large bowl and remove any unpopped kernels.
Step 2. Mix in the pretzels, Rice Chex cereal, and pastel M&Ms.
Step 3. Melt the almond bark or candy melts in the microwave on high for 30 seconds. Stir and repeat until fully melted and smooth.
Step 4. Pour about half of the melted candy over your mixture and toss gently to coat. Add the remaining melted candy and toss lightly once more.
Step 5. Spread the Bunny Bait mixture out on a piece of wax paper or parchment paper. Allow to cool and harden for one hour.
Step 6. Break into pieces and serve, or store in an airtight container.
Variations
- Spring sprinkles: Add pastel sprinkles or Easter-themed confetti sprinkles on top of the candy coating before it sets for extra color.
- Mini marshmallows: Toss in a cup of mini marshmallows with the dry mix for a softer, sweeter bite.
- Bunny crackers: Swap the pretzels for Bunny Grahams to lean into the Easter theme even more.
- Peanut butter twist: Drizzle melted peanut butter chips over the top after the white candy coating sets for a sweet-salty combo.
- Extra candy: Swap out some of the M&Ms for Robin Eggs or pastel Reese’s Pieces for a fun mix of Easter candy.
- Gift bags: Divide into individual treat bags and tie with a ribbon for easy Easter basket stuffers or party favors.
Leftovers & Storage
Store Bunny Bait in an airtight container or zip-top bag at room temperature for up to one week. It actually holds up really well, so you can make it a few days ahead of Easter without any issues. Just keep it away from heat so the candy coating doesn’t get sticky.
Tips & Tricks
- Remove unpopped kernels. Take a minute to pick through the popcorn before you mix everything together — nobody wants to bite down on a hard kernel.
- Let the popcorn cool first. If your popcorn is still warm when you add the candy coating, it can make the coating set unevenly. Give it a few minutes to cool down.
- Add the candy coating in two pours. Doing it in stages lets you toss and coat everything more evenly without making it one heavy clump.
- Work quickly. Candy coating sets fast, so once it’s melted, pour and toss right away.
- Use parchment, not plastic wrap. The Bunny Bait needs to spread out flat to harden properly — parchment or wax paper on a sheet pan works perfectly.
- Customize the M&M amount. The recipe calls for 3/4 cup but feel free to add more or less depending on how candy-forward you want it.
- Double the batch. This recipe is easy to scale up if you’re making it for a party or multiple Easter baskets.
Recipe FAQs
Can I use white chocolate chips instead of almond bark? You can, but almond bark and candy melts tend to melt more smoothly and set with a better texture than white chocolate chips. If you use chips, add a teaspoon of coconut oil to help them melt more evenly.
Can I make this ahead of time? Yes! Bunny Bait is a great make-ahead treat. Make it up to 3 days before you need it and store in an airtight container at room temperature.
Can kids help make this? Absolutely. Once the candy coating is melted (an adult step), kids can help mix everything together, spread it out on the parchment, and add the sprinkles. It’s a really fun Easter kitchen activity.
What kind of popcorn works best? Any microwave popcorn works — lightly salted or butter flavored are both great. The saltiness actually balances out the sweetness of the candy coating really nicely. Avoid kettle corn since it’s already sweet.
How much does this recipe make? It makes a generous batch — about 9-10 cups of mix. It’s perfect for a party bowl, filling multiple treat bags, or just keeping a big container on the counter for snacking.
Can I use a different cereal? Rice Chex is the classic choice because it’s light and doesn’t overpower the other flavors, but Corn Chex works just as well. You could also use Crispix or even Golden Grahams for a slightly different flavor.
More Easter Recipes
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Eggs
- Easter Blossom Cookies
- Carrot Cake Blondies
- Funfetti Cheesecake Bars
- Funfetti Dip
- Strawberry Fudge
- Strawberry Shortcake Puppy Chow
- No Bake Lemonade Pie
Equipment
- Parchment Paper or wax paper
Ingredients
- 1 bag microwave popcorn about 6 cups popped
- 1 cup pretzels broken up a bit
- 2 cups Rice Chex cereal
- ¾ cup pastel M&Ms
- 12 oz. vanilla almond bark white candy melts
Instructions
- Pop the popcorn according to the directions on the packaging. Pour into a large bowl and remove any unpopped kernels.
- Mix in the pretzels, Rice Chex cereal, and pastel M&Ms.
- Melt the almond bark or candy melts in the microwave on high for 30 seconds. Stir and repeat until fully melted and smooth.
- Pour about half of the melted candy over your mixture and toss gently to coat. Add the remaining melted candy and toss lightly once more.
- Spread the Bunny Bait mixture out on a piece of wax paper or parchment paper. Allow to cool and harden for 1 hour.
- Break into pieces and serve, or store in an airtight container.
Notes
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