Christmas Reindeer Chow
This reindeer chow is a must-make Christmas treat! The mixture of Rice Chex, Cheerios, pretzels, peanuts, and M&Ms is coated in white chocolate and chilled to set. Set out bowls as holiday snacks or package up individual bags for a special homemade gift. It takes only 15 minutes to prepare!
Years ago, my mom’s cousin brought a tin of this deliciousness over to my grandma’s when she made her Christmas visit, and everyone went nuts over it, which isn’t surprising, given that it’s sweet, salty, and covered in white chocolate.
My mom made sure to scribble down the recipe, and we’ve been enjoying it ever since (it was one of my grandpap’s favorite sweet holiday treats).
This is perfect to keep in your fridge for unexpected guests during the holidays, and would also be so cute packaged up in pretty bags to give away as gifts. Just make sure to save some for yourself, and I’m sure Santa would enjoy trying some, as well!
Recipe Ingredients
This reindeer chow recipe uses some similar ingredients to what you’d find in homemade chex mix, and there are tons of different ways to switch it up! Here’s what we use, as well as many different variations and ingredient swaps you could do:
- Rice Chex Cereal – Substitute another favorite, such as Corn Chex or Crispix.
- Cheerios – Any “o” type of cereal will work here, or throw in more rice or corn chex.
- Peanuts – You can substitute other types of nuts or omit them entirely. Feel free to add more of anything else!
- Pretzel Sticks – You can also use mini twist pretzels, or break up any of your favorite pretzels.
- Red and Green M&Ms – I love how festive these are! You can also use the miniM&M version, peanut or peanut butter M&Ms, or substitute your favorite chocolate candies – mini peanut butter cups, chocolate chips, mini Oreo cookies, Reese’s Pieces, etc.
- White Chocolate – This creates a delicious coating that holds all of the ingredients together into big chunks. You can also use white chocolate melts, candy melts. or almond bark.
- Vegetable Shortening – This helps to keep the melted white chocolate chips from getting clumpy; it thins out the melted chocolate so it can coat the ingredients evenly and easily. You can also use coconut oil. If you decide to use one of the melting products mentioned above, you do not need to use the vegetable shortening.
How to Make Reindeer Chow
This sweet snack mix only takes minutes to make and is a great holiday kitchen project to get the kids involved in! Here’s how we make it:
- Place the cereals, peanuts, pretzels, and M&Ms in a large bowl.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the white chocolate chips and vegetable shortening on 50% power, stirring every 30 seconds, until completely melted and smooth.
- Pour the melted white chocolate over the cereal mixture and use a rubber spatula to stir everything together until all of the ingredients are evenly coated.
- Spread the mixture out on a parchment-lined baking sheet and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes, or until it’s set. Break it up into chunks and dig in!
The Muddy Buddy (or “Puppy Chow”) Variation
If you love muddy buddies, you can adapt this recipe to be coated in that traditional melted chocolate and powdered sugar covering. Some folks refer to this as the “Christmas puppy chow recipe”. Here’s how to do it:
- Place the cereals and nuts in a large bowl. Follow the directions for making my muddy buddies and melt together the chocolate and peanut butter.
- Pour the melted mixture over the cereals and nuts, and gently mix together.
- Layer powdered sugar and the cereal mixture in a large zip top bag, seal it, and shake it until all of the ingredients are evenly coated. Turn out onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and allow to set at room temperature. Once set, combine with the pretzels and M&Ms, then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator or freezer.
Storage Notes
This Christmas reindeer chow should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 weeks. You can pop it into the freezer for a super crunchy reindeer chow that tastes absolutely wonderful!
More Sweet Holiday Treats
- The BEST Muddy Buddies Recipe
- Saltine Toffee
- Crock Pot Peanut Clusters
- Peppermint Bark
- Buckeyes Recipe
Watch the Recipe Video:
If you make this reindeer chow recipe and love it, please stop back and give it a 5-star rating – it helps others find the recipe! ❤️️
Reindeer Chow Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 cups (129 g) Rice Chex cereal
- 3 cups (84 g) Cheerios cereal
- 3 cups (426 g) peanuts
- 3 cups (126 g) pretzel pieces
- 3 cups (540 g) red & green M&Ms
- 20 ounces white chocolate
- 3½ tablespoons (40 g) solid vegetable shortening
Instructions
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or wax paper; set aside.
- In a very large bowl, mix together the Rice Chex, Cheerios, peanuts, pretzels and M&Ms.
- In a medium bowl, melt the white chocolate and shortening in the microwave on 50% power, stirring every 30 seconds, until completely melted.
- Pour the melted chocolate over the dry ingredients and quickly toss together until everything is pretty evenly coated in the white chocolate. Spread the mixture out on the prepared pan and refrigerate until it’s set, about 20 minutes. Break up any chunks and store in tins or airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 4 weeks.
Notes
- Rice Chex Cereal – Substitute another favorite, such as Corn Chex or Crispix.
- Cheerios – Any “o” type of cereal will work here, or throw in more rice or corn chex.
- Peanuts – You can substitute other types of nuts or omit them entirely. Feel free to add more of anything else!
- Pretzel Sticks – You can also use mini twist pretzels, or break up any of your favorite pretzels.
- Red and Green M&Ms – I love how festive these are! You can also use the mini M&M version, peanut or peanut butter M&Ms, or substitute your favorite chocolate candies – mini peanut butter cups, chocolate chips, mini Oreo cookies, Reese’s Pieces, etc.
- White Chocolate – This creates a delicious coating that holds all of the ingredients together into big chunks. You can also use white chocolate melts, candy melts. or almond bark.
- Vegetable Shortening – This helps to keep the melted white chocolate chips from getting clumpy; it thins out the melted chocolate so it can coat the ingredients evenly and easily. You can also use coconut oil. If you decide to use one of the melting products mentioned above, you do not need to use the vegetable shortening.
- Storage Notes: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 weeks. You can pop it into the freezer for a super crunchy reindeer chow that tastes absolutely wonderful!
Did you make this recipe?
Leave a review below, then snap a picture and tag @thebrowneyedbaker on Instagram so I can see it!
This recipe was originally published in December 2012.
Photography by Whitney Wright.
Hi, I have a question. We did everything just as listed above. We made it last year and it was perfect. This year, the white chocolate turned into chocolate as the m and Ms melted. What did we do wrong?
This is so delicious and something my 3 year old daughter can help with.
My daughter asked me to make this for a “friends” NYE. party.however, one of her friends has a nut allergy so I would have to eliminate the peanuts. Any ideas as to what I could add instead? I was thinking maybe Kix cereal or is it too much like the other two that’s already in there??
White chips are not actually white chocolate. Look at the ingredients. I have been looking for actual white chcoolate chips and they are hard to find. You have to use the baking bar to get actual white chocolate that has cocoa butter in it.
Love it
I use this recipe every Christmas..
always a hit!
Best recipe is also good with sweetened pecan pieces and dried cranberries or dried cherries. You can purchase the pecan mixture in the salad toppings of your grocery store to use for your nuts and dried fruits.
This really is a winner – universally loved by all ages. You will not regret making this super treat!
This is absolutely the best Christmas treat. I make it for neighbors and friends and put it in tins. Everyone loves it. Another added bonus is that it is gluten free. It is hard to find a gluten free treat that everyone loves. My son is allergic to dairy and I have made it for him where I use dairy free white chocolate that you can order on Amazon. He really enjoys it. Sometimes I also melt some dark chocolate and add that on top of the original recipe. You will love this treat!
Can i leave on counter in a sealed bag for a day or two?
I have and it stores nicely.
Yes, you definitely can!
is the white chocolate white almond bark.
In this recipe, it is white chocolate chips, you could also use a chopped white chocolate bar, or also substitute almond bark (if you use almond bark you don’t need to add the vegetable oil).
Darn you, Michelle, for sharing this with me!
I made a “test” batch because I don’t like to take something to a gathering without first trying it to make sure it’s worthy of sharing. So my daughter and I mixed it up on a girls night just for fun and I haven’t been able to stop grabbing a “little bite” every time I walk by it! We all LOVE it! This is so easy to pull together and different than the mixes we usually encounter. It’s just SO GOOD, darn it!
Is this recipe free of peanut/nut allergies??
I have been making this every year for 15 years. Everyone raves about it. I give it as gifts, bring it to parties, the staff at the gym looks forward to it and the grandkids are crazy about it! It is definitely addictive, thus, the alternative name, (Christmas Crack) Also Love, Apple Pie Chex Mix, I, recommend you try both.. You’ll be happy you did and so will everyone you share it with!