Name: St Patrick's Day Puppy Chow
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 4 min
Ingredients: 2 cups cinnamon chex cereal; 2 cups Lucky charms cereal; ½ cup powdered sugar; 1 cup light green candy melts; 1 cup marshmallows; 1 teaspoon gold edible glitter

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Lucky Charms Puppy Chow is the easiest St. Patrick’s Day treat when you want something festive that kids can help make. This leprechaun bait takes just 20 minutes to put together, and the green candy melts with gold glitter make it look way more impressive than the effort it requires.

Lucky Charms Puppy Chow

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What I love about this holiday puppy chow is that it uses Lucky Charms cereal, so you get those marshmallow pieces mixed right in with the chocolate-coated cereal. The combination of cinnamon Chex and Lucky Charms with the sweet green coating is addictive.

Ingredients & Equipment

You’ll need these ingredients to make Lucky Charms Puppy Chow:

Cinnamon chex cereal
Lucky charms cereal
Powdered sugar
Light green candy melts
Marshmallows
Gold edible glitter

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:

Measuring cups
Measuring spoons
Microwave-safe bowl
Spoon
Gallon-size ziplock bag

Step By Step Directions

This recipe makes 4 servings. It takes 20 minutes of prep time and 4 minutes of cook time.

Step 1. Melt light green candy melts as directed on the package. Each brand is different. I heat mine for 1:30 seconds at 50 percent power. Then stir and another 30 seconds at 50 percent power until melted.

Step 2. Mix green candy melts with chex mix and powdered sugar in a ziplock bag. Careful not to break cereal. Add in lucky charms cereal and mix well.

Step 3. Stir gold edible glitter with marshmallows. Add to ziplock bag and mix.

Step 4. Serve Lucky Charms puppy chow as a fun snack!

Variations

Rainbow Version: Use white candy melts and add rainbow sprinkles instead of gold glitter for a colorful twist
Chocolate Lucky Charms Mix: Use milk chocolate candy melts instead of green for a more traditional puppy chow taste
Extra Marshmallows: Add mini marshmallows along with the regular ones for more sweetness
Peanut Butter Leprechaun Bait: Mix in a few tablespoons of peanut butter with the melted candy melts for added flavor
Adult Version: Add chopped mini Rolos or peanut butter cups for a more grown-up treat

Leftovers & Storage

Store leftover puppy chow in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week. The candy coating might soften slightly over time, but it still tastes great. Don’t refrigerate it or the powdered sugar will get sticky.

Tips & Tricks

Melt the candy melts at 50% power to prevent them from burning or seizing up
Stir the candy melts halfway through melting to make sure they melt evenly
Add the Lucky Charms cereal after coating the Chex so the marshmallow pieces don’t melt
Shake the ziplock bag gently when mixing so you don’t crush all the cereal pieces
Let the mixture cool slightly before adding the marshmallows so they don’t start to melt
Spread the finished puppy chow on parchment paper to cool if it seems sticky
Make sure your ziplock bag is big enough (gallon size) or the mixture won’t coat evenly

Recipe FAQs

Can I use regular Chex instead of cinnamon?

Yes! Regular rice Chex or corn Chex both work perfectly. The cinnamon Chex just adds a little extra flavor that goes well with the Lucky Charms.

Where do I find gold edible glitter?

You can find it in the baking aisle at craft stores like Michaels or Hobby Lobby, or online. If you can’t find it, gold sanding sugar or even regular sprinkles work as a substitute.

Can I make this without the marshmallows?

Sure, but the marshmallows add extra texture and sweetness. If you skip them, you might want to add more Lucky Charms to make up for it.

How do I keep the candy coating from clumping?

Make sure you stir the melted candy melts well before adding them to the bag, and shake the bag gently but thoroughly to coat everything evenly. Working quickly helps too.

Can I double this recipe?

Absolutely! Just use two gallon-size ziplock bags or work in batches. It’s easier to coat everything evenly when you don’t overfill the bag.

What if my candy melts are too thick?

Add a teaspoon of coconut oil or shortening to thin them out. Candy melts can get thick if they’re overheated, so melting at 50% power helps prevent this.

More St. Patrick’s Day Recipes

St Patrick's Day Puppy Chow

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Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 20

Cook Time: 4

Servings:

Equipment

Ingredients

2 cups cinnamon chex cereal
2 cups Lucky charms cereal
½ cup powdered sugar
1 cup light green candy melts
1 cup marshmallows
1 teaspoon gold edible glitter

Instructions

Melt light green candy melts as directed on the package. Each brand is different. I heat mine for 1:30 seconds at 50 percent power. Then stir and another 30 seconds at 50 percent power until melted.
Mix green candy melts with chex mix and powdered sugar in a ziplock bag. Careful not to break cereal. Add in lucky charms cereal and mix well.
Stir gold edible glitter with marshmallows. Add to ziplock bag and mix.
Serve Lucky Charms puppy chow as a fun snack!

Notes

Storage: Store leftover puppy chow in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.

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