Whip up a batch of Reindeer Chow and watch it disappear faster than Santa’s sleigh on Christmas Eve! This festive twist on Muddy Buddies combines all the joy of the holidays in a sweet, crunchy snack that’s as addictive as that feeling of tearing into your first present.
It’s the ultimate holiday treat that will have everyone returning for handful after handful – so make sure you save some for Santa! It’s a surefire winner at holiday parties, and making it is a fun family project that your kids will love.
Once you start making Reindeer Chow, it’ll become a tradition as beloved as hanging stockings. Crunchy cereal is coated with chocolate and tossed with candy and pretzels for an unforgettable sweet and salty holiday treat.
In this post, I’ll guide you through this easy recipe. We’ll talk about the ingredients, the steps, and some fun variations you can try. And remember, the kitchen is where memories are made, and messes are just part of the fun.
Looking for more ideas for homemade holiday goodies? Try my holiday candy recipes and make your own peppermint patties, peanut brittle, or peanut butter balls.
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🦌Ingredient Notes
For exact amounts needed see the recipe card below
- Rice or Corn Chex cereal: Use one or both, it doesn’t matter.
- Chocolate chips: The chocolate chips can be semi-sweet or milk chocolate. It’s totally up to you.
- Peanut butter: Use creamy peanut butter for the best texture.
- Unsalted butter
- Brownie mix: This is used to make the dark-colored brownie puppy chow.
- Powdered sugar: This makes the snowy puppy chow.
- Mini peanut butter cups
- Red chocolate candy like M&Ms
- Pretzels: Any shape works fine.
🥣How to Make Reindeer Chow: A Step-by-Step Guide
- Start off by adding your cereal to a large bowl.
- Next, in a medium microwave-safe bowl, combine your chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter. Pop it in the microwave for 1 minute, give it a good stir, and then continue heating for 10-20 second increments until the chocolate is almost melted. Remember to stir after each round of heating to keep everything smooth and creamy.
- Once you’ve got your melted mixture all nice and smooth, pour it over the cereal. Toss everything together until your cereal is well-coated. It may not look pretty, but trust me, it will taste amazing.
- For Brownie Puppy Chow: Pour your chocolate-coated cereal into a resealable bag and add your brownie mix. Then, close the bag and give it a good shake until everything is completely coated. Pour it out onto a baking sheet to harden.
- For Snowy Puppy Chow: Pour your chocolate-coated cereal into a resealable bag and add powdered sugar. Then, close the bag and shake until everything is completely coated. Pour it out onto a baking sheet to harden.
- Finally, mix together the two types of puppy chow and pretzels in a very large bowl. Give it a good stir, then top it with your mini chocolate peanut butter cups and red chocolate candy.
🎄Serving Up the Reindeer Chow
Now, as much as I love making this Reindeer Chow, I love serving it even more. Because this treat is not just for the kids. The adults in my house can’t seem to keep their hands off it either!
One of my favorite ways to serve this holiday magic is in cute holiday-themed bags or mason jars. Just fill them up with Reindeer Chow, tie them with a festive ribbon, and you’ve got yourself the perfect edible gift for neighbors, teachers, or that mail carrier you’ve been meaning to thank this holiday season.
But that’s not all. You can also use this festive recipe as a fun and edible decoration for your holiday table. Scatter some around the centerpiece or in small bowls around the table. It’ll be gone before the turkey hits the table!
And make sure you save some to leave out for Santa’s reindeer on Christmas Eve. I can guarantee they would rather have reindeer chow than carrots!
🎁How to Store
This recipe makes quite a bit, and unless you’re feeding an army (or a herd of reindeer), you might find yourself with some leftovers. Just pop your leftover Reindeer Chow into an airtight container, and it will stay fresh for up to 1 week.
If you’ve got a cool, dry pantry, that’s the perfect home for your container. And this stuff can also be frozen! Just ensure it’s sealed in a freezer-safe container, and your Reindeer Chow can be kept in the freezer for up to 3 months. So, you could be munching on this delicious treat well into March!
⭐Tips
Be sure to check out the step by step instructions
- Make sure to make this with fresh cereal. If that box of Chex cereal has been in your pantry since last Christmas, throw it out and buy some new cereal.
- Use short intervals to melt the chocolate so you don’t accidentally scorch it.
- You don’t have to make both brownie and snowy puppy chow. If you are in a hurry, make one.
- Switch up the candy in the reindeer chow to include whatever your family’s favorites are. Other fun additions are chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, or Reese’s pieces.
📝FAQ
Absolutely! Reindeer chow is a fun and safe treat for kids. Keep an eye on the little ones, as the small pieces can be a choking hazard. Oh, and don’t be surprised if they start pretending to be reindeer.
You can use whatever type of chocolate you like best. Almond bark works well, also.
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Reindeer Chow Recipe
Ingredients
Brownie Puppy Chow
- 4 cups Rice Chex or Corn Chex cereal
- 1 cup chocolate chips semi-sweet or milk chocolate
- ½ cup peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 cups brownie mix from 18.4oz box
Snowy Puppy Chow
- 4 cups Rice Chex or Corn Chex cereal
- 1 cup chocolate chips semi-sweet or milk chocolate
- ½ cup peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 cups powdered sugar
Snack Mix
- 1 cup mini chocolate peanut butter cups
- 1 cup red chocolate candy
- 2 cups mini pretzels any shape with work
Instructions
Brownie Puppy Chow
- Line a rimmed baking sheet with wax paper or parchment paper.
- Add cereal to a medium bowl.4 cups Rice Chex
- Melt chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter in a medium microwave-safe bowl for 1 minute, stir, and continue heating for 10-20 seconds at a time until the chocolate is almost melted, stirring after each heating.1 cup chocolate chips, ½ cup peanut butter, 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- Remove the chocolate mixture from the microwave and stir until completely smooth.
- Pour over cereal and toss to coat well.
- Pour the cereal mixture into a resealable bag and add the box of brownie mix.2 cups brownie mix
- Close the bag and shake it to coat thoroughly. Pour it out onto the prepared baking sheet.
Snowy Puppy Chow
- Repeat the same process, but use the powdered sugar to coat the chocolate covered cereal. Pour it out onto the prepared baking sheet.4 cups Rice Chex, 1 cup chocolate chips, ½ cup peanut butter, 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, 2 cups powdered sugar
Snack Mix
- Let the coated puppy chow sit for about 15 minutes to harden.
- Add puppy chows and pretzels to a large bowl.2 cups mini pretzels
- Stir to combine and top with the peanut butter cups and red candy.1 cup red chocolate candy, 1 cup mini chocolate peanut butter cups
Notes
- Either dark chocolate chips, semi-sweet chocolate chips, or white chocolate chips work fine in this recipe.
- Store your Reindeer Chow in an airtight container, and it will stay fresh for up to 1 week.
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Nutrition Information
Nutrition facts are estimates.
