This Reindeer Chow is the perfect Christmas Chex Mix. It’s loaded with chocolate and peanut butter muddy buddies, red and green m&ms, and crunchy pretzels, for a delicious, festive, sweet and salty snack mix.
This reindeer chow snack mix is the perfect holiday treat. It’s so easy to make, and is sure to be a crowd pleaser. It’s great for serving up a big bowl at holiday parties, or packaging up in individual cellophane bags for a holiday treat to gift to your friends and neighbors.
You all know how obsessed I am with muddy buddies, so I couldn’t pass up making (and sharing) a Christmas version.
This reindeer chow, is one of my favorite sweet and salty treats. The addition of the crunchy and salty mini pretzels, takes this reindeer chow to the next level. Plus I use mini pretzels as the antlers in almost all of my reindeer desserts, so I figured it was only fitting to add them to this snack mix.
Reindeer Chow only takes about 15 or 20 minutes to make, and then you can immediately start munching on your new favorite holiday treat!
Reindeer Chow Variations:
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Add in some mini peanut butter cups for an extra chocolate and peanut butter boost.
- Add some salted peanuts to the mix, for a little extra salty crunch.
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Add some mini marshmallows to the mix as some “snowballs”.
- Add some whoppers to the mix, as reindeer noses.
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Instead of chocolate chips, try white chocolate instead. You can use them with or without the peanut butter, I know some don’t like the white chocolate/peanut butter combination. But if you leave the peanut butter out, add 1 extra cup of white chocolate chips to make up for the lost volume in the spread to coat the cereal.
- Instead of regular m&ms, try using peanut butter or peanut m&ms for a fun peanutty twist.
Ingredients Needed:
This is a quick overview of the ingredients you’ll need for this Reindeer Chow recipe. Specific measurements and full recipe instructions are in the printable recipe card below.
- Chex Cereal – This delicious mixes crunchy base, I prefer rice Chex, but use your preferred choice.
- Chocolate Chips – you can use semi-sweet chocolate chips, milk chocolate, or dark chocolate for your
- Creamy Peanut Butter – to give this cereal mixture it’s delicious peanut butter flavor
- Unsalted Butter – helps make the chocolate mixture extra smooth
- Vanilla Extract – to add flavor to the chocolate mixture
- Salt – adds a dash of saltiness to pair with the sweetness
- Powdered Sugar – to coat the chocolate cereal and make it less sticky to touch
- Mini Pretzels – Adds a nice extra salty crunchiness to the mix
- Christmas m&ms – Adds some fun holiday color to this Christmas snack mix
- Christmas sprinkles – Adds extra festivity to this fun treat.
How to make Reindeer Chow?
Add the chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter to a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30 second increments, stirring after each until it’s nice and creamy. Stir in the vanilla and sea salt.
Pour the chocolate mixture over the chex and pretzels in a large bowl. Gently stir it all together to coat the cereal in the chocolate mixture.
Scoop the chocolate covered cereal into a gallon sized zip top bag and add in the powdered sugar. (You may have to divide it into 2 bags and half the powdered sugar). Shake it all up to coat it with the powdered sugar.
Pour it into a clean bowl and mix in the m&ms, pretzels, and sprinkles. Spread it all out onto a sheet of parchment paper until the chocolate is completely set.
How to Store Reindeer Chow?
Keep an extra reindeer chow in an airtight container. A Tupperware or Pyrex container works well. I often keep it in a gallon sized ziplock bag, and just make sure the top is sealed tight. Store it at room temperature for up to 1 week.
When to serve Reindeer Chow?
This easy reindeer chow is such a fun mix for a holiday party, wrapping up in cellophane or cute cardboard boxes for holiday treats to share with friends, coworkers, or neighbors, or for a great afternoon snack, or holiday movie night.
This Christmas puppy chow is a delicious Christmas muddy buddy mix full of peanut butter and chocolate coated chex cereal, with mini pretzels, and holiday m&ms. It’s such a fun, delicious, and practically addicting treat that I just know you all will love, and this reindeer chow is perfect for the holiday season!
More Easy Holiday Recipes:
- Microwave Caramels
- Chocolate Covered Oreos
- Rolo Reindeer Pretzels
- Peppermint Bark Fudge
- Red Velvet Cake Balls
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Reindeer Chow
Servings 28
This Reindeer Chow is the perfect Christmas Chex Mix. It's loaded with chocolate and peanut butter muddy buddies, red and green m&ms, and crunchy pretzels, for a delicious, festive, sweet and salty snack mix.
Ingredients
- 9 cups chex cereal
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
- 1/2 tsp sea salt (optional)
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 3 cups mini pretzels (divided)
- 10 oz Christmas m&ms
- 1/2 cup Christmas sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
- Add the chex cereal and 1 cup of the mini pretzels to a giant mixing bowl.
- Combine the chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter in a medium sized microwave proof bowl. Microwave in 30 second increments, stirring after each, until you can stir it smooth.
- Stir in the vanilla extract, and sea salt.
- Pour the chocolate mixture over the cereal and pretzels and gently stir to coat the cereal completely with the mixture.
- Add the cereal to a large gallon sized zip top bag, add in the powdered sugar too. (I often do half the cereal and half the powdered sugar at a time, since it makes so much). Shake it all up to cover the cereal completely in the powdered sugar.
- Pour the muddy buddies into a large clean bowl, and stir in the remaining pretzels, the m&ms, and the sprinkles.
- Spread the mixture out onto parchment paper and allow to set till the chocolate is hardened, about 20 minutes.
Nutrition
Calories: 277kcalCarbohydrates: 45gProtein: 5gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 7mgSodium: 307mgPotassium: 130mgFiber: 4gSugar: 22gVitamin A: 300IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 67mgIron: 7mg
Victoria Godfrey says
I made these as part of the annual Christmas cookie challenge (and for a party for teenager) and it was a huge hit. They were eaten up quick! Such a easy crowd pleaser. I will definitely be making again!
Aimee says
So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for joining our contest again this year!
Barbara says
When you said you could add mini marshmallows, Whoppers, or peanuts; how much do you add?
Aimee says
Probably about 1/2 to 1 cup of each
Michelle says
Is that a stick of butter?
Aimee says
The recipe has 1/4 cup of butter which is half of a stick
Mary Welage says
How long does it last in airtight container?
Aimee says
1-2 weeks for the best results
Tao Davis says
Yummy! Delicious, thank you 😊!
Karen carr says
I now make this for every season! Simple to make & so fun to change it up. And, everyone loves it. Putting it in canning jars with a ribbon to give as gifts & it’s absolutely perfect!
Sara Jones says
WhAt is the serving size?
Aimee says
As written if it makes 28 servings they’ll each be about 1/2 cup in size
Joyce Weatherly says
I don’t care for white chocolate so what can I use to replace the white chocolate. I want to make it for our family Christmas get together.
Aimee says
There is no white chocolate in this, only chocolate chips, you can use dark, semi sweet, or milk 🙂
Pam says
Do you have a conversion link? I’m in Minnesota and we don’t use the metric system.
Aimee says
I’m sorry, I’m not sure I understand. I’m in the United States as well and all the ingredients are listed by the customary measurement of volume. Ie, 9 cups chex, 1 cup chocolate, etc