Description
Reindeer Chow is a fun, festive, and incredibly easy Christmas snack that combines crunchy cereal, creamy peanut butter, rich chocolate, powdered sugar, and colorful holiday candies. This sweet snack mix is sometimes also called Christmas Puppy Chow or Christmas Muddy Buddies, and it is one of those simple holiday treats that disappears quickly at parties and family gatherings.
Ingredients
For the Reindeer Chow
- 9 cups Rice Chex or Corn Chex cereal
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
For the Christmas Mix-Ins
- 1 cup red and green chocolate candies
- ½ cup mini pretzels
- ½ cup red and green holiday sprinkles
- ½ cup mini marshmallows, optional
- ½ cup white chocolate chips or candy pieces, optional
- ¼ cup Christmas-colored candies, optional
Instructions
Place the Chex cereal in a very large mixing bowl.
Choose a bowl that gives you plenty of room to stir without crushing the cereal.
Set aside while you prepare the chocolate and peanut butter coating.
Add the chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter to a microwave-safe bowl.
Microwave in 20–30 second intervals, stirring well after each interval.
Continue until the mixture is smooth and completely melted.
Avoid overheating the chocolate because it can become thick or seize.
Once the chocolate mixture is smooth, stir in the vanilla extract.
Mix until completely incorporated.
The vanilla enhances the chocolate and peanut butter flavors.
Pour the melted chocolate and peanut butter mixture over the Chex cereal.
Using a large spatula, gently fold the cereal until the pieces are evenly coated.
Work slowly so you don’t crush the cereal.
Try to coat as many pieces as possible while keeping the cereal squares intact.
Transfer the coated cereal into a large resealable plastic bag or large container with a lid.
Add the powdered sugar.
Seal the bag or container securely.
Gently shake and turn the bag until all the cereal pieces are coated in powdered sugar.
If necessary, add a little more powdered sugar until the cereal has a snowy white appearance.
This is one of the easiest parts of making Reindeer Chow, and it’s also a fun step for children to help with.
Pour the coated cereal onto a large parchment-lined baking sheet.
Spread it into an even layer.
Allow it to cool completely.
As it cools, the chocolate coating will firm up and the individual pieces will become easier to separate.
Once the cereal mixture is completely cool, transfer it to a large serving bowl.
Add the red and green chocolate candies, pretzels, sprinkles, and any other desired mix-ins.
Gently toss everything together.
Avoid adding colorful candies while the chocolate coating is still warm because the colors can melt or bleed into the powdered sugar.
For an especially festive Christmas appearance, sprinkle additional red, green, and white candies over the top.
You can also add Christmas sprinkles or white chocolate pieces.
Transfer the finished Reindeer Chow to a festive serving bowl or individual Christmas treat bags.
Serve immediately or store in an airtight container until ready to enjoy.
Notes
When making Reindeer Chow, the most important thing is to melt the chocolate gently.
Microwave the chocolate, peanut butter, and butter in short intervals and stir between each interval. This prevents the chocolate from overheating.
Use a large bowl when coating the cereal. If the bowl is too small, the cereal can spill over and become difficult to mix without crushing it.
Be gentle when stirring the chocolate mixture into the cereal. You want the cereal pieces to remain crunchy and intact.
Allow the chocolate-coated cereal to cool completely before adding colorful candies. Warm chocolate can cause candy shells to soften and release their colors.
If the finished mixture seems too sweet, add salty ingredients such as pretzels, roasted peanuts, or lightly salted nuts.
For a more dramatic snowy appearance, add powdered sugar gradually until every piece is well coated.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
Nutrition
- Calories: 330
- Sodium: 220 mg
- Protein: 5g