Sweet and Salty Reindeer Chow Snack Mix

By lynne in October 28, 2024 » Leave a review

make this fun reindeer food For a sweet, giftable snack! The satisfying crunch of the Chex cereal and pretzels pairs so well with the peanut butter chocolate topping. Add some Christmas M&Ms and mix it all up with powdered sugar for a fun treat!

When you’re busy running around during the holiday season buying gifts, wrapping presents, and getting ready for the holidays, you’ll be so glad to have a bowl of this Reindeer Chex mix to munch on. This mix of sweet and savory snacks surely satisfies my sweet tooth. In fact, I have to store it in portioned containers or I’ll eat too much in one sitting!

What is reindeer food?

Have you ever had Puppy Chow? I mean, of course, the candy, not the real dog food! Puppy Chow is the nickname for that delicious snack made with Chex cereal, chocolate, peanut butter and powdered sugar. Some people also call this concoction Muddy Buddies.

Well, Reindeer Chow takes that classic treat and adds a Christmas twist to it. The mini pretzels add an extra crunch, the brownie mix provides a rich sweet flavor, and of course, some Christmas M&M candy adds that festive touch!

Ingredients for Reindeer Snack Mix

You will need the following ingredients to make this candy:

• Chex Rice Cereal– I prefer this as a base as it has a neutral flavor and stays crunchy while soaking up all the delicious chocolate and peanut butter. Feel free to also use other Chex cereals or a combination of them.
• semisweet chocolate chips– I recommend semi-sweet chips to balance the sweetness of this dish, but you can also use milk or dark chocolate depending on your preference.
• Creamy Peanut Butter– helps tie everything together. You can also use other nut butters for allergy purposes.
• unsalted butter– adds richness and helps gently melt the chocolate and peanut butter.
• pure vanilla extract– to give it flavor.
• brownie mix– this adds a sweet chocolate texture and flavor and adds extra sweetness to the topping.
• Icing sugar– for that characteristic snowy look and to prevent everything from piling up.
• mini pretzels– for a salty, crunchy contrast to all the sweet elements.
• Christmas M&Ms (red and green)Add a splash of color and festive charm to the plate!

Find the exact quantities you’ll need in the recipe card below!

What equipment do I need to make Reindeer Chow?

All you need to make this Christmas Chex mix is ​​a kitchen staple. Gather these things:

How to make Christmas food for reindeer

1. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Place 6 cups of Rice Chex cereal in a large bowl and set aside.
2. In a medium microwave-safe bowl, combine 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips, ½ cup creamy peanut butter, and 2 tablespoons unsalted butter. Microwave on high for 30-second intervals, stirring after each interval, until mixture is completely melted and smooth. Add 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract.
3. Pour melted chocolate mixture over Rice Chex cereal. Stir gently with a spatula until cereal is evenly coated. Spread the chocolate covered cereal mixture on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper to cool and allow the chocolate to dry completely.
4. Combine 1 cup brownie mix and ½ cup powdered sugar in a small bowl. Sprinkle the mixture over the coated cereal. Stir gently until cereal is evenly coated with brownie mixture.
5. Add 1 ½ cups mini pretzels and 1 ½ cups Christmas M&Ms. Mix carefully to distribute everything evenly.
6. Transfer the Reindeer Chow to a festive bowl or package it in gift bags or containers for gift giving.

Recipe Notes

• Be careful when combining the cereal with the chocolate and peanut butter mixture to avoid breaking the cereal. This will help maintain that delicious crunchy texture you’re looking for.
• Make sure each piece of cereal is evenly coated with the chocolate mixture.
• Let the mixture cool completely before adding the powdered sugar. This helps the sugar stick better and prevents the cereal from becoming soggy.

How to Gift Reindeer Chex Mix

I love that you can put them in a glass jar, spruce it up with some decorations, and give it as a gift! Add a cute gift tag and some baker’s twine, then trace and cut out the antlers on brown cardstock.

Note: As pictured, my Reindeer Chow treats are perfect for a Christmas party or when you know they’ll be eaten right away. Otherwise, I would make sure to replace the lid and attach the paper flags to the jar with a little glue before gifting this mixture in a jar.

For a quick and easy alternative presentation, place a few Reindeer Chow balls in festive cellophane bags, tie each bag with a ribbon, and add a cute gift tag.

I prefer to give edible gifts to neighbors, teachers, and friends because A- they know you made it with love and B- edible gifts don’t add clutter or take up space! Reindeer Chow is the perfect choice for an edible gift, and you can make several jars with just one batch!

How to store reindeer food

Store your snack mix in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week. Try not to eat it all at once!

Christmas Snack Mix Recipes

I love making Christmas themed snack mixes all year long! Here are some other fun recipes to try:

These can be themed for any holiday depending on how you package them, or just eat them any time of year!

Which easy recipe is your favorite?

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