Reindeer chow is a Christmas Chex mix that combines muddy buddies with M&Ms, peanut butter cups, and pretzels for a perfect snack or dessert that’s loved by kids and adults alike!
Reindeer chow is a fun snack or treat! It’s perfect for snacking on while watching Christmas movies, makes a great addition to cookie plates, and it is a delicious alternative to leaving Christmas cookies for Santa.
This Christmas Chex mix also makes a great homemade gift! Package it in glass jars or holiday containers for a yummy gift that’s quick and easy to make.
What is reindeer chow?
Reindeer chow is a Christmas Chex snack mix that combines muddy buddies (puppy chow) with candy and pretzels.
Ingredients and substitutions
- Rice Chex cereal – Corn Chex or Crispix cereal will also work.
- Semisweet chocolate chips – You can also use milk chocolate chips for a sweeter treat.
- Creamy peanut butter – Regular peanut butter (like Jiff or Skippy) works best.
- Powdered sugar – If your powdered sugar is lumpy, sift it to help it better combine with the cocoa powder.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder – Dutch-processed cocoa powder would also work.
- Christmas M&M’s – Any flavor of seasonal M&M candies will work. FYI – a 7.6 bag is about 1.5 cups.
- Mini peanut butter cups
- Pretzel twists or shapes – I like to use the Christmas-shaped pretzels, but twists or even small pretzel sticks will work.
How to make reindeer chow (instructions)
Place the cereal in a large bowl. Set aside.
Add the chocolate chips and the peanut butter to a medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave the chocolate chips and peanut butter for 30 seconds. Stir.
Continue microwaving and stirring in 15 second intervals until melted. Stir until smooth and well-combined.
Pour the melted chocolate mixture over the cereal.
Use a spatula to carefully toss the cereal until completely coated.
Add the powdered sugar and cocoa powder to a resealable gallon sized plastic bag. Seal and shake to combine.
Add the chocolate coated cereal to the baggie a little at a time. Seal, then shake. Repeat until cereal is coated in the chocolate sugar.
Spread the cereal mixture out in a single layer on a sheet of parchment paper (or wax paper or a silicone baking mat) to cool.
Combine the cereal mixture, M&M’s, peanut butter cups, and pretzels in a large bowl to serve.
Storage
The reindeer chow can be stored in an airtight container for up to one week.
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Reindeer Chow
Ingredients
- 6 cups Rice Chex cereal
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 ½ cups Christmas M&M's
- 8 ounce bag mini peanut butter cups
- 1-2 cups pretzel twists or shapes
Instructions
- Place the cereal in a large bowl. Set aside.
- Add the chocolate chips and the peanut butter to a medium microwave-safe bowl.
- Microwave the chocolate chips and peanut butter for 30 seconds.
- Stir.
- Continue microwaving and stirring in 15 second intervals until melted.
- Stir until smooth and well-combined.
- Pour the melted chocolate mixture over the cereal.
- Use a spatula to carefully toss the cereal until completely coated.
- Add the powdered sugar and cocoa powder to a resealable gallon sized plastic bag.
- Seal and shake to combine.
- Add the chocolate coated cereal to the baggie a little at a time.
- Seal, then shake.
- Repeat until cereal is coated in the chocolate sugar.
- Spread the cereal out in a single layer on a sheet of parchment paper to cool.
- Combine the cereal, M&M’s, peanut butter cups, and pretzels in a large bowl to serve.
Notes
- Rice Chex cereal – Corn Chex or Crispix cereal will also work.
- Semisweet chocolate chips – You can also use milk chocolate chips for a sweeter treat.
- Creamy peanut butter – Regular peanut butter (like Jiff or Skippy) works best.
- Powdered sugar – If your powdered sugar is lumpy, sift it to help it better combine with the cocoa powder.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder – Dutch-processed cocoa powder would also work.
- Christmas M&M’s – Any flavor of seasonal M&M candies will work. FYI – a 7.6 bag is about 1.5 cups.
- Pretzel twists or shapes – I like to use the Christmas-shaped pretzels, but twists or even small pretzel sticks will work.
- Nutrition values are estimates.
Nutrition
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Comments & Reviews
Amy says
Family loved this.
Kate says
Thanks!