Leprechaun bait is a cute, no-bake treat to make for St. Patrick's Day. Lucky charms cereal, chex cereal, and pretzel twists are coated in white chocolate and sprinkles to make this sweet, crunchy snack.
Why you'll love this recipe
Flavor/Texture: Salty, sweet, and crunchy.
Made with: Lucky charms cereal, chex cereal, and salted pretzels coated in white chocolate and topped with rainbow and gold sprinkles.
It's easy. There's no baking or cooking involved other than melting wafers in the microwave. So easy the kids can help!
Great for: St. Patrick's Day, party favors, birthdays.
Similar to: Sweet Chex Mix
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Ingredients and substitutions
- Pretzels - Any small twists, snaps, or sticks work great. This recipe is best when all of the mix-ins are of a similar size.
- Chex - I prefer corn chex, but any flavor of chex cereal, like rice chex or wheat chex, will work.
- Lucky charms - Lucky charms cereal is necessary to add those colorful and nostalgic bits of marshmallow throughout the mix.
- Wafers - You'll need one 10-ounce bag of white chocolate melting wafers for this recipe. Chocolate chips don't work because when melted and solidified, they have a soft, chalky texture that melts easily when handled. Melting wafers are best for a recipe like this because they dry with a candy bar snap and shiny finish.
- Sprinkles - I used rainbow jimmies and gold sanding sugar. Nonpareils are another great option.
How to make leprechaun bait
- Add your cereals and pretzels to a bowl and mix to combine.
- Melt wafers in a microwave safe bowl and stir until melted. Pour over the cereal mixture.
- Toss until evenly coated, then immediately pour onto a parchment lined baking sheet.
- Spread into an even layer and add sprinkles while the coating is still wet. Allow to set for 30 minutes, then break apart into smaller pieces.
Tips and tricks
Use parchment - Your snack mix will stick to a sheet pan once dried, so use a layer of parchment or wax paper to spread out your leprechaun bait.
Microwave slowly - Use short bursts in the microwave, about 30 seconds each, to melt your wafers. Stir after each 30 second burst and only return them to the microwave if they're mostly solid. Too much heat and your wafers will scorch.
Work quickly - The chocolate coating dries quickly. It's important to toss your cereal until just coated, then immediately spread onto a sheet pan and add sprinkles while it's still wet.
Variations
Crunchy mix-ins - Popcorn, pistachios, peanuts, Cheerios cereal, Trix cereal.
Sweet mix-ins - M&M's candies, chopped golden Oreo cookies, mini marshmallows.
Storage
Leftovers will keep for 1 week or more in an airtight container at room temperature.
Leprechaun bait also freezes well for up to 3 months. To thaw, place on the countertop at room temperature for 1-2 hours.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, leprechaun bait keeps for up to a week at room temperature, so it's easy to make a day or two ahead of time.
No, melting wafers are best for a recipe like this. Chocolate chips, when melted and solidified, have a soft texture that melts easily when handled. Melting wafers have a candy bar snap and shiny finish when solidified at room temperature.
Serve it broken into smaller pieces in a large bowl, or portion into cellophane bags to give out as party favors.
Recommended
📖 Recipe
Leprechaun Bait
Ingredients
- 2 cups corn chex cereal
- 2 cups lucky charms cereal
- 2 cups tiny pretzel twists
- 10 ounces white chocolate melting wafers
- 1 tablespoon rainbow jimmies sprinkles
- 1 tablespoon gold sanding sugar
Instructions
- Line a sheet pan with parchment and set aside.
- In a large bowl, add chex cereal, lucky charms, and pretzel twists. Toss to combine and set aside.
- In a microwave safe bowl, add melting wafers. Melt in 30 second increments, stirring each time, until melted and smooth.
- Pour melted wafers over cereal mixture and toss until evenly coated. Spread onto a parchment lined baking sheet in an even layer.
- Top with rainbow jimmies and gold sanding sugar before chocolate has set.
- Allow to sit 30 minutes at room temperature or 15 minutes in the refrigerator to solidify.
- Break into pieces and serve.
Equipment Recommendations
Notes
- Storage: Leftovers will keep for 1 week or more in an airtight container at room temperature. Leprechaun bait also freezes well for up to 3 months. To thaw, place on the countertop at room temperature for 1-2 hours.
I had so much fun creating this recipe! I hope you give it a try and love it as much as I do. If you have a question, check out the post above, which is packed with information about the recipe. Tried the recipe? I'd love to hear your thoughts — leave a comment and a star rating to share your feedback!