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Home Recipes Christmas Food Reindeer Chow Christmas Snack Mix

Reindeer Chow Christmas Snack Mix

20 minutes
Jump To Recipe Print Recipe
By: Britni Vigil
11/24/2021Updated: 11/24/2021
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This easy reindeer chow combines mini pretzels, Chex cereal, M&Ms, and mini peanut butter cups in a Christmas snack mix that’s just what kids think reindeers would eat! It only takes ten minutes to make and is always a huge hit with any age!

glass bowl of reindeer chow

It’s that time of year again! Time to get out the decorations, bake some cookies, and get ready for Santa!

And we can’t forget about the reindeer! While you’re making cookies for Santa or just making Christmas cookies (I recommend these Andes mint cookies) in general, try out this fun reindeer chow snack mix to change things up this holiday season!

Plus, it’s so easy to make the kids can even help. They’ll love thinking about magical reindeer flying overhead while making this yummy Christmas snack mix!

It’s a great snack to enjoy during a little Christmas movie night (try watching while playing this Christmas movie bingo!) or as a snack during a big Christmas games competition.

Or even to have out while playing one of these gift exchange games – a good consolation prize for someone who gets their beloved gift stolen right out of their hands.

You could even put it in a cute Christmas tin or jar and give it to neighbors with these cute Christmas treat tags!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Christmas muddy buddies – if you like muddy buddies, this recipe just takes it one step further with the addition of some of a reindeer’s favorite snacks!
  • Super easy – if you can melt chocolate, you can make this fun Christmas snack mix! It’s just melting, mixing, and eating!
  • Keeps well – this reindeer chow can keep up to seven days making it a great Christmas snack to make once and enjoy for days to come!

Reindeer Chow Ingredients

ingredients to make reindeer chow with labels

Ingredient Notes

  • Chocolate chips – you can either use chocolate chips or chocolate melting wafers, either one works! You just need to have melted chocolate to make the mix.
  • Chex Cereal – you can use rice, corn, or both. I don’t recommend wheat, that’s better in this homemade chex mix.
  • Peanut butter cups – you want to use the mini peanut butter cups, either the wrapped ones or even the really little unwrapped ones work too!
  • M&Ms – I like the Christmas colored ones since this is a Christmas snack mix, but you could really use any colored M&Ms you want if you can’t get Christmas ones. Or just pick out the reds and greens from a regular bag!
  • Cheerios – Honey Nut Cheerios are best for the added sweetness but if you want, you could also use regular Cheerios.

You can also mix it up and add any of your other favorite snack ingredients – nuts, cornflakes, popcorn, etc. Just make sure you keep a good balance of sweet and salty!

How to Make Reindeer Chow

This recipe is one of my favorite Christmas recipes because it’s just so easy and so quick to make. I love letting my boys help me combine the ingredients and make this yummy reindeer chow.

Best of all – it’s not that big of a deal if they pour a little too much or don’t add enough, it’s a snack mix so anything goes!

Start by combining the Corn Chex, Rice Chex, and Cheerios in a large bowl.

white bowl with mixed cereal

In a separate bowl, combine butter, chocolate chips, and peanut butter then microwave for 30 seconds and stir.

If everything isn’t completely melted, microwave for an additional 30 seconds, stir until it is completely melted and smooth.

You can also do this with a double boiler on the stove if you don’t have a microwave (like me).

pouring melted chocolate over cereal

Next, pour the melted chocolate mixture over the cereal and mix well, evenly coating the cereal. This is the muddy buddies part, except with a few little tweaks.

bowl of chocolate cereal in a white bowl

Now combine the powdered sugar and cocoa in a large gallon sized ziplock bag.

Once they’re both in there, put all the chocolate coated cereal into the bag and zip closed.

Toss the cereal in the bag until it is all coated with the powdered sugar mixture. Chocolate muddy buddies at their best!

reindeer chow in a plastic bag

Once all the cereal is coated, pour it out onto a baking sheet to cool completely. You want the melted chocolate to harden and want the cereal to not coat your hands completely when you pick it up.

reindeer chow on a baking sheet

To finish the chow, combine the M&Ms, mini peanut butter cups, and pretzels in a large serving bowl.

Then add the cooled cereal mix and carefully stir to combine.

close up photo of reindeer chow

Pour everything into a large bowl and serve either in a large bowl or spooned into individual cups. Christmas cupcake liners make great cups for this kind of Christmas snack mix!

glass bowl with reindeer chow

Expert Tips

Make this for any holiday by changing out the M&M colors inside! Everything else works great for other holidays and the name can just be changed. Cupid chow, Easter bunny chow, you get it.

Mix gently so you don’t break all of the peanut butter cups and pretzels. You want the mixture to be mixed but not broken up.

Recipe FAQs

Can you make this without peanut butter?

This snack mix is definitely not nut-friendly and there’s really not a good way to replace the peanut butter and peanut butter cups without totally changing the taste of the mix. I’d recommend doing something else, possibly chocolate dipped rice krispie treats instead.

Can you freeze reindeer chow?

Freeze this reindeer chow in a freezer safe airtight bag or container for up to three months. Place it in the refrigerator overnight to thaw then enjoy just like normal! You could even do individual bags of the snack mix so you don’t have to thaw it all at once.

How long does reindeer chow last?

This reindeer chow will last for up to a week when stored in an airtight container. Keep it even longer by freezing for up to three months.

hand grabbing reindeer chow from a bowl

More Easy Christmas Treats

If you liked this Christmas snack mix, make sure to check out these other popular holiday treats!

  • Cranberry orange bread – this is the most moist, most delicious Christmas bread ever!
  • Grinch cupcakes – these darling cupcakes are not only super flavorful, they look just like the Grinch!
  • Mini sugar cookies – these yummy sugar cookies are even better when enjoyed in mini form!
  • Sugar cookie fudge – a fudge that tastes just like a sugar cookie, seriously!
  • White chocolate cranberry macadamia nut cookies – the most amazing Christmas cookies with all sorts of flavor and crunch!
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Print Rate
4.21 from 79 votes

Reindeer Chow

This easy reindeer chow combines mini pretzels, Chex cereal, M&Ms, and mini peanut butter cups in a Christmas snack mix that’s just what kids think reindeers would eat! 
glass bowl of reindeer chow
Prevent your screen from going dark
Prep: 20 minutes
Total: 20 minutes
Serves24 servings

Ingredients

  • 3 cups Corn Chex
  • 3 cups Rice Chex
  • 2 cups Honey Nut Cheerios
  • ¼ cup butter
  • ¾ cup peanut butter
  • 1 ⅓ cup chocolate chips
  • 1 ¼ cup powdered sugar
  • 2 TBS cocoa powder
  • 16 ounces Christmas M&Ms
  • 2 cups mini peanut butter cups
  • 2 cups pretzels (sticks or twists)

Instructions

  • Combine the Corn Chex, Rice Chex, and Cheerios in a large bowl.
    3 cups Corn Chex, 3 cups Rice Chex, 2 cups Honey Nut Cheerios
  • In a separate bowl, combine butter, chocolate chips, and peanut butter then microwave for 30 seconds and stir. If everything isn't completely melted, microwave for an additional 30 seconds, stir until it is completely melted and smooth
    1/4 cup butter, 1 1/3 cup chocolate chips, 3/4 cup peanut butter
  • Pour the melted chocolate mixture over the cereal and mix well, evenly coating the cereal.
  • Combine powdered sugar and cocoa in a large gallon sized ziplock bag. Add chocolate coated cereal to the bag and zip closed. Toss the cereal in the bag until it is all coated with the powdered sugar mixture.
    1 1/4 cup powdered sugar, 2 TBS cocoa powder
  • Once all the cereal is coated, pour it out onto a baking sheet to cool.
  • Combine M&Ms, mini peanut butter cups, and pretzels in a large serving bowl then add the cooled cereal mix and carefully stir to combine.
    2 cups mini peanut butter cups, 2 cups pretzels, 16 ounces Christmas M&Ms

Tips & Notes:

Mix gently so you don’t break all of the peanut butter cups and pretzels. You want the mixture to be mixed but not broken up.
Freeze this reindeer chow in a freezer safe airtight bag or container for up to three months. Place it in the refrigerator overnight to thaw then enjoy just like normal!
Store in an airtight container for up to one week before throwing away or freezing. 

Nutrition Info

Calories: 415kcal, Carbohydrates: 54g, Protein: 7g, Fat: 20g, Saturated Fat: 9g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 6g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 11mg, Sodium: 312mg, Potassium: 174mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 37g, Vitamin A: 382IU, Vitamin C: 2mg, Calcium: 90mg, Iron: 4mg

Nutritional Disclaimer

Author: Britni Vigil
Course:Dessert
Cuisine:American
Did You Make This?Tag @PlayPartyPlan on Facebook and Instagram and hashtag it #playpartyplan so I can see your creations!
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  1. iola says

    Posted on 11/25 at 11:06 am

    5 stars
    I’m making this for Xmas

    Reply
    • Britni Vigil says

      Posted on 11/25 at 2:47 pm

      Hope you enjoy it!

      Reply
  2. Mary Blizzard says

    Posted on 11/5 at 1:51 pm

    Can you add salted peanuts?

    Reply
    • Britni Vigil says

      Posted on 11/10 at 6:13 pm

      I’ve never tried it but don’t see why not. Let me know how it turns out.

      Reply
  3. Teresa Tichenor says

    Posted on 10/27 at 12:17 am

    4 stars
    I’m going to make this for Christmas

    Reply
  4. Kim says

    Posted on 10/26 at 10:51 pm

    What could I use to substitute for the pretzels? My crew doesn’t like pretzels, and since they are the ones that will be eating it. I have diabetes so I can eat vicariously through my crew.

    Reply
    • Britni Vigil says

      Posted on 11/10 at 6:21 pm

      That’s a great question that I don’t have a great answer for. I’d just omit them altogether.

      Reply
  5. Steph says

    Posted on 9/22 at 5:44 am

    5 stars
    I actually haven’t made this recipe yet, but I know I’ll love it. I just wanted to comment and say you’re an absolute genius to list the ingredient amounts under the steps! Plus, you have “jump to recipe” and “cook mode” buttons. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Britni Vigil says

      Posted on 9/27 at 10:12 pm

      Thank you for the kind words!

      Reply
  6. Cindy says

    Posted on 12/15 at 7:45 pm

    What can I substitute for corn chex ?

    Reply
    • Britni Vigil says

      Posted on 12/17 at 5:21 pm

      You could just use more Rice Chex.

      Reply
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