This reindeer chow is a sweet and salty holiday snack mix made with crunchy cereal, chocolate, peanut butter, and festive add-ins. It’s quick to make and a Christmas favorite!

A glass bowl filled with reindeer chow made of powdered sugar coated cereal, pretzels, red and green M&M’s, and mini peanut butter cups.

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Christmas Reindeer Chow for the Holidays

Call it Christmas reindeer chow, Reindeer Mix or holiday muddies buddies if you’d like, but whatever you call the recipe it amounts to the same thing…the best holiday snack around!

It’s just as easy as my Christmas Chex mix and one handful proves it’s just as addicting as Christmas crack, my puppy chow recipe or saltine cracker toffee. The addition of crunchy pretzels and mini peanut butter cups take it over the top!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • It’s irresistible. Christmas reindeer chow has all the good stuff that you love in the best of holiday desserts. It’s has sweet, salty, chocolatey, crunchy, and gooey taste!
  • Easy for the holidays. Ready in just 15 minutes, it’s perfect for gifting to friends and leaving out for Santa. Magic reindeer food is another great way to feed his friends!

Recipe Ingredients

Bowls of Chex cereal, pretzels, peanut butter cups, red and green M&M’s, chocolate chips, peanut butter, butter, vanilla, and powdered sugar arranged on a counter.

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

  • The basics: For most puppy chow recipes including this Christmas version you need Chex cereal, chocolate chips, creamy peanut butter, and powdered sugar.
  • Salted butter & vanilla extract: We’re adding these for extra flavor! 
  • Tasty add-ins: Mini pretzels, Reese’s minis, Red and Green Christmas M&M’s. This Chex reindeer chow is very flexible, so feel free to use the candy you have on hand.

How to Make Reindeer Chow

Two image collage with chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter in a glass bowl before melting then warm melted chocolate and peanut butter poured over a bowl of Chex cereal.
  1. Melt the coating. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt together the chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter for 1 minute. Stir until melted. If needed, microwave for an additional 15 seconds. Stir in the vanilla.
  2. Combine everything. In a separate large bowl, add the Chex cereal then pour the chocolate mixture overtop. Stir until well-coated. Transfer to a Ziploc bag and add the powdered sugar. Shake until coated then add in all your delicious add-ins and even more powdered sugar, if desired.
  3. Spread and cool. Spread on a large baking sheet lined with wax paper or parchment paper and allow your Christmas reindeer chow to cool at room temperature before serving. Enjoy!
An open bag showing pretzels, red and green M&M’s, peanut butter cups, and powdered sugar coated cereal ready to be mixed.

Recipe Tips

  • Do not overheat the chocolate. Prevent seizing so only heat it for 1 minute and then 15-second intervals after that (but you shouldn’t need any more than that). You can also melt it in a double boiler, ready my tips on how to melt chocolate.
  • Stick with regular peanut butter. Any natural peanut butter tends to separate and be too runny. 
  • Cut in half or double. Easily adjust the recipe to what you need. It stores well, so I’d say go with doubling! Just make sure you have a Ziploc bag large enough (2 gallons perhaps) to shake everything all at once.
  • Be gentle when mixing. Once you’ve given everything a shake, be careful not to overmix or shake it too hard. You don’t want to crush any of the candy or cereal.
A close up of reindeer chow with powdered sugar cereal pieces, pretzels, peanut butter cups, and red and green M&M’s mixed together.

More themed reindeer recipes for Christmas include reindeer pancakes, gingerbread reindeer cookies, and Rolo pretzel reindeer next!

More Holiday Treat Recipes

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A close up of reindeer chow with powdered sugar cereal pieces, pretzels, peanut butter cups, and red and green M&M’s mixed together.

Reindeer Chow

5 from 75 votes
Recipe by: Jamielyn Nye
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 10
Make this Christmas reindeer chow in just 15 minutes with Chex, peanut butter, chocolate, powdered sugar, pretzels and holiday M&M's! A must-make holiday snack.
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Ingredients 

  • 4-5 cups Rice Chex cereal
  • ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • ⅓ cup creamy peanut butter
  • 2 Tablespoons salted butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¾ cup powdered sugar , plus more if desired
  • 1 cup mini pretzels , plus more if desired
  • 1/2-1 cup Reese's Minis , plus more if desired
  • ½ cup Christmas M&M's , plus more if desired

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, add 4-5 cups Chex cereal.
  • In a microwave-safe bowl, combine 1/2 cup chocolate chips, 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter, and 2 Tablespoons butter. Microwave 1 minute. Stir until melted. Microwave an additional 15 seconds, if needed. Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla.
  • Pour chocolate mixture over the cereal. Stir until well coated. Transfer to a zip-top bag.
  • Add 3/4 cup powdered sugar and shake until well coated. Pour in 1 cup mini pretzels, 1/2 – 1 cup Reese's Minis, and 1/2 cup M&M's. Add more powdered sugar, if desired. Spread onto a piece of wax paper to cool before serving.

Last step: Please leave a comment and rating after you make the recipe.

Notes

Double Boiler: You can just as easily melt the chocolate mixture in a double boiler instead of the microwave. 
Variation: Feel free to add in any extras, like different M&M’s (we love peanut butter M&M’s), chocolate chips, chopped oreos, chopped candy bars (like Heath). nuts, or mini marshmallows. 
Storage: Store in airtight container or zip-top bag up to 1 week. Store in the freezer up to 3 months. 

Nutrition

Calories: 401kcal, Carbohydrates: 57g, Protein: 8g, Fat: 18g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 6g, Trans Fat: 0.1g, Cholesterol: 9mg, Sodium: 354mg, Potassium: 259mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 29g, Vitamin A: 370IU, Vitamin C: 3mg, Calcium: 89mg, Iron: 9mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.

Variations

Add in all the extras you’d like.

  • Swap the M&M’s for peanut butter M&M’s, or add in some chocolate chips.
  • Chopped Oreos or chopped candy bars (Heath is great!) are always a hit.
  • Salty nuts or mini marshmallows add great texture.

Recipe FAQs

Is this Christmas reindeer chow recipe gluten-free?

Since we’re using rice Chex cereal, the base of the snack is gluten-free. It’s the add-ins you want to watch out for. Skip the pretzels and check the labels for certification of whatever you do decide to add.

Can I make Christmas reindeer chow nut free?

Sure! Swap the peanut butter for melting candy wafers (chocolate melts) and coat the cereal in that. Of course, you’ll want to stay away from any peanut butter M&M’s or mini peanut butter cups but there are plenty of tasty additions to use instead!

How to store Christmas reindeer chow?

It doesn’t need to be refrigerated, but it does need to be covered! Keep it in an airtight container, Ziploc bag, or mason jar for up to 1 week. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months.

Wrap it in cellophane or put a ribbon on a jar and give it to a friend or neighbor as a delicious edible gift!