Make sure Santa stops at your house by attracting reindeer! This Reindeer Chow recipe turns the classic muddy buddies puppy chow into a Christmas treat that the kids will love.
Reindeer Chow Recipe
Muddy Buddies {AKA Puppy Chow} is a classic recipe. Today we’re taking that irresistible snack and turning it into a fun Christmas treat…Reindeer Chow! Although my kids are older now, I can remember the days when they so desperately wanted to hear the pitter patter of hooves on our roof on Christmas Eve as they anxiously awaited Santa’s arrival. Christmas Eve always had a smorgasbord of appetizers and sweets treats that we could choose from to leave out for Santa. You don’t want to forget Santa’s reindeer food though!
How to Make Reindeer Chow
Reindeer chow is based on the puppy chow with chex mix. It is quickly and easily made by melting chocolate, peanut butter and butter together in the microwave. You’ll mix that gooey mixture up, toss it with the chex cereal and then shake it in a big bag with powdered sugar. We like to use 2 cups of powdered sugar, but you can use 1 1/2 cups if you’d like there to be less white coating.
Lastly, you’ll add in the M&Ms. We used milk chocolate M&Ms, but use peanut M&M’s if you’d like.
How to Store Reindeer Chow
If you are hosting a Christmas party, you could package this in individual servings with a little label that says “Reindeer Chow”. Kids love this!
Remember to store any leftovers in an airtight container so that the Christmas snack mix stays crunchy and fresh.
Tools Needed for Reindeer Chow
- Microwave Safe Bowls: I don’t know what I’d do without my large glass bowls that are microwave safe. Just the perfect size for recipes such as this!
- Chex Cereal: Rice Chex are my favorite for puppy chow recipes. They are gluten free, too!
- Holiday M&Ms: Red and Green for contrast in this festive recipe.
- 2-Gallon Ziploc Bags: Huge zippered bags for shaking muddy buddies and also for storing snacks.
Reindeer Food
Ingredients
- 7 cups chex cereal
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups powdered sugar (if you don't want as thick a coating of powdered sugar you can cut it back to 1 1/2 cups)
- 2 cups red and green M&Ms
Instructions
- In a large microwave safe bowl melt chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter for 30 seconds and then stir. Continue microwaving in 15 second increments, stirring after each time, until chocolate is completely melted. Stir in vanilla.
- Gently fold in chex cereal being careful not to break up the pieces until it's evenly coated.
- Add powdered sugar to a large zip top bag and then add cereal mixture. Seal the bag and shake well until each piece is evenly covered with powdered sugar.
- Transfer chow back to a clean bowl and fold in M&Ms.
- Store in an airtight container.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Alice Keller says
Could this be made without the peanut butter?
Julie Clark says
You’ll need something to hold it together that is peanut butter in texture. You could use a different nut butter or even Nutella.
Karen says
Or maybe marshmallow cream
Victoria Schronce says
How long will this stay good?!
Julie Clark says
It is best within about 4 days, but you can keep it longer than that by storing it in an airtight container in the freezer.
Libby says
Should the chocolate chips be milk chocolate or semi-sweet?
Julie Clark says
We like semi-sweet but you can use either.
Leo's Mom says
Is it really supposed to be 7 cups? I only used one box of corn chex and that seemed like all it could coat.
Julie Clark says
You can make it less if you’d like!
Katie Mattrick says
How important is the vanilla? I just ran out on my previous baking task!
Julie Clark says
You could probably leave it out if you’d like.
Pam Meyers says
I don’t have micro safe bowl, can I use any bowl or stove top
Julie Clark says
If you were melting it in the microwave make sure you use a bowl that can be used in the microwave. Or you can melt it on the stove top.